På Sveriges akutmottagningar ses att vistelsetiden ökar och att äldre över 65 år är de som står för nära hälften av alla akutbesök och mer än hälften av all sammanlagd vårdtid. Vistelsetiden inom sjukvården beskrivs med två begrepp, LOS som står för den totala vistelsetiden inom sjukhuset och ED LOS som beskriver vistelsetiden på akutmottagningen. Förlängd ED LOS och LOS drabbar äldre genom ökad förekomst av vårdskador och dödlighet. Skörhet är ett begrepp som används för att beskriva äldre som bedöms ha ökad risk att drabbas av sådana negativa konsekvenser. Sjuksköterskan på akutmottagningen har en nyckelfunktion inom patientsäkerhetsarbete och en viktig roll i att effektivisera patientflödet.  Syftet var att beskriva sjuksköterskeinitierade interventioner för sköra äldre på akutmottagning genom att undersöka vad som var gemensamt i interventionerna samt deras effekt på ED LOS och LOS.  En litteraturöversikt användes som metod. Datainsamlingen genomfördes via databassökningarna i PubMed och CINAHL. Femton vetenskapliga artiklar som beskrev sjuksköterskeinitierade interventioner som utfördes på akutmottagningar och som mätte ED LOS och LOS inkluderades i resultatet. Artiklarna kvalitetsgranskades och analyserades genom en integrerad analys.  I resultatet framkom tre huvudkategorier med sju tillhörande underkategorier som beskrev gemensamma fynd i interventionerna. Huvudkategorierna var kunskapens betydelse för interventionen, samverkan för den sköra äldre och identifiering, bedömning och behandling av sköra äldre. ED LOS och LOS presenterades i relation till huvudkategorier och underkategorier. ED LOS minskade i nio interventioner, ökade i två och hade ingen signifikant skillnad i två. LOS hade ingen signifikant skillnad i fem interventioner och minskade i tre.  Slutsatsen var att specialistsjuksköterskor har en viktig roll i att utveckla, implementera och leda interventioner för sköra äldre samt att samarbete mellan professioner och över organisationsgränser och införande av snabbspår var viktiga gemensamma faktorer i interventioner som minskade ED LOS och i viss mån LOS.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Akuta försämringstillstånd i hemmet hos de mest sjuka äldre inträffar ofta. Det är inte ovanligt att flera olika vårdverksamheter är inblandade i vården kring denna grupp vilket ställer krav på en fungerande samverkan. Sjuksköterskor inom flera verksamheter möter de äldre vid akuta försämringstillstånd vilket skapar behov av en fungerande samverkan. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa upplevelser av samverkan bland sjuksköterskor verksamma inom kommun, primärvård, ambulans och akutmottagning i samband med att de mest sjuka äldre blir akut försämrad i sitt hem. Metod: Kvalitativ metod med fokusgruppsintervjuer med sjuksköterskor som hade erfarenhet av samverkan kring de mest sjuka äldre vid akuta försämringstillstånd i hemmet. Intervjuerna analyserades enligt Burnard (1996) innehållsanalys i fyra steg. Resultatet: Analysen resulterade i två huvudkategorier samt sex underkategorier. Huvudkategorin Ensam i teamet presenteras i underrubrikerna Att företräda de mest sjuka äldre, Avsaknad av bedömning på plats och Interaktion med kollegor. Huvudkategorin Jakten på information presenteras i underrubrikerna Betydelsen av information om de mest sjuka äldre, Avsaknad av gemensamt IT-stöd och Behov av att dela information. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskorna upplever samverkan som en nödvändighet vid akuta försämringstillstånd av de mest sjuka äldre i hemmet. Samverkan visar sig dock vara kantad av barriärer. För att kunna bedöma och möta behoven hos de mest sjuka äldre i dessa situationer efterfrågar sjuksköterskorna en förändrad struktur för teamsamverkan, förbättrad kommunikation och informationsdelning. Detta skulle gagna samverkan och den personcentrerade vården. / Background: Reduced general condition at home among the most frail elderly are common. Collaboration of care is necessary as many different health care providers often are involved. Since nurses often meet the most frail elderly in their home in these situations they dependent ona well-functioning collaboration between the health care providers. Aim of this study was to elucidate nurses experiences of collaboration of care around the mostfrail elderly when reduced general condition at home. Method: Qualitative focusgroupinterviews with fifteen nurses from community based care,primary care, ambulance care and emergency care with experience of caring for the most frailelderly and collaboration of care in the elderly’s home. According to the qualitative contentanalysis described by Bernard (1996) the focusgroupinterviews were analysed. Result: The result consists of the two main categories Alone in the team and The pursuit forinformation and the six subcategories To represent the most frail elderly, Absence of medicalassessment, Interaction between colleges, The importance of information, Absence of shared ITsystem and The want of sharing information. Conclusion: Nurses consider collaboration of care as necessary amongst the most frail elderlywhen reduced general condition at home. The result indicate that collaboration of care is difficultto achieve. To meet the needs of the most frail elderly in these situations nurses desires a changein structure to provide for team collaboration, approvement in communication and in sharinginformation. According to nurses, this would benefit collaboration of care and the personcentered care.

