[The expanding role of home care nurses in long-term care]

This article was developed to discuss the expanding role of home care nurses in long-term care. Home care recipients included in the study were elderly, had chronic illness conditions, were experiencing ADL and IADL impairment, had been discharged from hospital, lived alone and tended to use home care services. Home care services funding from the National Health Care Insurance is limited to those clients with wounds, stomy, and indwelled catheters. Thus, home care nurses mainly provide technical care rather than care addressing psychological, spiritual and social needs. The present care model deviates from the concept of holistic care. Besides, a lack of proper case management training and community resources utilization constrains nurses from providing social care to the clients. The article can serve as a reference for education institutes and nursing professional association to justify relevant training programs in order to facilitate the professional development of home care nurses.