The study’s sampling strategy was designed to recruit a representative
sample of agency patients admitted over a 2-year period
(Dec. 1997 to Dec. 1999) who met the following criteria: 1) age 65
years old or older, 2) new admission, 3) able to give informed consent,
and 4) able to speak English or Spanish. On a weekly basis,
visiting nurse services admission data for each new patient were
evaluated for potential study eligibility