Effects of intensive home visiting programs for older people with poor health status: a systematic review.

Background: Home visiting programs have been developed aimed at improving the health and independent functioning of older people. Also, they intend to reduce hospital and nursing home admission and associated cost. A substantial number of studies have examined the effects of preventive home visiting programs on older people living in the community; the findings have been inconsistent.

Effects on health care use and associated cost of a home visiting program for older people with poor health status: a randomized clinical trial in the Netherlands.

Background: Home visiting programs have been developed to improve the functional abilities of older people and subsequently to reduce the use of institutional care services. The results of trials have been inconsistent and their cost-effectiveness uncertain. Home visits for a high-risk population rather than the general population seems a promising approach.

Effects of a home visiting program for older people with poor health status: a randomized, clinical trial in The Netherlands.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a home visiting program on health-related measures in a population of older people with poor health status.

Design: Randomized, clinical trial.

Setting: Community-dwelling citizens in The Netherlands.

Is melatonin helpful in stopping the long-term use of hypnotics? A discontinuation trial.

Objective: To find out if administration of melatonin facilitates discontinuation of benzodiazepine (BD) therapy in patients with insomnia.

Method: A placebo controlled trial in nine general practices in the Netherlands. Long-term users of benzodiazepines were asked by their GP to participate in a discontinuation program in combination with melatonin or placebo.