[Assessment of 1497 Chilean nursing home residents, using the Resource Utilization Group method, RUG T-18].
BACKGROUND
There is little information about Chilean elderly residents of long term care facilities, regarding their characteristics and need for resources.


OBJECTIVE
To describe main characteristics and resource utilization of residents of one of the largest nursing homes in Chile, Fundación Las Rosas de Ayuda Fraterna.


METHODS
In a cross sectional and descriptive study, all residents were evaluated using the RUG T-18 method, that assess activities of daily living and the complexity of their clinical situation.


RESULTS
We assessed 1497 subjects 60 years old and over (73% women), with an age range of 60-106 years. Thirty six percent had urinary incontinence, 19% required assistance for feeding, and 38% needed help for walking or moving. Fifty seven percent were in the lowest category of complexity, "Institutionalization". Very few residents were in the most demanding categories, no one classified as "Rehabilitation", and only 0.7% were in "Special Care".


CONCLUSIONS
This study is an important start point to learn more about elderly subjects living in nursing homes in Chile.
Programa de Geriatría y Gerontologia, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago de Chile. ppmarin@med.puc.cl
Pedro Paulo
PP
Marín
Trinidad
T
Hoyl
Homero
H
Gac
Marcela
M
Carrasco
Patricio
P
Duery
Kristina
K
Petersen
Mauricio
M
Cabezas
Catalina
C
Dussaillant
Sergio
S
Castro
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006295:Health Resources; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty