Abstract

The number of nonagenarians is rapidly growing in Chile. This age group is mainly female, with higher frailty markers and in higher risk of being placed at nursing homes. Aim: To describe features of nonagenarian women and compare them with a group of women between 60-89 years, both living in nursing homes, in terms of disability and resource use at the institution. Subjects and methods: A total of 230 nonagenarian women and 460 women, aged 60-89 years, were evaluated in the nursing home Fundación Las Rosas de Ayuda Fraterna (only for poor elderly) in Santiago, Chile. The assessment instruments were the Geriatric Assessment instrument FEGAUC, functional and mental evaluation scales of Spanish Red Cross and the Resource Utilization System, RUG T18, an independent diagnostic classification system that allows the determination of resource use in terms of cost and personnel needs. Results: Nonagenarian women had significantly (p <0.05) more disability (falls, urinary incontinence, memory problems and mobility difficulties), and were classified in RUG categories of higher resource utilization and dependency than younger women. Nevertheless, nonagenarians were a very heterogeneous group, almost half of them were able of moving by themselves or required little assistance and had minimal memory problems. Conclusions: Nonagenarian women assessed in this institution are an heterogeneous group, some with minimal disability and other more frail and dependent than the younger elderly women, being classified in higher categories of resource utilization RUG T18 (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 33-9)