Home-Based Primary Care for Homebound Older Adults: Literature Review

Abstract

Home-based primary care (HBPC) refers to the type of home care services which provide interdisciplinary primary care services with a comprehensive and continuous manner. Currently, it is getting much attention due to possess potential of converting primary care services from outpatient clinic to home, especially for those who are medically isolated including homebound older adults. This study examined a number of HBPCs introduced in the literature since 1990s, and summarizes the key factors with the analytic framework of 5Ps: purpose, patients, people, process, patterns. The results of this study emphasize that contents of primary care for older population should be different from those of the general population. This paper may be interpreted as the practice guideline of the following policy questions: "How can we design the HBPC if it is introduced in the nearest future?" In the future, it is necessary to have a heated debate concerning what is the most desirable primary care system for older adults.