Background: Adopting a better understanding of how both older adults and health care providers view the community management of frailty is necessary for improving home health, especially facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted a qualitative focus group study to assess how both older adults and health care providers view frailty and virtual health care in home health.
Methods: Two focus groups enrolled home-living older adults and health care professionals, respectively (n = 15). Questions targeting the use of virtual / telehealth technologies in-home care for frail older adults were administered at audio-recorded group interviews. Transcribed discussions were coded and analyzed using NVivo software.
Results: The older adult group emphasized the autonomy related to increasing frailty and social isolation and the need for transparent dissemination of health care planning. They were optimistic about remote technology-based supports and suggested that telehealth / health-monitoring/tracking were in high demand. Health care professionals emphasized the importance of a holistic biopsychosocial approach to frailty management. They highlighted the need for standardized early assessment and management of frailty.
Conclusions: The integrated perspectives provided an updated understanding of what older adults and practitioners value in home-living supports. This knowledge is helpful to advancing virtual home care, providing better care for frail individuals with complex health care needs.
Keywords: aging in place; focus group; frailty; homecare; technology; telehealth.
© 2021 The Authors. Aging Medicine published by Beijing Hospital and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.