[The challenge of home care for respiratory failure]

In France, 65,000 patients with chronic respiratory failure are managed at home. This is made possible by the collaboration between prescribing physicians and other medical and social agents in the community. It consists in various medical, technical and social interventions, all aimed at improving both survival and quality of life. Patient and family education is a key-factor to increase the success of the various therapeutic interventions that are rehabilitation, long term oxygen therapy and home mechanical ventilation. Rehabilitation programmes include optimisation of pharmacological treatments, help in smoking cessation, social and psychological support, and exercise training. National alert procedure for medical devices, and evaluation of medical devices is part of the management of respiratory failure at home. Care networks facilitate the various interventions necessary to maintain the patient with chronic respiratory failure at home.