Getting the most out of a home visit.

This article reviews the rationale and indications for home visits to elderly patients, and emphasizes the necessity of a home visit in order to obtain a complete picture of the patient and his or her problems. Many frail elderly people cannot obtain medical care unless they are seen at home. The home visit can expedite much preventive and anticipatory care, and may unearth previously unrecognized problems. The author makes a case for family physicians to re-incorporate regular, objective home visitation into the range of activities they carry out on behalf of their elderly patients.