The Relationship Between Homebound Older People and Their Home Care Workers,or "The Pas de Deux" of Home Care

The multiple components in the provision of home care services, as distinct from home health care, are examined in this paper. Specifically addressed are the unique aspects of the setting, the particular characteristics of the elderly in need of care, the challenges to the care provider, and the dynamics of the relationship between the recipient and provider of care. Data were obtained from a sample (n = 200) of inner-city hospital clinic patients, aged 65+, of which 34% (n = 68) were home care clients. Practitioners can best design successful home care programs if consideration is given not only to a person's physical needs but also to their individual characteristics and those of the home care provider.