Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Based on a review of the literature it can be said that a main obstacle to a rational approach to prevention and health promotion in the elderly, seems to be on the one side our lack of knowledge of what constitutes effective intervention, and on the other a feeling of great urgency--which may easily lead us astray. More basic information on factors influencing the individual rate of organ decline is needed, and controlled clinical trials of the effectiveness of different approaches to intervention are required. In the present state of things there is no need for therapeutic nihilism--important conditions causing distress and disability in old age are amenable to preventive action.
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This study attempts to search for early indicators of the need for referral to permanent institutional care of the chronically ill and disabled already receiving home nursing and/or home help. The study population covered 218 home nursing patients and home help clients. ⋯ Four groups of factors were studied in order to search for the early indicators: age, sex, health including functional status and housing conditions. Referral to permanent institutional care was found to be related to old age (75+ years) disorientation to weekday and year, inability to wash oneself and diagnosed dementia senilis.