Prevalence and characteristics of persons with dependency on feeding at institutions for elderly.

The prevalence of dependency on feeding was estimated in 3,607 residents cared for in old people's homes, nursing homes, somatic long-stay clinics, psychiatric long-stay wards and psychogeriatric wards. Ten per cent of the residents were found to be dependent on the staff to eat. The highest proportion was found in nursing homes and somatic long-stay clinics. A considerably larger proportion of the residents with dependency on assisted feeding imposed the highest workload on the staff. Residents who were totally dependent on assisted feeding were more disabled with regard to other ADL functions and also they were demented more often. Loss of the ability to eat was related to an inability in other ADL functions. Support was gained for a hierarchical loss of ADL functions as suggested by Katz & Apkom. Feeding problems seem to be a terminal phenomenon in demented patients.