title: Intermittent nursing home care. Development of an alternative to institutional care.
abstract: Intermittent care was offered as an alternative to 178 patients who were at risk of permanent nursing home care, and this proved to be feasible for 55% of these patients. Non-participation was most common due to a pronounced deterioration of health status, hesitance or sick relatives. A more detailed evaluation of this form of long-term care was made for the 27 patients who were in the programme at a specific time and were able to participate in an interview. Although the patients had advanced medical problems and disabilities (80% had balance problems, 74% urinary incontinence, etc.) the majority had a positive outlook on life and appreciated intermittent care. Also from a clinical aspect this form of long-term care proved acceptable, although a decline in performance of activities of daily living and health status was frequently observed during the periods at home.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Long-Term Care Medicine, Gothenburg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berthold
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landahl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svanborg
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013548:Sweden