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Angels of the Night: Evening and Night Patrols for Homebound Elders in Sweden

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Bo Malmberg, Institute of Gerontology, Box 1026, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden. E-mail: bo.malmberg{at}hhj.hj.se

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the work of evening and night home care patrols in Swedish old-age care by examining how staff members view their work and the specific work content. Design and Methods: The authors developed two questionnaires: one that was to be answered jointly by the patrol teams, and one to be completed by each individual member of a team. All patrols in the municipality of Jönköping, Sweden, were asked to participate. Results: The most frequent kind of help provided by evening and night patrols involves personal care, but help with medications and injections are also frequent. The staff reported that it is becoming more common for the patrols to assist people with terminal illnesses. The patrols also increasingly assist people with psychiatric problems. The staff feels that the job may be becoming too diverse and that they need further education for the range of tasks they are asked to perform. Implications: The patrols are very flexible in the services provided. Without the patrols, the staff members believe that many persons would have to leave their homes to go to institutions.

Key Words: Home care • Community long-term care • Alternatives to institutionalization