The 65-plus population is the fastest growing in the United States, with the 85-plus age group projected to quadruple from 2000 to 2050. Many of these older patients are somewhat or completely homebound as a result of serious illness or chronic medical conditions. As a result, the need for home-based primary care (HBPriC) and home-based palliative care (HBPalC) is on the rise. HBPriC generally provides longitudinal primary care to medically complex patients who have difficulty accessing office-based care, while HBPalC typically focuses on symptom management and goals of care for homebound patients facing serious illness. In many programs around the U.S. these two models have operated separately; however, there has been an increased interest and need for the two models to “share the load” and to work more closely together to create a one-stop-shop to provide the highest quality care at the lowest cost for a growing population of medically complex patients.

1. Describe the unique aspects of HBPriC and HBPalC, as well as the ways in which these two models of care are aligned.
2. Discuss the value of, and opportunities for, bringing together HBPriC and HBPalC to provide a full-service solution for managing advanced illness and chronic disease.
3. Identify strategies to successfully implement a complex illness management model incorporating both HBPriC and HBPalC services.