The experiences and needs of frail older people receiving home health care: A qualitative study.

The study included 15 participants, so it is a description of a small group's views rather than a pattern that can be assumed to apply to all frail older people. Data collection was limited by pandemic restrictions: the planned five regions became three, some interviews were by telephone instead of face to face, and collaboration with other agencies stopped. During face to face interviews, the participant's home care nurse was present, which may have affected what participants said. Participants had no diagnosed dementia or overt cognitive impairment and had Barthel ADL scores of 65 or less, so the findings do not cover people with more severe cognitive impairment. Gender differences were not analysed, although the sample included 10 women and 5 men. All interviews were conducted by the first author, and the authors noted a risk of subjectivity in interpretation.

The authors declared no conflict of interest. Funding was from Grantová Agentura, Univerzita Karlova and Agentura Pro Zdravotnický Výzkum České Republiky.

Do not treat these themes as proof that assigning the same nurse, longer visits, or more information improves clinical outcomes. The study asked 15 frail older people what they valued in home health care; it did not test those care features.