Tijdschrift voor gerontologie en geriatrie
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2011
Comparative Study[Changes in the quality of life of older people living at home: does type of care play a role?].
To determine whether a change in physical, psychological and social dimensions of quality of life of older people living at home is associated with receiving formal care, compared to informal care and no care. ⋯ Older men and women who receive formal home care experience an increase in loneliness, and older women who receive formal care experience less satisfaction with life, compared to women who receive informal care or no care. Future research should confirm these results and investigate the mechanisms underlying these changes.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Apr 2011
[Interventions after diagnosing pain in nursing home residents with dementia: the pilot implementation of an observational pain scale (PACSLAC-D)].
Pain occurs regularly among nursing home residents with dementia. There are indications that appliance of structural pain assessment can contribute to the adequate diagnosis of pain. The aim of this study is to gain insight into applied interventions after diagnosing pain with an observational pain scale (PACSLAC-D) among nursing home resident with dementia. ⋯ The majority of interventions that were undertaken consisted of a non pharmacological approach (N=19). Evaluation meetings indicated that the PACSLAC-D was considered useful, though the chosen procedure of standardized measurements twice a week was not yet ideal. This study demonstrates that although there was a high compliance rate, pain relieving interventions were not frequently applied.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2010
[Prevalence and prognostic importance of riskfactors for long hospital stay within elderly patients admitted to a hospital; a clinical-empirical study].
Of elderly patients (> 70 years) admitted to a general hospital 35% suffer from loss of self-care abilities compared to the level before admission. Risk of loss of self-care ability increases with age up to 65% after tthe age of 90. In addition, for many of these patients the duration of hospitalisation is relatively long. OBJECTIVE It is important to identify in an early stage frail-elderly patients who are at risk of a relatively long hospital stay. We conducted a study of the prevalence at intake (1st of 2nd admission day) of ten clinically relevant, patient-bound risk factors for a long hospital stay among 158 patients (> 60 years), acute and planned admitted to Vlietland Hospital. In addition, the prognostic value of the dichotomous risk factors for length of hospital stay was estimated as indicator of treatment complications. The ten clinically relevant risk factors were home care, history of falling, medication (> 4), weight loss, cognitive level and functioning, self-care, psychiatric symptoms, health status and quality of life. ⋯ The findings in this explorative-observational study showed a high prevalence of clinically relevant, patient-bound risk factors in elderly people in a general hospital. Some risk-factors were of prognostic interest for long hospital stay, although the explained variance was relatively small. This indicates that a more comprehensive study should be designed and conducted to include other patient-bound risk factors like co-morbidity, caregiver issues and social environment. Moreover, non-patient-bound factors should be addressed like intrinsic and logistic factors within the hospital, and the quality of recuperation programmes. Understanding of these factors contributes to timely identification of elderly patients, who are at high risk of a long hospital stay. Future policy is to perform specific treatment programmes for elderly patients identified as being patients at risk. Multidisciplinary person-oriented interventions and case management focussed on risk factors and functional recovery will be provided parallel and after hospital treatment period. Comprehensive scientific research on the cost-effectiveness of such a programme has started at the end of 200oo9 in Vlietland Hospital, Schiedam.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Jun 2010
Editorial[About elderly people and the healing effect of poetry].
Poems about aging and old age are published regularly in anthologies and websites. Over 15% of persons of 16 years and older in the Netherlands write poems at some time, including 8% of the elderly. ⋯ There is more and more research into the effects of creative writing on many health indicators at the physiological, emotional and cognitive levels of functioning. In the Dutch speaking countries, too, the possible benefits of poetry deserves the attention of gerontological practitioners and researchers.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Jun 2009
[The influence of Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) on behavioural problems of persons with dementia and the job satisfaction of caregivers: a pilot study].
The prevalence of behavioural problems in nursing home residents with dementia is high. Knowledge based on practical experiences suggests that problems diminish when caregivers are better able to recognize and acknowledge the individual psychosocial needs of residents. Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) is a method designed to support caregivers in providing person centered care. ⋯ The overall job satisfaction of caregivers did not change, but their contentment with the extent to which they feel connected with clients improved. In conclusion, the results of this pilot study indicate that implementing DCM in care facilities for persons with dementia could have some positive consequences for both clients and caregivers. A large-scale controlled trial including diagnosis and stage of dementia as baseline measures, is recommended.