Structural equation modeling was utilized in studying the voluntariness of the assumption of caregiving status. A model hypothesizing the stress flow that occurs when assuming a new life schema was presented. Utilizing three groups of caregiving populations, Home Caregivers, Intermediate Care Facility Aides, and Intensive Care Units and Emergency Room Nurses (N = 66), measures were administered to determine the voluntariness of the assumption of the role of caregiver. Path analysis and causal interpretation were utilized to determine outcomes. The involuntary assumption of the role of caretaker was shown to significantly affect depression and burnout rates negatively when perceived feelings of burden were high. When caretaker age was greater upon assumption of the role, self-esteem was low and family support was perceived to be lacking. When the role of caretaker is assumed on a voluntary basis and support from outside sources is perceived as helpful (i.e., social or financial support from the family), job stress and the subjective manageability of the symptoms were viewed as manageable. Implications for those assuming the role of caretaker with the elderly were examined, and recommendations for further training and interventions within the caretaker population were offered.

A fragilidade é uma síndrome geriátrica de causa multifatorial e está associada ao declínio funcional, à dependência, a quedas recorrentes, a fraturas, à institucionalização, hospitalização e morte. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a evolução da fragilidade e sua relação com a mortalidade em idosos que vivem em uma comunidade brasileira, em um período médio de seguimento de 2055,5 (dp=86,4) dias. Trata-se de uma coorte, realizada em duas avaliações na cidade de Ribeirão Preto-SP, com uma amostra na primeira etapa em 2007/2008 de 515 idosos e na segunda com 262 idosos que viviam na comunidade de ambos os sexos e idade igual ou superior a 65 anos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de visitas domiciliares, utilizando-se os instrumentos de informação pessoal, perfil social, morbidades autorreferidas, Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) e mortalidade. Os dados foram analisados por meio do Programa SPSS, onde foram realizadas as análises estatísticas. Utilizou-se análise univariada dos dados e para as variáveis qualitativas a distribuição de frequências absolutas(n) e relativas(%). Para as variáveis quantitativas, foram usados medidas de tendência central (média e mediana), dispersão (desvio-padrão); Teste t pareado, teste de qui-quadrado, teste de McNemar, teste de Wilcoxon, Coeficiente de correlação de Pearson, Exato de Fisher, Risco Relativo, análise de sobrevivência de Kaplan-Meier e Regressão de Cox. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Na primeira avaliação, em 2007/2008, participaram da pesquisa 515 idosos, sendo 67,4% do sexo feminino, média de idade de 75,37, sendo maior proporção de casados e média de 5,56 doenças. Em 2013, foram reavaliados 262 participantes, sendo maioria de mulheres com a média de idade de 79,31, maior proporção de viúvos e com média de doenças de 5,16. Quanto à evolução da fragilidade, houve um aumento significativo, durante o período de seguimento, com uma prevalência de fragilidade de 17,6%, em 2007/2008, e 50,4%, em 2013. Na análise dos itens da escala, percebeu-se uma diferença significativa entre as duas avaliações na função cognitiva, internação dos últimos 12 meses, descrição do estado de saúde, capacidade funcional, polifarmácia, incontinência urinária e desempenho funcional. Observou-se, ainda, uma correlação entre a escolaridade e o número de doenças e fragilidade, em que quanto menor a escolaridade, maior o escore de fragilidade. E quanto maior a evolução do número de doenças, maior o escore de fragilidade. Entre os idosos que faleceram, a maioria era do sexo feminino, com uma média de idade de 79,18 anos, maior percentagem de viúvos e 45,7% frágeis. O risco relativo de óbito foi significativamente maior entre os idosos mais velhos e entre aqueles que não tinham companheiro. Ao verificar a análise de sobrevivência, constatou-se ainda que a proporção de sobreviventes foi significativamente maior entre os idosos que tinham companheiro e entre aqueles não frágeis. E considerando o modelo de regressão de Cox, verificou-se que o grupo etário e a fragilidade foram preditores para o óbito. Portanto, reconhecer os fatores que contribuem para a evolução da fragilidade pode contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida e, consequentemente, para uma maior sobrevida / Frailty is a geriatric syndrome of multifactorial cause and is associated with functional decline, dependency, recurrent falls, fractures, institutionalization, hospitalization and death. The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of frailty and its association with mortality in older people who live in a Brazilian community in a mean follow-up period of 2055.5 (sd=86.4) days. This is a cohort study conducted in two assessments in the city of Ribeirão Preto, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with a first stage sample of 515 older people in 2007 and 