In situations such as advanced age, marked mobility restriction, severe neurological disease or being bedbound, it can become difficult for the patient to reach a health institution. In such situations, a neurological assessment at home can come onto the agenda for some patients. However, an assessment carried out at home does not replace all the tests and interventions that can be done in a hospital or practice setting.
Who can a neurological assessment at home be considered for?
Depending on the patient’s clinical condition and the scope of the service, the need for a home assessment may arise in the following groups:
- People with advanced Parkinson’s disease or marked mobility restriction
- Patients whose mobility is severely reduced after a stroke
- People for whom it is difficult to leave the house due to advanced dementia
- Patients whose mobility is markedly reduced due to ALS or other neuromuscular diseases
- Patients who are bedbound or who may have medical difficulty during transport
What can be done in a home assessment?
Some parts of the neurological examination, such as history taking, assessment of consciousness and cognitive status, muscle strength, reflexes, movements, walking and a review of medication use, can be done in the home setting. The patient’s current treatment and problems arising during care can also be assessed.
However, referral to a health institution may be needed for MRI, CT, EEG, EMG, laboratory investigations, or situations requiring emergency intervention.
In which situations is a home assessment not appropriate?
In emergency symptoms such as sudden-onset loss of strength, speech disorder, change in consciousness, a new seizure, severe shortness of breath, chest pain or rapid deterioration, a routine examination at home should not be expected; emergency health services should be sought.
Follow-up in chronic neurological diseases
Follow-up in Parkinson’s, dementia, post-stroke conditions and neuromuscular diseases does not consist solely of medication adjustment. Nutrition, swallowing, fall risk, pressure sore risk, the caregiver’s burden, the need for rehabilitation, and support from other specialties when needed are also assessed holistically.
Information about Parkinson’s disease | Information about neurological follow-up after stroke
This content has been prepared for general informational purposes. The scope of home health services may vary according to the patient’s condition and service delivery conditions; it does not replace personal diagnosis or treatment advice.
