ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Medical conditions and depen- dency levels of the elderly in the Lebanese long-term care institutions have not been described. This may undermine care commissioning and development to institutionalized elderly. Data to inform policy and practice are needed. OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical diagnoses and dependency levels among elderly residents in long-term care institutions in Lebanon. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of long-term care institutions throughout Lebanon as identified by the Mihistry of Social Affairs. RESULTS: Thirty-one out of 42 long- term care institutions have been included in this survey. Among them, 1371 elderly subjects were included in the analysis; 75.6% were over the age of 75, and female repre- sented 67%. Medical morbidities and associated disabilities have driven admission in 70.5% of residents; 45.6% of resi- dents reported dernentia, stroke or other neurodegenerativb disease. Overall, 60% of residents required locomotor assis- tance. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly residents in long-term carb institutions are predominantly females, with mental and/or locomotor disabilities resulting fror neurological and ar- thritic conditions. Targeting healthcare for such health condi- tions remains a challenge for the institutions.
