The old, old-old, and the oldest old: continuation or distinct categories? An examination of the relationship between age and changes in health, function, and wellbeing.

This study aims to examine whether old age, old-old age, and oldest-old age comprise distinct categories via comparing persons aged 75-84, 85-94, and 95+ on demographics, health, function, and wellbeing. The sample was drawn from a representative longitudinal cohort of older persons in Israel. Matched cohort comparisons found a significant decline in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), instrumental ADL, cognitive function, percent of participants who go outside their home, and physical activity, with an increase in physical and mobility difficulties, and no difference in depressed affect or loneliness.

In-hospital referral source and rehabilitation outcome of elderly stroke patients.

To date, there is no data regarding the association of patient in-hospital referral source and stroke rehabilitation outcomes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible relation between in-hospital referring source, whether directly from an emergency ward (EW) or indirectly through a general medical ward (GMW), and the functional outcomes achieved during rehabilitation of such stroke patients. This retrospective observational study included 315 consecutive patients, admitted for rehabilitation following the onset of acute stroke.

[Evaluation of predictive factors for stroke rehabilitation].

Our objective was to assess the functional disability of stroke patients by the functional independence measure (FIM) and to examine predictive factors for successful rehabilitation. In 127 consecutive stroke patients efficacy of FIM was 23.9 +/- 188, efficiency 0.

High incidence of malignancies in patients with dermatomyositis and polymyositis: an 11-year analysis.

Objectives: Dermatomyositis and polymyositis (DM/PM) are associated with neoplasms. The aim of the present study is to compare our experience in Israel with other published data.

Methods: Thirty-five adult patients with DM/PM, admitted to Sheba Medical Center during the 11-year interval between 1984 and 1994, were studied for the prevalence and features of malignant diseases.

Depressive Symptoms Among Community-Dwelling Oldest-Old Residents in Israel.

The authors examined the rate and correlates of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling oldest-old citizens in Israel with a sample of about 1,200 Jewish Israelis age 75-94. The estimated national rate of depressive symptoms was 43.5%.