Angels of the night: evening and night patrols for homebound elders in Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the work of evening and night home care patrols in Swedish old-age care by examining how staff members view their work and the specific work content.


METHODS
The authors developed two questionnaires: one that was to be answered jointly by the patrol teams, and one to be completed by each individual member of a team. All patrols in the municipality of Jönköping, Sweden, were asked to participate.


RESULTS
The most frequent kind of help provided by evening and night patrols involves personal care, but help with medications and injections are also frequent. The staff reported that it is becoming more common for the patrols to assist people with terminal illnesses. The patrols also increasingly assist people with psychiatric problems. The staff feels that the job may be becoming too diverse and that they need further education for the range of tasks they are asked to perform.


CONCLUSIONS
The patrols are very flexible in the services provided. Without the patrols, the staff members believe that many persons would have to leave their homes to go to institutions.
Institute of Gerontology, School of Public Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Sweden. bo.malmberg@hhj.hj.se
Bo
B
Malmberg
Marie
M
Ernsth
Birgitta
B
Larsson
Steven H
SH
Zarit
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018577:Homebound Persons / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009551:Night Care; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D013548:Sweden; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D016526:Workload