Home care: An opportunity for physiotherapy?

Abstract

Remaining physically active in later life is critical to maintaining independence in activities of daily living and is a major contributor to overall health status amongst older people. Traditionally a key focus of physiotherapy has been on maintaining functional capacity and mobility. However, the health and disability sector is a constantly evolving entity. Clinicians from a number of disciplines, including physiotherapy, need to be flexible, responsive and innovative and maximise cost benefit for the service funder. Nicholls et al. (2009) highlighted the imperative need for physiotherapists to investigate innovative models that align with current and future policy and health care reforms. Over the past 15 years there has been an increased emphasis on supporting older people to remain living at home. This article describes New Zealand and international evidence relating to the optimisation of the potential role of physiotherapy in providing rehabilitation expertise into the provision of home care for older people.