Home-Based Primary Care for Older Adults
Summary
Home-based primary care for older adults has become a cornerstone of contemporary health systems in response to global population ageing and the rising prevalence of chronic multimorbidity. This model delivers comprehensive medical, nursing and supportive services in the patient’s residence, thereby minimising travel burdens, enhancing continuity of care and reducing acute‐care utilisation. Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team—typically encompassing physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, therapists and community health aides—who conduct regular in-home assessments, tailor medication regimens, manage symptoms and coordinate ancillary services such as personal care and social support. Technological enablers, including telehealth consultations, remote monitoring devices and mobile electronic health records, extend clinical oversight beyond traditional office visits. Diverse funding mechanisms—from fee-for-service to value-based contracts—sustain these programmes by aligning incentives towards quality outcomes and cost containment. While evidence demonstrates improvements in patient satisfaction, functional status and reductions in hospital admissions, barriers remain in workforce capacity, data interoperability and equitable provision in rural or resource-limited settings. Emerging priorities include scalable integration with community services, workforce development initiatives and policy frameworks to support ageing-in-place effectively and sustainably.
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Home-Based Primary Care for Older Adults publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in home-based primary care for older adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC): An ongoing, in-home medical service for patients with complex health needs, integrating clinical and supportive care.
Homebound Status: A condition in which individuals have difficulty or are unable to leave their residence unassisted, often due to physical, cognitive or mobility limitations.
Interdisciplinary Team: A collaborative group of professionals from varied disciplines who jointly plan and deliver patient-centred care.
Integrated Care Model: A coordinated approach that combines medical, personal and social services to address the holistic needs of patients across settings.
Value-Based Contract: A funding arrangement that ties provider reimbursement to quality metrics and patient outcomes rather than service volume.
References
- The Resurgence of Home-Based Primary Care Models in the United States. Geriatrics (2018).
- Home and community-based services coordination for homebound older adults in home-based primary care. BMC Geriatrics (2018).
- Operation and challenges of home-based medical practices in the US: findings from six aggregated case studies. BMC Health Services Research (2018).
- Modifiable risk factors for homebound progression among those with and without dementia in a longitudinal survey of community-dwelling older adults. BMC Geriatrics (2021).
- Patient-Centered Integrated Model of Home Health Care Services in South Korea (PICS-K). International Journal of Integrated Care (2023).
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