Monday, September 20, 2010

Care at Home vs. Hospitalization

Home Fares Better for Heart Failure Patients

Hospitalization, the standard venue for short-term medical care, may be hazardous for the elderly according to a study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine in September, 2009.*  The study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of physician-managed home care for selected patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure.  The prospective, single-blind, randomized trial followed patients 75 years or older who had been hospitalized.  They were randomly assigned to a Geriatric Home Hospitalization Service or a general medical ward.

Overall Improved Status

Findings demonstrated no significant difference in the number of deaths or subsequent hospitalizations, but the mean time until the first additional admission was longer for the patients cared for in their own homes.  Only the home patients experienced improvements in depression, nutritional status and quality-of-life scores.

The research concluded that home care is a viable alternative to traditional hospital inpatient care for elderly patients with acutely decompensated CHF.
  
*Arch Intern Med. 2009 Sep 28;169(17):1569-75.

For more information about Pathways Home Health services for patients with chronic heart failure, please visit www.pathwayshealth.org/home-health.

2 comments:

  1. Home health care allows patients the option of continuing their health services in a more friendly environment than a hospital. Patients can receive all the professional attention
    they need while living in their home. This can help to boost their morale and consequently can help the healing of a patient or ease her suffering.
    Senior Residence TX

    ReplyDelete
  2. Really nice blog, Home care givers are really helpful for our seniors because they are well trained about their health and their diseases.
    home health care

    ReplyDelete

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