Management of functional disability in homebound patients

Five percent of the population aged over 65 years, or more than 1 million people, are homebound. Musculoskeletal dysfunction is the final common pathway of all forms of arthritis and many neuromuscular disorders and is the prime cause for being homebound. The US health care system, with its emphasis on acute illness, does not address adequately the functional problems of homebound patients. Many can be helped by modification of the home environment or physical and occupational therapy. This paper outlines the diagnosis and management of common functional disabilities found in homebound patients.