Publications

OBJECTIVES: To assess the sensitivity of the 'Alzheimer's Disease Related Quality of Life' instrument (ADRQL) applied to Belgian people with dementia (n = 357), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 36), and controls (n = 72). We also determined the clinical parameters that influence the quality of life (QOL) of people with dementia. METHOD: Each subject was evaluated with the ADRQL, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the cognitive scale ...

Background The Ghent Older People's Prescriptions community Pharmacy Screening (GheOP(3)S)-tool was developed in 2016 as a screening tool to detect drug-related problems (DRPs) and to help in performing medication reviews in older people (>= 65 years). Objective This study aimed to revise and update the GheOP(3)S-tool. Methods Users' comments were collected to improve the usability and appropriateness of the original GheOP(3)S-tool, followed ...

When treating older adults, a main factor to consider is physical frailty. Because specific assessments in clinical trials are frequently lacking, critical appraisal of treatment evidence with respect to functional status is challenging. Our aim was to identify and categorize assessments for functional status given in clinical trials in older adults to allow for a retrospective characterization and indirect comparison of treatment evidence from ...

BACKGROUND: It is well established that social exclusion is a key social determinant of health; however, such association between social exclusion and health outcomes among older people remain a relatively under-researched area. This paper explores the effects of four dimensions of social exclusion on self-rated health and depression among older people in China. METHODS: This paper includes 8038 individuals aged 60 and over from the first wave ...

Context: Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, and death. The Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics has developed evidencebased guidelines for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. This umbrella review presents the results of the Working Group on Nutritional Interventions. Objective: The aim of this umbrella review was to ...

BackgroundDementia is one of the most prevalent mental health problems among older people. Dementia, even in the early stage, may challenge ones quality of life. The diagnosis of dementia entails a diagnosis of the disease as well as a diagnosis of the care needed. This care should be pro-active, aimed at reducing excessive disability, dependency, and suffering, and with a focus on well-being, pleasure and empowerment. Nurses are often ...

Purpose In order to cope with the challenges that are the result of an aging population, policies and services promote keeping elders in the community and letting them age in place rather than sending them to specialized institutions. Aging in place refers to the option where people can stay in their homes as they age. This policy option, however, poses various challenges and may also threaten the quality of life of the aging. A literature ...

The proportion of older people will keep increasing in this century and already becomes a predominant aspect of our societies. Solutions both efficacious and cost-effective need to be sought to provide needed services to the elder people timely. In order to help the older people living actively, solutions should also provide chances for them to get involved in social activities and communicate with the outside world. In this paper, the concept ...