Impact of aging : the new frontier of healthcare at home

With the ageing of the population, more services will be required for the treatment and management of chronic and acute health conditions at home, especially those most prevalent with ageing. Several research experiences show that Healthcare at Home offers potential advantages over traditional healthcare options for both healthcare organizations and patients, however, there also are many challenges. The paper identifies criteria for the design of the physical environment (including the home, equipment, furniture, etc.) that support and facilitate safety, comfort, and healing, in relation: to the various patient populations (older adults with acute and chronic conditions, patients in rehabilitation, and patients of all ages with chronic illness) and their own physical and psychosocial needs; to the range of equipment/technology (for low- to high-acuity levels and chronic to acute care); to the caregiving and daily living activities (protocol, processes, and human behavior). Design criteria that support physical and psychosocial needs include the following: physical/technological bedroom layout; items of furniture and technological equipment.