2008, and the second with 262 older people of both genders, aged 65 years and older, who lived in the community. Data were collected by means of home visits, with the use of the following tools: personal information, social profile, self-reported morbidities, Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) and mortality. The data were analyzed by means of the SPSS software, where statistical analyses were conducted. Univariate analysis of the data, and absolute(n) and relative(%) frequencies for qualitative variables were used. Measures of central tendency (mean and median), dispersion (standard deviation); paired t-test, chi- squared test, McNemar\'s test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Pearson\'s correlation coefficient, Fisher\'s exact test, relative risk, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used for quantitative variables. The research project was approved by the Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing Ethics Committee, at University of São Paulo. In the first assessment in 2007 and 2008, 515 older people participated in the study, being 67.4% women, with a mean age of 75.37 years, a higher proportion of married individuals and who had a mean of 5.56 diseases. In 2013, 262 participants were re-evaluated, being most women with a mean age of 79.3 years, with a higher proportion of widowers and a mean of 5.16 diseases. Regarding the evolution of frailty, a significant increase was observed during the follow-up period, with frailty prevalence of 17.6% in 2007 and 2008, and 50.4% in 2013. In the analysis of the scale items, a significant difference was observed between the two assessments as for the cognitive function, hospitalization in the last 12 months, description of the health condition, functional capacity, polypharmacy, urinary incontinence and functional performance. A correlation between education and number of diseases with frailty was also observed, in which, the lower the education level, the higher the frailty score, and the higher the evolution of the number of diseases, the higher the frailty score. Among the older people who died, most were women, with a mean age of 79.18 years, with a higher proportion of widowers and 45.7% frail individuals. The relative risk of death was significantly higher among the oldest individuals and those who did not have partners. When verifying the survival analysis, it was also noted that the proportion of survivors was significantly higher among the older people who did not have partners and those who were not frail. Moreover, considering the Cox regression model, it was verified that age group and frailty were predictors for death. Therefore, recognizing factors that contribute to the evolution of frailty can contribute to improving quality of life, and consequently having a longer life

Introdução: O Programa Gestão de Casos foi implantado em novembro de 2009 pela Organização Social Santa Catarina em cinco UBS do modelo tradicional na Microrregião Cidade Ademar, zona sul do Município de São Paulo. A finalidade foi estabelecer vínculo longitudinal das pessoas com condições crônicas muito complexas com a equipe da APS e, em longo prazo, promover a qualidade de vida e favorecer o aumento da autonomia e da independência dessas pessoas. Assistentes sociais atuaram como gestores de caso nas UBS onde o Programa foi implantado. Objetivo: Avaliar a implantação do Programa, buscando analisar a influência dos fatores contextuais (UBS e grau de funcionalidade do idoso) sobre a implantação, assim como o efeito da implantação nos resultados produzidos. Método: Pesquisa avaliativa do tipo estudo de caso, de abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. A população foi constituída por todos os idosos acompanhados pelo Programa nas cinco UBS, no período de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro 2014, identificados a partir do banco de dados do Programa. A fonte de dados foram os registros administrativos. Os critérios para avaliação do grau de implantação e dos resultados do Programa foram definidos com base na literatura. Foi realizada a classificação clínico-funcional dos idosos acompanhados, descritas as atividades e os produtos do Programa e os desfechos do acompanhamento. Os resultados do Programa foram medidos por: 1) acesso à APS; 2) utilização dos serviços, descritas pelas variáveis consulta médica, consulta especializada, consulta de enfermagem, atendimento por outros profissionais de nível superior e visitas domiciliárias; 3) integração dos serviços HGP, AD e UBS e 4) vínculo longitudinal com a equipe da APS. A comparação entre a implantação do Programa e os fatores contextuais, assim como entre o grau de funcionalidade dos idosos e a UBS foi feita utilizando-se o teste de associação pelo Qui-quadrado. O teste de Mann-Whitney foi aplicado para comparar a implantação e as variáveis de utilização dos serviços durante o primeiro ano de acompanhamento no Programa. A comparação entre a implantação do Programa e o vínculo longitudinal com a equipe da APS foi feita por meio do teste de associação pelo Qui-quadrado. Resultados: O grau de implantação do Programa foi 39,4%, considerado crítico. Observou-se associação