[Functional level, care needs and family-based care for home-care recipients with extended care needs]

A study of home care and home health services was undertaken in three Swedish municipalities. Persons who received extended home care and home health care were interviewed. The interviews covered different themes such as impairments, care needs, functions and activities in the horizontal social network (the informal network), and opinions concerning how care is and should be provided. A modified ADL-index was used to assess the functional level of daily living. Care needs were measured by the judgement of the care recipient, and by the interviewer's judgement. The correspondence between these measures was high, with some exceptions. Lower correspondence between the measures was obtained for three categories of care recipients: individuals with communicative dysfunctions, younger individuals with reduced ability to move and, thirdly, individuals with psychosocial problems. Problems concerning measurement of care given by family members were also identified and discussed.