Is the ICIDH appropriate for geriatric rehabilitation?

The International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicap s (ICIDH), a manual of disease consequences issued by WHO, at present exist s in two versions. ICIDH-1, issued in 1980, has been under revision since 1 993. This revision process will result in a more sophisticated and more com prehensive ICIDH-2 in 2001. The ICIDH, based on the biopsychosocial disease model, describes disease co nsequences in three dimensions: Structural and functional body impairments Disabilities (ICIDH-1) or restrictions of activites (ICIDH-2) in activities of daily living Handicaps (ICIDH-1) or participation limitations (ICIDH-2) in social integr ation In the field of geriatrics ICIDH is also helpful as a coherent conceptual f ramework and refereence manual to determine and code the disabilities and h andicaps with regard to daily living competence. Geriatric assessment instruments are no alternative, but complementary to t he ICIDH. In view of the high frequency of geriatric patients with multi-morbidity, i .e. multiple impairments, disabilities, and handicaps, the utility of the I CIDIH in geriatric care is highly dependent on the flexible application of this classification system.