significativa entre os fatores contextuais e a implantação do Programa. A implantação satisfatória do Programa aumentou a utilização dos serviços, descrita pela consulta médica na APS, consulta médica ambulatorial e pela somatória da consulta de enfermagem e do atendimento por outros profissionais de nível superior da UBS. Observou-se associação entre a implantação do Programa e a produção de vínculo longitudinal com a equipe da APS. Conclusão: Na atenção aos idosos frágeis no contexto da APS, a implantação do Programa Gestão de Casos evidenciou maior resolutividade da atenção a esse grupo prioritário, ampliou a utilização das consultas médica e de enfermagem e o atendimento por outros profissionais de nível superior da UBS. Além disso, associou-se à produção de vínculo longitudinal com a equipe da APS. Os resultados deste estudo permitem recomendar melhorias na implantação do Programa. / Introduction: The Case Management Program was implemented in November 2009 by the Santa Catarina Social Organization in five Health Care Unit (HCU) of the traditional model in the Ademar City Microregion, in the south region of São Paulo city. The purpose was to establish the longitudinal link of people with very complex chronic conditions with the PHC team and, in the long term, to promote the quality of life and to increase the autonomy and independence of these people. Social workers acted as case managers in the HCU where the Program was implemented. Objective: To evaluate the implementation of the Program, aiming to analyze the influence of the contextual factors (HCU and degree of functionality of the elderly) on the implantation, as well as the effect of the implantation in the results produced. Method: Evaluative research, case study type, with a quantitative and qualitative approach. The population was all the elderly accompanied by the Program in the five UBS, from January 2011 to December 2014, identified from the Program database. The data source was the administrative records. The criteria for evaluating the degree of implementation and the results of the Program were defined based on literature. The clinical-functional classification of the elderly was followed up, the activities and products of the Program and the follow-up outcomes were described. The results of the Program were measured by: 1) access to PHC; 2) use of services, described by the variables medical consultation, specialized consultation, nursing consultation, provision care by other health professionals and home visits; 3) integration of the Hospital, home care services and HCU and 4) longitudinal linkage with the APS team. The comparison between the implementation of the Program and the contextual factors, as well as between the degree of functionality of the elderly and the HCU was made using the Chi-square association test. The Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare the implementation and the variables of service utilization during the first year of the Program follow-up. The comparison between the implementation of the Program and the longitudinal link with the PHC team was made through the Chi-square association test. Results: The degree of implementation of the Program was 39.4%, considered critical. A significant association was observed between the contextual factors and the Program implementation. The satisfactory implementation of the Program increased the use of health services, described by the number of medical consultation in the APS, outpatient medical consultation and by the sum of nursing consultation and provision of care by health professionals. An association was observed between the implementation of the Program and the production of longitudinal link with the PHC team. Conclusion: In the care of the frail elderly in the context of PHC, the implementation of the Case Management Program evidenced greater resolution of attention to this priority group, expanded the use of medical and nursing consultations and the provision of care by other health professionals. In addition, it was associated with the production of longitudinal link with the PHC team. The results of this study allow us to recommend improvements in the implementation of the Program.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-08-03T17:50:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RaimundoSousaNeto.pdf: 1546457 bytes, checksum: 8ca2b0801082558761dd5b57e6169ad6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-03T17:50:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RaimundoSousaNeto.pdf: 1546457 bytes, checksum: 8ca2b0801082558761dd5b57e6169ad6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-01-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / The general objective of the research was to verify the association of the risk of falling to the fear of falling in the elderly served in the Family Health Strategy of São Luís, Maranhão. The specific objectives were: To characterize the sociodemographic and health profile of elderly people more susceptible to falls; To verify the factors influencing the risk of falls in the elderly served in the Family Health Strategy; To verify the influencing factors in the fear of falling from