Preventive Home Visits to the Elderly and Education of Home Visitors preventive home visits

Abstract

Functional decline can be prevented in older home dwelling people through education of preventive home visitors and local general practitioners. Education was based on simple messages and professional routines respecting local health care cultures. Education must be ongoing, and 80-year-olds benefit more than 75-year-olds. There may be gender differences for beneficial effects, and organizational factors may be of importance. The number and regularity of visits are of importance, and if it is the same visitor each time, he or she can establish good rapport during the visits. A brief, manageable, and ongoing educational intervention of professionals making -preventive home visits is feasible and improves older people's functional mobility and reduces the need for institutional living. © Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009.