Health care for the elderly — perspectives in relation to implementation of results from intervention studies in Norway and Denmark

Abstract

This editorial summarizes some examples of intervention studies from Norway and Denmark in relation to organizing health care for the elderly Never before have so many older people in Western countries had so many years with a high level of functional ability as older people have today. The cause of this improvement is complex – social and economic circumstances are better, and health care in relation to the technical and medical possibilities is much better. An increasing number of older people have an acceptable life despite one or more chronic diseases. At the same time, health care and welfare services are under severe financial pressure. There is a continuously ongoing process towards more outpatient care, fewer hospital beds and a reduction in days of inpatient care, with a tendency towards inpatient care concentrating on acute incidents and increasingly leaving the rehabilitation and follow-up care to the primary health care services [1]. Complex intervention can help elderly people to live safely and independently, and can be tailored to meet individuals’ needs and preferences [2]. An optimal strategy implies a multisectoral collaboration – integrated health care. Despite this knowledge there is still a lack of integration – patients are moved quickly through the emergency system towards discharge – ‘‘a hit and run system’’ – with poor communication with community services [1]. Preventive home visits – evidence and the law in Denmark