the elderly served in the Family Health Strategy. This was a cross-sectional, analytical study with a quantitative approach carried out at the Basic Health Units of the city of São Luís, between September and November 2015, with elderly individuals aged 60 years or older, reaching a total of 203 researched. A sociodemographic and health identification card, Downton risk scale and fall efficacy scale were used as instruments of the research. Initially, the descriptive analysis was performed by means of absolute and relative frequencies. The chi-square association test was then used to evaluate the relationship between the risk of falling and fear of falling, and their relationship with sociodemographic characteristics. For significant associations, logistic regressions were calculated. The collected data was stored in a specific database created on the Microsoft Excel version 2016 spreadsheet. After that, the statistical analysis of the data was performed in the IBM SPSS program. The research is part of the project "Chronic Conditions in the Elderly Served in the Family Health Strategy in São Luís-MA", meets the aspects recommended in resolution 466/12, and was approved with the opinion number 949.100. The sample studied is mostly composed of women, aged 60-69 years, married, with at least complete primary education, who do not live alone, do not have a diagnosis of osteoporosis, have already received guidance on falls prevention, which Do not practice physical activity and when they do it, they do it in the same age group, until they are 89 years old and they have already diagnosed basic diseases. From the Chi-Square test a highly significant p-value was obtained, demonstrating that the risk of falling depends on the fear of falling. The characteristics of age, schooling, diagnosis of osteoporosis, not practicing physical activity and presenting underlying disease influence the risk of falling and fear of falling, since they present p-value with high significance, just as the fact of living alone also influences the Fear of falling. It is concluded that the risk of falling is associated with the fear of falling, that they are influenced by age, schooling, diagnoses of underlying diseases or osteoporosis, and sedentary lifestyle. It is assumed a high risk of falling into it. / O objetivo geral da pesquisa foi verificar a associação do risco de queda ao medo de cair nos idosos atendidos na Estratégia Saúde da Família de São Luís, Maranhão. Os objetivos específicos foram: Caracterizar o perfil sóciodemográfico e de saúde dos idosos mais suscetíveis à quedas; Verificar os fatores influenciadores no risco de queda em idosos atendidos na Estratégia Saúde da Família; Verificar os fatores influenciadores no medo de cair de idosos atendidos na Estratégia Saúde da Família. Tratou-se de um estudo do tipo analítico, transversal, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado em Unidades Básicas de Saúde da cidade de São Luís, entre os meses Setembro e Novembro de 2015, com idosos de 60 anos ou mais, chegando a um total de 203 pesquisados. Foram utilizados como instrumentos da pesquisa uma ficha de identificação sociodemográfica e de saúde, a escala do risco de quedas de Downton e a escala de eficácia de quedas. Inicialmente, foi realizada a análise descritiva por meio de frequências absolutas e relativas. Em seguida, utilizou-se o teste de Qui-Quadrado de associação para avaliar a relação entre as variáveis risco de queda e medo de cair, e a relação destas, com características sociodemográficas. Para associações significativas, foram calculadas regressões logísticas. Os dados coletados foram armazenados em um banco de dados específico criado na planilha Microsoft Excel versão 2016. Após ocorrido, a análise estatística dos dados foi realizada no programa IBM SPSS. A pesquisa faz parte do projeto “Condições Crônicas em Idosos Atendidos na Estratégia Saúde da Família em São Luís- MA”, atende aos aspectos recomendados na resolução 466/12, sendo aprovada com o parecer de número 949.100. A amostra estudada é composta em sua maioria por mulheres, com idade entre 60 e 69 anos, casadas, com pelo menos o ensino fundamental completo, que não moram sozinhas, não tem o diagnóstico de osteoporose, já receberam orientação sobre prevenção de quedas, que não praticam atividade física e quando a realizam, fazem na mesma faixa etária perdurando até os 89 anos de idade e apresentam doenças de base já diagnosticadas. A partir do teste de Qui-Quadrado alcançou-se como resultado um p-valor altamente significativo, demonstrando que o risco de queda depende do medo de cair. As características idade, escolaridade, ter diagnóstico de osteoporose, não praticar atividade física e apresentar doença de base influenciam no risco de queda e no medo de cair, pois apresentam p-valor com alta significância, assim como o fato de morar sozinho também influencia no medo de cair. Conclui-se que o risco de queda esta associado ao medo de cair, que os mesmos são influenciados por idade, escolaridade, diagnósticos de doenças de base ou de osteoporose, sedentarismo e por isso, ao determinar presença de medo de cair em um idoso deve-se presumir alto risco de queda no mesmo.

