Restoring control: empowering older patients and their families during health crisis

Acute health crises and the care provided within the health care system often reduce control for older patients and their families. Drawing on the authors' research with hip fracture patients and work with home health teams, the discussion focuses specifically on older patients who require home health care following a hip fracture and who have family support. Successful recovery and rehabilitation of the older patient is contingent upon restoring the patients' perception of control over their recovery. Empowerment is achieved both through the content of interventions, and through the process by which health professionals work with patients and their families.