Optimizing patient and family involvement in geriatric home care

Although a growing body of literature supports the expansion of patient and family involvement in healthcare processes, little attention has thus far been directed at activating geriatric home care patients and/or families to be more effective in managing health-related activities. In this manuscript we consider the unique needs, attributes, and circumstances of the geriatric home care population in conjunction with patient, family, provider, and organizational interventions with a primary or secondary objective of activating patients and/or families. We summarize what has been learned from these efforts, with attention to feasibility and potential applicability to geriatric home care.