This work is a study of the day to day experiences of older people in receipt of in-home care, the experiences of their family carers, and of their careworkers, resulting in a hypothesis about the structure of the lifecycle towards the end of life, and a consideration of both structured transition and individual transitions to and within this life stage. It has taken off from Laslett�s (1989,1996) seminal work on age divisions, into Third and Fourth Ages. Through an initial examination of secondary sources, I have hypothesized that the older people in this care bracket are in fact in a new life stage, between that of the independent Third Age and the dependent Fourth Age. I call this life stage the stage of 'Supported Independence'. Further references to the secondary sources, and references to the data, have supported this hypothesis, and have shown that there is a structured transition from the stage of independence to that of supported independence. The value of building such a life stage lies in the ability we then have to emphasize the situation of in-home care, bringing to prominence the experiences of the three stakeholders in this care environment. I have used the rites of passage concept to make known the issues involving the move from independence to dependence and those issues predominant in receiving in-home care, in being the carer at such a time, and in being the careworker within the invisibility of home. This has shown a formalized separation from the independent identity, and a prolonged stage of liminality because of an often uncertain form of service delivery. In this liminal stage also are revealed the emotions of living at home with a disability and with care, the improvisatory practices, the passivity and the assertiveness of this time of ageing. By applying this concept also to the family carers, I show the movement of families into and through the caring role, the joy of caring and the difficulties of taking responsibility without authority. I have shown carers� own improvisatory practices, and their determination to maintain the care recipient at home as long as possible. For the careworker, the rites of passage concept shows how she (and the careworker participants in this study are all women), can act to either maintain the liminal position of the recipients or assist in their reconnection to greater autonomy. Exploring the careworkers� own positions by means of the rites of passage concept highlights their inter-structural position between the public and private sectors, and highlights too, the care industry�s position, between that of a time managed industry and a recipient-directed industry. Whether this can be regarded as liminal depends on the philosophies of care adopted by the industry. In summary, the study examines the significance of the place of care, challenging the dominant ideology that home is best, and putting forward for consideration principles of care for other models of service delivery.

