Choosing the Place of Care for an Elderly Patient with a Long-term Illness

An elderly person with a long-term illness may receive the care related to his/her primary disease either at home or in an institution. The care facilities for elderly patients with a long-term illness vary as regards the number of staff, skill levels and the medical equipment available. The various care facilities have therefore been graded to match the level of care required by the patient; those who need the least amount of care are assigned to care facilities with the smallest number of staff and those with higher care requirements are placed in care facilities with higher staff numbers. The grading of care facilities is supported by its cost effectiveness, but the transferring of ill and elderly patients during their last years of life can be considered a drawback.