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Community resources for frail older patients
K Borgenicht1, E Carty, L Z Feigenbaum
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
The Western Journal of Medicine
|December 31, 1997
Summary
Community-based services aid frail seniors in regaining independence. Identifying specific patient criteria can enhance the effectiveness of geriatric care programs.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Frail older adults require specialized community-based services to maximize functional ability and independence.
- Available services include case management, geriatric assessment, adult day health care, home health services, and the Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential benefits and necessary targeting criteria for community-based services aimed at frail older patients.
- To address the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of these services without established referral guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing community-based service models for frail older adults.
- Identification of potential targeting criteria based on patient characteristics and health status.
Main Results:
- Key targeting criteria suggested include dependency in activities of daily living, lack of family support, dementia, multiple chronic illnesses, and frequent hospitalizations.
- Patients, families, and physicians generally perceive these services as beneficial, despite uncertainties in efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Targeting criteria are crucial for optimizing the effectiveness of community-based services for frail older populations.
- Further research is needed to definitively establish efficacy and cost-effectiveness, but patient-reported outcomes are positive.