title: Helping family and patients decide between home care and nursing home care.
abstract: Good home health and institutional care alternatives are important for the care of aging patients. The physician's assistance is crucial in helping family and patients decide on the optimal level of care. Knowledge of the patient's medical status, family and patient resources and preferences, cost factors, and the patient's functional status will make the physician an effective counselor for elderly patients and their families faced with deciding between nursing home and home care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Powers
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy; D002755:Choice Behavior; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010819:Physician's Role; D012380:Role; D012720:Severity of Illness Index