Table 1 Characteristics of the participants
Patient (P) | Age range | Gender | MNA scorea | Hospital days | Reasons for hospital admission | Living-situation | No. of inter-views | Family caregiver (FCG) (age) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 91–95 | F | 16 | 5 | Worsened heart failure, back pain | Alone | 2 | Grand-daughter (52) |
2 | 81–85 | F | 20,5 | 6 | Malfunction and impaired general health condition | Alone | 1 | |
3 | 71–75 | F | 14 | 6 | Neurological problems, hypokalemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), portal hypertension, liver cirrhosis | Alone-sheltered housingb | 2 | |
4 | 91–95 | F | 17,5 | 7 | Frailty, infection, cancer | With spouse | 1 | |
5 | 76–80 | M | 14 | 6 | Urinary tract infection, Parkinson’s, kidney failure, dysphagia | With spouse | 2 | Wife (83) |
6 | 91–95 | F | 22,5 | 4 | Broken arm, fall tendency, mild cognitive failure | Alone | 1 | Daughter (54) |
7 | 81–85 | M | 9,5 | 7 | Pain in the jaw, severe weight loss | With spouse | 2 | Wife (80) |
8 | 86–90 | F | 17 | 4 | Pyelitis, weight loss, lack of appetite, nausea | Alone | 2 | Daughter (58) |
9 | 76–80 | M | 18,5 | 10 | Sepsis, pneumonia, metastatic prostate cancer, severe weight loss | With spouse | 2 | |
10 | 81–85 | F | 16 | 3 | Loss of consciousness, atrial fibrillation, back pain | With spouse | 2 | Husband (86) |
11 | 86–90 | M | 17 | 3 | Chest pain, lack of appetite, difficult home situation | Alone | 2 | |
12 | 96–100 | M | 14 | 5 | Fall/ailment, heart failure, urinary tract infection, dysphagia | Alone | 1 | |
13 | 81–85 | F | 11 | 5 | Pneumonia, COPD, severe malnutrition | Alone | 2 | Daughter (61) |
14 | 81–85 | F | 16.5 | 5 | Fall, loss of consciousness, lack of appetite, weight loss | Alone in sheltered housingb | 2 | Son (55) |
15 | 76–80 | F | 20 | 5 | Pulmonary embolism/aortic plastanosis, diabetes type 2 (insulin regulated) | Alone | 2 | Son (56) |