Articles tagged with Home Care
A clinical trial tested four remote monitoring approaches against usual care and found that none outperformed usual care in reducing readmissions. The study highlights the importance of studying real-world care models to optimize outcomes.
A new study found that handwriting speed and stroke organization can be indicative of cognitive decline in older adults. The research used digital tools to record writing speed and number of strokes in complex tasks, and found that participants with cognitive impairment showed distinct patterns in their handwriting movements.
A national study found that over one in 10 children with medical complexity experienced a reported incident, with medication and device errors being the most common types. The study calls for targeted interventions to keep these highly vulnerable children safe.
A recent study reveals that an individual's readiness to adopt smart technology is deeply tied to their specific experience within their home and community. Researchers identified specific clusters within the older population, ranging from tech-ready urbanites to those in more traditional or isolated residential settings.
A retrospective study found lower in-hospital mortality and emergency department use within 30 days of discharge for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing hospital at home compared to traditional inpatient care. However, hospital readmissions within 30 days showed no significant difference between the two approaches.
A new study highlights the importance of involving older people in technology design to ensure devices are useful, respectful, and culturally appropriate. Co-design helps build trust and ensures technologies support older people's autonomy and dignity.
A study reveals that older adults receiving government-funded home care struggle to access the support they need, often feeling overwhelmed by complex systems and limited budgets. The research highlights a significant gap in the program's capacity to provide person-centered care, particularly in areas like nutrition.
The article highlights how advances in remote monitoring and portable medical technology are dismantling traditional hospital walls. Hospital-at-Home programs offer a scalable solution to acute care delivery, resulting in lower costs, reduced readmission rates, and improved patient outcomes.
A UCLA-led study found that unionization leads to lower turnover rates among direct care workers, with significant benefits including improved care quality and reduced stress. Unionization applies to both for-profit and non-profit organizations, suggesting its potential to save the healthcare system $1.5 billion a year in turnover costs.
People aged 50 and over who serve as unpaid family caregivers are more likely to support government-funded care, while non-caregivers prefer family or older adult payment. Concerns about long-term care costs and access persist among caregivers versus non-caregivers.
This cross-sectional study found that direct care worker unionization and employer ownership are independently associated with workforce turnover rates. State policies facilitating DCW unionization or public employment of DCWs may improve retention rates, according to the study.
Research reveals longer weekly home-visit rehabilitations (HR) significantly improve activities of daily living (ADL) among older adults, especially those requiring moderate to severe care. The study found that HR duration correlates with ADL improvement in this population.
A randomized clinical trial found that patients who received community paramedic home care had higher satisfaction rates and preferred future care in a home setting compared to usual care pathways. The study did not show a significant reduction in hospital use or acute care needs, but improved patient outcomes.
A new poll finds that nearly a third of Americans over 50 provide regular care to an adult relative or friend with a health issue or disability, highlighting the need for increased awareness of existing programs such as adult day programs and respite care. Many caregivers face financial stress and don't know about or use these resource...
A national study found young carers in England consistently experience educational disadvantages compared to non-carer peers. By the end of primary school, they were 35% less likely to reach expected standards across reading, writing and maths, with lower GCSE achievement rates.
Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 participants to understand parent experiences with in-home medical devices. The study highlights the critical role of device user experience in designing medical devices for children with complex medical needs.
Researchers analyzed electronic health record data from 1,207 patients in Barcelona, Spain, and found that those with higher continuity of care had fewer emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Patients who saw their assigned clinician more often were less likely to use home ambulance services.
In Ontario, primary care home visits for adults aged 65 years and older decreased by nearly 30% after a 2019 policy change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonpalliative visits declined more than palliative ones, which showed growth after 2020.
A study found that witnessing terminal lucidity in children is a profoundly spiritual experience, influencing caregivers' belief systems and sparking personal growth. Caregivers reported disclosing what they witnessed to others, receiving mixed reactions from healthcare professionals and colleagues.
A study found that one-third of patients in an at-home hypertension management program could not complete weekly readings, highlighting the need for more convenient and less burdensome monitoring tools. The researchers suggest innovative wearable devices that can passively collect blood pressure readings to reduce patient burden.
