Is relocation harmful to institutionalized elderly people?

One hundred and one elderly continuing-care residents were relocated, from a hospital which closed, to new or refurbished accommodation at another hospital. Barthel and CAPE scores were used to assess changes in disability. Small improvements in disability over the relocation period were seen compared with changes seen over a subsequent, 2-month control period. The monthly mortality rate in the 6 months after relocation was not statistically different from that in the corresponding 6 months the previous year. Relocation to more appropriate accommodation may have had overall beneficial effects on disability.