The Rise of At-Home Healthcare: 6 Trends Transforming Patient Care

The future of healthcare is evolving, and its headed straight to our doorsteps. The hospital-at-home movement is redefining how patients receive medical care, bringing hospital-level treatment directly to patients’ homes.  

The model offers a welcome alternative to conventional hospital visits, particularly for the elderly, chronically ill, and post-op patients. Medical devices such as infusion pumps, sequential compression sleeves, Foley catheters, and even dialysis machines, traditionally seen only in hospitals, are now being redesigned for use in the home by everyday people.  

The rise of home-based healthcare is being propelled by the convergence of a number of factors. An aging population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and a critical shortage of healthcare professionals are testing the limits of traditional care models. Simultaneously, there is a growing demand from patients for more control over their healthcare experiences. They seek dignity, comfort, and autonomy, preferring to manage their health in the familiar surroundings of their homes.  

This demand, combined with the rapid advancement of enabling technology, is reshaping how we think about patient care. In this blog, we’ll dive into the trends accelerating this shift.  

The Foundation of Home-Based Healthcare 

1. Changing Demographics and Aging in Place: As populations age, they bring with them a rise in chronic, manageable conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart failure. Nearly 95% of those over 60¹ have at least one chronic condition, and almost 79% have two or more. Many prefer the comfort and control of managing their care from home. This desire to age in place is already influencing modern healthcare planning².


2. Pressure on Healthcare Infrastructure: Staff shortages, coupled with increases in patient volume have led to mounting strain on hospitals and clinics with providers regularly asked to do more with less. Health systems that find opportunities to manage care outside hospital walls can free up critical resources.


3. The Rise of Lay Caregivers: There simply aren’t enough trained professionals to meet the growing demand for care. Increasingly, responsibility is falling to family caregivers, CNAs and patients themselves. That’s pushing device makers and healthcare systems to simplify treatment protocols and device design³ for use by non-experts.


4. Increased Adoption of Digital Infrastructure:Both patients and providers are increasingly embracing telehealth as a viable alternative to in-person visits. Between 2018 and 2020, telehealth visits in the U.S. saw a surge from 1.5 million to 35 million⁴. Remote monitoring and cloud-connected devices have also become mainstream, allowing clinicians to maintain high-quality patient care without sacrificing safety and oversight.


5. Shifting Care Models and Reimbursement Structures: Insurance providers are promoting value-based care models⁵, seeking strategies to cut the steep expenses associated with hospital stays. When home-based care is thoughtfully implemented, it can decrease costs, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance patient outcomes⁶.


6. Advances in Medical Technology: Today’s medical devices are designed to be more intuitive, connected, and smarter than ever, enabling home-based care in a way not possible just a decade ago. Treatments that once required skilled clinical staff are now being reimagined for safe, user-friendly operation in the home.  

This evolution is not just a fleeting trend, but a substantial shift in the landscape, reshaping how medical devices and therapeutics are designed and delivered. In our next blog, we will explore the challenges and opportunities of home-based healthcare, and the measures necessary to ensure its success and safety.  

1. The Inequities in the Cost of Chronic Disease for Older Adults
2. Aging in Place: Are We Prepared? - PMC
3. Medical Devices in Home Health Care - The Role of Human Factors in Home Health Care - NCBI Bookshelf
4. medicaid-telehealth-enrollee-provider-rurality.pdf
5. Value-Based Care | CMS
6. Hospital at Home℠ Care Reduces Costs, Readmissions, and Complications and Enhances Satisfaction for Elderly Patients. | PSNet