Studies show that patients with advanced ovarian and metastatic breast cancer dedicate approximately 7 hours per week to cancer-related tasks. Most participants report performing these tasks daily, impacting their time burden. The use of a mobile app facilitated the collection of detailed time-use data.
The study found that behavioral health care accounted for $41.8 billion of overall health spending in 2022, with families paying an average of $2.9 billion out-of-pocket. The costs have grown more than twice as fast as other types of medical care, with telehealth visits increasing by 99% per year.
A new machine learning model developed at the University of Michigan uses data from wearable sensors to predict how physical therapists would assess balance training performance. The model was trained with sensor data combined with analysis from physical therapists and predicted patients' balance ratings with nearly 90% accuracy.
A recent study found that more adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer received palliative care between 2018 and 2022 compared to previous studies. However, the researchers also noted challenges in providing quality palliative care, including stigma and high-intensity end-of-life care.
The Home Health Focus dataset provides insights into Medicare home health use from 2016 to 2019, including demographic data and patient function indicators. The analysis shows a rise in home health stays among beneficiaries while a decrease in active agencies during the same period.
A UCSF study found that a combination of outreach methods, including texts and live phone calls, significantly improves follow-up care for hard-to-reach patients. The integrated approach increased engagement among African American patients to 76.4% and improved overall reach rate by 3.5%, supporting their recovery and treatment outcomes.
Despite national policy, palliative care is often not equally accessible to all, with most people dying in hospitals or nursing homes rather than at home. The researchers emphasize the need for systematic implementation and integration of person-centred palliative care across different care settings.
A survey of 4,890 participants found that people are open to using home-care robots as long as they view them beneficially. Collaboration between users and developers is crucial for adoption, with emphasis on ethical considerations. Robots may play a significant role in addressing Japan's aging population and social healthcare challenges.
A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that specially qualified nurses with extended roles can measurably improve the care of people with dementia living at home. The approach reduced unmet needs more effectively than standard care and improved the quality of life for affected individuals.
Poor sleep quality affects over 1 in 5 residents in long-term care facilities, leading to increased medication use, falls, and delirium. Modifiable risk factors like pain management, medication review, and improved sleep routines can help mitigate these issues.
A University of East Anglia study found that treating patients at home with IV antibiotics can save the NHS over £3,500 per patient and potentially free-up vital hospital beds. The treatment involves having antibiotics prepared at home and continuously delivered into the bloodstream by an elastomeric pump.
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in private homes show effectiveness in improving patient outcomes for those with shockable rhythms during cardiac arrest. However, considering the rarity of cardiac arrest at home and current AED pricing, general purchase is not deemed cost-effective.
A new RNA-based therapy targeting Marfan syndrome shows promise in treating the genetic disorder, which can lead to aortic aneurysms and be fatal. The therapy, developed by Mizzou researcher Dunpeng Cai, aims to correct mutated RNA for those with Marfan syndrome.
A University of Kansas program called Resilience Alliance has been found effective in reducing secondary traumatic stress and improving resilience among child care workers. The 12-week remote intervention helped lower stress levels and boost resilience, leading to better family outcomes.
In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that unplanned, premature births outside hospitals in Austria posed significant challenges for emergency teams. The study identified key findings on how to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns, including the importance of standardised protocols, training, and equipment availability.
A significant risk factor for in-home firearm homicide is domestic violence and child abuse, highlighting the need for improved safe storage laws and extreme risk protection orders. Young children are disproportionately affected, emphasizing the importance of preventing these deaths through stricter regulations.
A recent study at UC San Diego Health found that virtual transition of care clinics lower hospital readmissions for high-risk patients by 14.9%. The clinic provides immediate post-hospital care, reducing no-show rates and improving patient outcomes.
A portable device using machine learning can detect signs of concussions in real-time, providing a more objective way to assess injuries. The Mizzou Point-of-Care Assessment System combines a force plate, depth camera and interface board to track movement, balance and reaction times.
Home high-intensity aerobic training outperforms home balance training in improving ataxia symptoms, fatigue, and aerobic fitness among those with cerebellar ataxias. Regular training maintained benefits at 1 year.
