Bosch Deuschle

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities within healthcare systems worldwide, particularly in the care of frail older adults who faced elevated risks of severe disease, hospitalization, and mortality. Traditional hospital-based care, while essential for managing acute illness, often contributed to additional complications among older patients, including functional decline, delirium, hospital-acquired infections, and psychosocial distress. In response to these challenges, Hospital-at-Home (HaH) programs emerged as an innovative healthcare delivery model capable of providing acute, hospital-level care within patients' homes. This study explores the implementation and effectiveness of a patient-centered Hospital-at-Home approach for frail older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.