[The handicaps and the need for services among the aged detected in the health survey OARS-Vigo].
BACKGROUND
In populational studies the standardized questionnaires of multidimensional functional evaluation, particularly the Older Americans Resources and Services Program-Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (OARS), have shown to be the most adequate tools to evaluate the elderly persons living within the community.


METHODS
A health care survey was performed by personal interview in the homes of a stratified randomized sample of people over the age of 65 years in Vigo, Galicia, Spain obtained from the Municipal Inhabitants Patronage (n = 841) using complete validated versions of OARS in the Spanish and Gallician languages.


RESULTS
The prevalence of severe/absolute handicap in the basic functional areas among this population over 65 years was 7.7% in physical health, 6.2% in mental health, 5.2% in economic resources, 6.7% in social work, and 9.5% in daily life activities (DLA). Twenty-two percent of the population presented severe/absolute handicaps in at least one of the dimensions. One point nine percent of the population studied required institutionalization: 2.6% required economic aid, 1.4% required home help for the instrumental DLA and 1.1% required help for both the basic and the instrumental DLA although these were not being provided. One point three percent were found to be ideal candidates for a telealarm/teleaid program.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the OARS questionnaire in Spain is useful to obtain information to be applied in the planning of health care services directed at elderly people.
Eiroa Patiño
P
P
Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Montecelo, Pontevedra.
Vázquez-Vizoso
F L
FL
Veras Castro
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006306:Health Surveys; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Discapacidades y necesidades de servicios en las personas mayores detectadas en la encuesta de salud OARS-Vigo.