Telecare has been an approach to care that, internationally, has experienced a generally rapid development during the last ten years. There are many examples of successful pilot projects where ICT applications have been used in the care of elderly: for improved remote consultation with health professionals, to improve the communication and support of the elderly person’s social network, and as intelligent sensors intended to improve the safety of the elderly person. Despite these successes, implementation has been slow. This research project was set up to provide additional knowledge on some of the important questions regarding quality and implementation aspects of the use of ICT application on the care of frail elderly persons. The overall aim of the research project is to illuminate reasoning and experiences of using applications of telecare for frail elderly persons. The research project comprised five studies that were conducted using qualitative research methods. Four of them were carried out within the framework of three telecare projects. Different qualitative research approaches such as content analysis, phenomenological hermeneutics and conversational and discourse analysis were used, in accordance with the research questions of each study. The experiences revealed in the findings of the studies indicate that it is possible to have communication of good quality via videoconferencing with frail elderly persons, even those that have mild or mid-level dementia, provided the conditions are right. Technical limitations of the videoconferencing media in transferring communication cues and the limitations on what the camera can expose place special demands on those communicating with the frail elderly and on the general setting. On the other hand, these limitations on the context of interaction in some situations also seem to be an advantage for demented elderly persons and contribute to increased attention. One example of meaningful remote communication with frail elderly persons was family members’ videophone conversations with their demented relatives when they were placed in nursing homes or homes for respite services. This communication gave new possibilities of being involved in caring for, and of maintaining a relationship with, their demented relative. An introduction of teleconsultations in the care of frail elderly persons will, according to the experiences recorded, affect the professional role and the practical spheres of involved health professionals. The perceptions and experiences of participating health personnel indicate that in order for ICT applications to become valuable assets in the care of frail elderly persons they have to be part of a care alternative that is viewed by all concerned as the best alternative, as a whole, for all affected parties. Further research is needed in order to confirm or refute the findings of this thesis and in order to further broaden our understanding of the use of ICT applications in the care of frail elderly persons. This could facilitate a development of ICT applications suitable for the care of frail elderly persons and their introduction into regular care activities, to the benefit of both the frail elderly persons and their carers.

Bakgrund: Antalet äldre ökar vilket utgör en stor utmaning för samhället. Nationella satsningar pågår för att åstadkomma en sammanhållen vård och omsorg för de multisjuka äldre. Syfte: Att beskriva primärvårdsläkares och kommunala sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av samverkan för multisjuka äldre i ordinärt boende samt vilka faktorer de anser viktiga för att förebygga inläggning i slutenvården. Metod: Kvalitativ metod med fokusgruppsintervjuer där sammanlagt 15 sjuksköterskor och läkare deltog. Materialet analyserades med systematisk textkondensering. Resultat: Informanterna anser att flera faktorer påverkar om de multisjuka äldre kan vårdas kvar hemma, samverkan mellan primärvårdsläkare och kommunala sjuksköterskor utgör en viktig del men ansvaret för en allt högre medicinsk nivå i ordinärt boende kräver också andra resurser. En medicinsk vårdplanering underlättar men eftersom de mest sjuka äldres tillstånd snabbt kan förändras behöver de regelbundna hembesök. Detta är en förutsättning för att den medicinska säkerheten ska tryggas, särskilt efter utskrivning från slutenvården.  En utebliven planering och bristande information till patient och närstående ökar risken för sjukhusinläggningar som hade kunnat undvikas. Med ytterligare ersättning för att prioritera multisjuka äldre kan fler hembesök göras. De multisjuka äldres speciella behov ställer ökade krav på personalens kompetens.  Slutsats: Det finns ett engagemang för de multisjuka äldre och förslag på lösningar för att undvika slutenvård och återinläggningar både inom den egna organisation och i samverkan med vårdgrannar. De satsningar som görs nationellt och lokalt behöver utformas tillsammans med de läkare och sjuksköterskor som är närmast patienten för att tillvarata deras kompetens och erfarenhet. Först då kan rätt satsningar komma de multisjuka äldre till del. / Background: The ageing population has increased, which is a major challenge. National efforts are underway to develop coherent care for frail old people. Objective: To describe primary care physicians and community nurses' experiences of interaction for frail old people in home care, and the factors they consider important in preventing readmission. Methods: Qualitative methodology with focus groups involving 15 nurses and doctors. The material was analysed with systematic text condensation. Results: The informants consider that many factors determine whether the frail old people can stay in home care, collaboration between physicians and nurses is important but the responsibility for an increasing medical level in home care also require other resources. A medical healthcare planning facilitates but the frail old patient’s medical condition may change rapidly, regular home visits are needed. This is a prerequisite to ensure medical safety, particularly after discharge from inpatient care. Lack of planning and information to patients and their relatives increases the risk of readmission that could have been avoided. With additional compensation to prioritize the frail elderly, more home visits can be made. The frail old people’s special needs places increased demands on the staff skills. Conclusion: There is a commitment to the frail old people and suggestions for ways to avoid hospitalization and readmissions both within their own organization and in collaboration with healthcare neighbours. The efforts that are being made nationally and locally need to be in collaboration with the doctors and nurses who are closest to the patient to benefit from their skills and experiences. Only then, the right ventures can be made to benefit the frail old people.