[Dementia disorders, behavior problems and the care of clients in geriatric day-care compared to residents in homes for the elderly: a cross-sectional study in eight communities in Baden].

Aim: The study aims to compare clients using institutions of geriatric day-care to residents in homes for the elderly with regard to functional impairment, dementia disorders, behavior problems and the care situation.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 17 geriatric day-care facilities in eight towns and cities in Baden examined the data for all 257 clients who received care on a given reference date. These clients were compared to a reference population drawn from all residents (N = 1,387) of 15 randomly selected residential and nursing homes in the city of Mannheim, whereby identical assessment procedures were used by qualified nursing staff.