Table 1 Participants
Patient | Age | Gender | Acute illness/acute function failure | Social and physical surroundings. Assistance. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 84 | F | Fall. Vertigo. | Widowed. Small flat. Assistance provided by daughter. |
B | 73 | F | Pneumonia | Married. Detached house. Assistance provided by husband and son. |
C | 71 | M | Fall | Widower. Detached house. Private cleaner. |
D | 82 | F | Visual disturbances | Widowed. Detached house. Assistance provided by daughter. Visited by community nurse. |
E | 88 | M | Fall | Married. Sheltered housing. Assistance provided by wife. Community nurse visits day and night. |
F | 80 | F | Fall. Medication poisoning. | Widowed. Detached house. Assistance provided by daughter and son-in-law. |
G | 88 | F | Fall | Widowed. Farmhouse. Assistance provided by son and daughter-in-law. Personal safety alarm, which is not in use. |
H | 83 | F | Pain | Widowed. Detached house. Assistance provided by son. |
I | 88 | F | Fall. Breathing difficulties. | Widowed. Summons her daughter as necessary. |
J | 72 | F | Pain | Married |
K | 71 | F | Fall | Married |
L | 82 | M | Dejected. Dehydrated. | Widower. Single after recent break-up with partner. |
M | 83 | M | Fall | Widower. Detached house. Assistance provided by son. Home help. Personal safety alarm, which is not in use. |
N | 92 | F | Arthritis. Pain. Breathing difficulties. | Widowed. Assistance provided by son and his family. Private cleaner. Community nurse. |
O | 83 | M | Acute worsening of known disease. | Married. Detached house. |