Review of Outreach Services for the Elderly: A controlled trial of interdisciplinary intervention

Methods In this controlled study, subjects were aged 65 years or over and had two or more unplanned hospital admissions in the previous 12 months. General practice lists in demographically adjacent areas in Glasgow determined selection of subjects to intervention and control groups. Subjects were interviewed and outcome measures including Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Index (Nottingham EADL), Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment Tool (Tinetti), Functional Reach (FR), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Life Satisfaction Index (LSI) were recorded at baseline and at two months. Patients in the intervention group received input by an i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a ry team, which included rehabilitation technical instructors. The control group received usual care. Reassessment will be performed at 12 months to determine functional status, hospital readmission and direct costs.