Abstract
Multi-morbidity, polypharmacy, and baseline functional and cognitive impairment, as well as atypical disease presentations in older adults, make diagnosis of acute illnesses in older persons challenging. Homebound persons may be unable to present for primary care, which may delay diagnosis and prevent early treatment of acute illness, leading to poor outcomes. Evidence has shown that home-based treatment of many acute illnesses is not only effective but can improve both costs and outcomes. Rapid assessment by a provider along with the gathering of additional laboratory and imaging data using community partners can result in successful treatment and management of acute illness for homebound older adults.
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Houts, A.H. (2020). Acute Illness at Home. In: Colburn, J., Leff, B., Hayashi, J., Schuchman, M. (eds) Home-Based Medical Care for Older Adults. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23483-6_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23483-6_3
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