Physician home visits for persons with dementia: Is there a need?

Abstract

This study explores the potential role ofphysician home visits in the care of persons with dementia. Family caregivers (n = 182) of relatives with irreversible dementia were surveyed about their use of physician home visits, perceptions of the availability of home visits and anticipatedfuture need for this service. Persons with dementia who had used home visits had higher functional and mobility deficits, were more likely to have used other types of in-home assistance and were more likely to require catheter or decubitus care. Over half of the sample intends to use physician home visits in the future, but mostfamilies have not investigated the availability of the service. Barriers to the use of physician home visits are presented and policy implications are discussed.