The frequent secondary conditions like pressure sores and respiratory problems are correlated with increasing age

SCI patients with late-onset SCI suffer a traumatic SCI more often

It is not expected that the number of elderly patients with SCI will increase

Life expectancy in SCI patients has increased over the last decades

SCI patients with late-onset suffer more often from dependency to others than patients with early-onset of SCI

occurs more often in the elderly

may lead to the rupture of the blood vessel, a life-threatening situation

always requires a surgical intervention

surgery may cause a disruption of blood flow to the spinal cord

surgery causes SCI in about 50% of the operated cases

There are no specific aspects which have to be considered

The often lower health status has negative impact on the exercise tolerance which is needed for specific rehabilitative interventions

Elderly patients with SCI require more often assisted living than the

The presence of comorbidities require additional rehabilitative

In general, the patient’s life perspectives and outlooks, important for goal-setting does not differ between younger and older patients with SCI

‘Self-care’ tasks are measured within the SCIM

The chapter ‘self-care’ in the ICF includes the activity ‘Transferring Oneself'

The very important activity ‘Caring for skin’ is evaluated within the

Nurses are specialists to improve ‘self-care’ activities in patients with SCI

The self-care activity ‘toileting’ is included in all ICF Core Sets for SCI