Preventive home visits to elderly people in Denmark

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Preventive home visits for citizens 75 years and older are mandated in Denmark but implementation varies.
• Despite the mandate, only about 60% of eligible seniors accept these visits, and less than 50% of municipalities have specific guidelines.
• Municipalities often use visits for data collection on community needs and elder wishes, rather than solely for direct health benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and impact of an educational intervention for professionals conducting preventive home visits.
• To determine if such an intervention can improve functional mobility in older adults receiving these visits.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, controlled, feasibility study was conducted over a 3-year period.
• The study involved a brief, manageable, and ongoing educational intervention for healthcare professionals.
• Outcomes measured included the feasibility of the intervention and its effect on older people's functional mobility.

Main Results:

• The educational intervention for professionals was found to be feasible.
• The intervention led to improvements in the functional mobility of older adults receiving preventive home visits.
• The study highlights a practical method to enhance the effectiveness of existing elder care programs.

Conclusions:

• Targeted educational interventions for professionals are a viable strategy to improve preventive home visit outcomes.
• Enhancing the skills of professionals can directly benefit older adults by improving their functional mobility.
• This approach offers a potential solution to the ongoing debate regarding the benefits of preventive home visits for the elderly.