We have compared the self-sufficiency and dependence on others in a series of 407 inmates of eight old people's homes, who lived in those facilities over the years 2000-2004. In the investigation the Barthel test of common daily activities in a modification by Czech authors was implemented. In all ten items of the test the values in 2004 were to a statistically significant degree worse than in the year 2000 (p > 0.001). In the course of four years the spectrum of activities in which the inmates depend on other's help has changed. The greatest change for the worse was observed in personal hygiene (more than twelvefold); in eating and drinking (almost sevenfold); and in bathing (3.8 fold). The prevalence of urine incontinence rose (from 26.3% to 34.1%) as well as incontinence of the stool (from 10.6% to 26.5%). In the year 2000 totally self-sufficient were 55.8% of the inmates, four years later the self-sufficiency of those same inmates declined to 35.1%. Over the years of follow-up the dependence of medium and severe degree rose more than threefold. While in the year 2000 there was a statistically significant greater occurrence of dependent females, no changes between males and females have been observed through the ageing of the group. The authors recommend the application of the test in practice by physicians at social facilities

        Key words: old people's home - Barthel's test - self-sufficiency - dependence - incontinence of urine and stool - functional examination.