[Need for therapy and target groups for therapy in nursing homes].

The staff of 16 nursing homes with a total 472 residents evaluated possibilities to change the residents life situations by therapeutic activities. A statistical estimate of groups in need of therapy in a very broad sense is put forth. Younger residents (age 59 and below) need therapy most often. Significant differences in characterizing residents are to be found according to the degree of being "bedridden" (= hours out of bed per day). The less time residents are out of bed and the more dependent on help they are the lower the chances of estimated ameliorations. What is essential: need or the chance of amelioration? For about 1/4 of the residents more affiliation and activities are considered necessary. Facilitating independency is a central therapeutic goal. With some groups large differences between factual and possible independency are found. Staff expects amelioration of residents most often by therapy. This point of view may be partly result from the limited chances perceived to exert influence on residents.