[Disabled elderly people waiting for institutionalization to a hospital ward: prospective study in the administrative district of Strasbourg (France)].

Objectives: Our aim was to estimate the number of non-satisfied instutionalization requests for inpatients and to describe the strategies elaborated to compensate for the waiting time.

Methods: This prospective follow-up study concerning all requests for institution admission for inpatients aged 75 years or older hospitalized in acute care and rehabilitation wards. Descriptive data were gathered throughout the social support process conducted during the hospitalization.