Intermittent care for old patients--when should it be offered?

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Care
• Healthcare Management
• Social Welfare

Background:

• Assessing elderly individuals' needs is crucial for effective long-term care planning.
• Preventing or delaying permanent institutionalization can improve quality of life for seniors.
• Understanding patient preferences for care models is essential for healthcare system efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and patient interest in intermittent nursing home care.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption of intermittent care among the elderly.
• To explore strategies for avoiding or postponing permanent institutional care for geriatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Inventory of 229 elderly individuals across various care settings (out-patient, in-patient, community, social welfare).
• Assessment of patients' physical health, mental health, and social conditions.
• Interviews with patients and relatives to gauge interest and suitability for intermittent care.

Main Results:

• Intermittent nursing home care was deemed appropriate for 35% (81/229) of patients.
• Only 9% (21/229) of patients, primarily out-patients, expressed positive interest.
• In-patients were often too ill; community care patients were hesitant due to lack of preparation for rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• While appropriate for many, patient interest in intermittent nursing home care is limited.
• Day hospital and geriatric care waiting list patients showed the most suitability and interest.
• Tailored approaches and better preparation for rehabilitation are needed to increase adoption of intermittent care models.