Home care of the frail elderly and the terminally ill.

This article discusses general principles of managing both elderly and terminally ill patients. The decision to care for the chronically sick in their homes is necessarily a joint one, made by the patient and supported by his or her family and physician. The physician must understand the patient's medical problems, and determine that the home environment is conducive to care and that one family member is available as a fulltime caregiver. The physician can call upon other professionals, including physiotherapists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and clergymen, to help him care for the patient at home.