A new article by Dr. Leonard Berry of Texas A&M University argues that values-driven listening can improve care and heal the healthcare system. The authors identify six types of listening, including proximate, curious, earning trust, aided by design, empowering, and fostering resilience, which contribute to better care.
Washington State University researchers developed an AI model that can accurately identify everyday activities from smartwatch data, achieving an accuracy rate of 78%. This breakthrough has potential applications in assessing cognitive health, rehabilitation, disease management, and surgical recovery.
A new book written by an international team from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Oxford argues that data-driven decision-making can improve healthcare outcomes. The authors explain how analytics can be used to optimize hospital operations, manage bed allocation, and improve treatment efficiency.
Home care cooperatives have identified key drivers of improved care quality, including worker input, motivation, selective hiring, and high-quality training. These findings have the potential to significantly improve care quality across the home care sector.
A new poll reveals significant variation in older adults' preparations to age in place, with 46% having taken steps to make their home more age-friendly. However, differences persist based on health, disability, and home ownership status, highlighting opportunities for policymakers and families.
A study explores how technology can be used to support home care workers, rather than just surveil them. The WeClock app collected data on workers' experiences, identifying wage discrepancies and helping advocates build stronger cases for policy change.
Researchers analyzed trends in healthcare utilization among Japan's oldest-old population aged 75 years and above during the extended COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis revealed a modest drop in medical services and outpatient visits, while healthcare costs remained stable despite decreased patient volumes.
A new UC lab-on-a-chip device developed by engineers measures the stress hormone cortisol from a patient's saliva, helping doctors diagnose depression and anxiety. The device provides objective evidence for clinicians to supplement traditional screenings, raising red flags about patients' levels of stress.
A new poll by Michigan Medicine reveals that nearly two-thirds of Americans over 50 believe Medicare will cover their nursing home costs, despite it not currently paying for this type. Only half have taken key actions to prepare for long-term care needs. The poll also shows that 70% of people who survive to age 65 will need long-term c...
A new study conducted by Medical University of South Carolina shows that long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy for persons living with HIV can be administered safely and effectively at home. Patient satisfaction scores were high for both groups, and no serious safety issues were observed.
A recent study found that telehealth visits in pediatric primary care significantly reduced antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory tract infections. The research analyzed over 540,000 visits and showed that children treated with telehealth were less likely to receive antibiotics than those examined in person.
A new study from the University of Missouri highlights how 'smoothed' graphs can help doctors better manage patients with hypertension. The findings suggest that these graphs can reduce errors in assessing blood pressure control, potentially alleviating pressure on the healthcare system.
A new study finds that a remote patient monitoring program reduced hospitalizations by 59% among high-risk patients, even after they mailed back their devices. The program uses digital health devices and clinician support to monitor vital signs and symptoms.
A recent study found that ischemic stroke mortality rates have increased in the US over the past two decades, particularly among racial minorities and rural residents. The majority of these deaths now occur at home, rather than in hospitals or medical facilities.
Rebecca Conant, MD, a pioneering leader in home-based geriatric care, has been honored by the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) as Clinician of the Year for her transformative impact on geriatric medicine. Her leadership and innovations have expanded access to high-quality, person-centered care for older adults.
Home care cooperatives have achieved half the turnover rates of traditional agencies, thanks to factors like respect, control, job support, and compensation. These cooperative businesses are owned and operated by caregivers themselves, fostering a more collaborative experience.
A new Electronic Frailty Index 2 (eFI2) system will improve the accuracy of identifying older people's frailty by integrating data on 36 health problems. This will enable GPs to provide personalized treatments to prevent costly loss of independence and falls in older age.
People with heart failure who can travel outside their home without assistance are less likely to be hospitalized or die within a year. Life-space mobility, a measure of how far patients move in their communities, is a reliable marker of risk for adverse outcomes in chronic diseases.
Adult patients with congenital heart disease have poor exercise capacity due to increased sedentary behavior. Increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for 10 minutes daily can boost peak oxygen uptake by up to 0.454 mL/min/kg, suggesting a positive impact on prognosis and mobility.