The aim of this systematic review was to examine the association between malnutrition and oral health in older people (≥ 60 years of age). A comprehensive systematic literature search was performed in four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, and Embase) for literature from January 2000 to May 2020. Both observational and intervention studies were screened for eligibility. Two reviewers independently screened the search results to identify potential eligible studies, and assessed the methodological quality of the full-text studies. A total of 3240 potential studies were identified. After judgement for relevance, 10 studies (cross-sectional (n = 9), prospective cohort (n = 1)) met the inclusion criteria. Three studies described malnourished participants as having fewer teeth, or functional (tooth) units (FTUs), compared to well-nourished participants. Four studies reported soft tissue problems in malnourished participants, including red tongue with blisters, and dry or cracked lips. Subjective oral health was the topic in six studies, with poorer oral health and negative self-perception of oral health in malnourished elderly participants. There are associations between (at risk of) malnutrition and oral health in older people, categorized in hard and soft tissue conditions of the mouth, and subjective oral health. Future research should be focused on longitudinal cohort studies with proper determination of malnutrition and oral health assessments, in order to evaluate the actual association between malnutrition and oral health in older people.
Social needs are important basic human needs; when not satisfied, loneliness and social isolation can occur and subsequently sickness or even premature death. For older people social needs can be more difficult to satisfy because of the loss of resources such as health and mobility. Interventions for older people to satisfy social needs are often not evaluated and when evaluated are not proven successful. Technological interventions can be successful, but the relationship between technology and social wellbeing is complex and more research in this area is needed. The aim of this research is to uncover design opportunities for technological interventions to fulfil social needs of older people. Context-mapping sessions are a way to gain more insight into the social needs of older people and to involve them in the design of interventions to fulfil social needs. Participants of the context-mapping sessions were older people and social workers working with older people. Four sessions with a total of 20 participants were held to generate ideas for interventions to satisfy social needs. The results are transcripts from the discussion parts of the context-mapping sessions and collages the participants created. The transcripts were independently analysed and inductive codes were attached to quotations in the transcripts that are relevant to the research question and subsequently thematic analysis took place. Collages made by the participants were independently analysed by the researchers and after discussion consensus was reached about important themes. The following three main themes emerged: ‘connectedness’, ‘independence’ and ‘meaningfulness’. Technology was not identified as a separate theme, but was addressed in relation to the above mentioned themes. Staying active in a meaningful way, for example by engaging in volunteer work, may fulfil the three needs of being connected, independent and meaningful. In addition, interventions can also focus on the need to be and remain independent and to deal with becoming more dependent. The older people in our study have an ambivalent attitude towards technology, which needs to be taken into account when designing an intervention. We conclude this paper by making recommendations for possible technological interventions to fulfil social needs.
The sense of safety and security of older people is a widely acknowledged action domain for policy and practice in age-friendly cities. Despite an extensive body of knowledge on the matter, the theory is fragmented, and a classification is lacking. Therefore, this study investigated how older people experience the sense of safety and security in an age-friendly city. A total of four focus group sessions were organised in The Hague comprising 38 older people. Based on the outcomes of the sessions, the sense of safety and security was classified into two main domains: a sense of safety and security impacted by intentional acts and negligence (for instance, burglary and violence), and a sense of safety and security impacted by non-intentional acts (for instance, incidents, making mistakes online). Both domains manifest into three separate contexts, namely the home environment, the outdoor environment and traffic and the digital environment. In the discussions with older people on these derived domains, ideas for potential improvements and priorities were also explored, which included access to information on what older people can do themselves to improve their sense of safety and security, the enforcement of rules, and continuous efforts to develop digital skills to improve safety online. Original article at MDPI; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073960
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The pressure on the European health care system is increasing considerably: more elderly people and patients with chronic diseases in need of (rehabilitation) care, a diminishing work force and health care costs continuing to rise. Several measures to counteract this are proposed, such as reduction of the length of stay in hospitals or rehabilitation centres by improving interprofessional and person-centred collaboration between health and social care professionals. Although there is a lot of attention for interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP), the consortium senses a gap between competence levels of future professionals and the levels needed in rehabilitation practice. Therefore, the transfer from tertiary education to practice concerning IPECP in rehabilitation is the central theme of the project. Regional bonds between higher education institutions and rehabilitation centres will be strengthened in order to align IPECP. On the one hand we deliver a set of basic and advanced modules on functioning according to the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and a set of (assessment) tools on interprofessional skills training. Also, applications of this theory in promising approaches, both in education and in rehabilitation practice, are regionally being piloted and adapted for use in other regions. Field visits by professionals from practice to exchange experiences is included in this work package. We aim to deliver a range of learning materials, from modules on theory to guidelines on how to set up and run a student-run interprofessional learning ward in a rehabilitation centre. All tested outputs will be published on the INPRO-website and made available to be implemented in the core curricula in tertiary education and for lifelong learning in health care practice. This will ultimately contribute to improve functioning and health outcomes and quality of life of patients in rehabilitation centres and beyond.
Mensen met minder geld leven korter en vooral minder lang in goede gezondheid. Geldgebrek maakt het namelijk moeilijker om gezond te eten en leven, en om hulp te vragen. Dit project onderzoekt of en hoe sociale beleidsinterventies de mentale gezondheid en leefstijl van mensen met een bijstandsuitkering of schulden kunnen verbeteren.Doel Dit project wil structurele veranderingen teweegbrengen en makers en uitvoerders van sociaal beleid inzicht bieden in hoe je de gezondheid van mensen met minder geld kunt verbeteren. Dit alles met doel om effectieve sociale beleidsinterventies in te voeren. Resultaten Een literatuurverkenning over sociaal beleid Inzicht in welke combinaties van doelgroepen, context en mechanismen leiden tot gezondheidswinst bij mensen met minder geld Beleidsrichtingen die de weg bereiden voor een toekomstige beleidsdoorbraak Producten om de resultaten met een breed publiek te delen Looptijd 25 augustus 2022 - 24 augustus 2026 Aanpak Dit onderzoek achterhaalt hoe en waarom interventies werken. Dit wordt gedaan door beleidsinterventies in acht verschillende gemeentes te beschrijven en het effect op mentale gezondheid en leefstijl te onderzoeken. In een reeks workshops worden bestuurders, beleidsmakers, en professionals samen met ervaringsdeskundigen uitgedaagd om het beleid van de toekomst te ontwerpen. Op die manier wordt de weg bereid voor een toekomstige beleidsdoorbraak. Relevantie Dit project beoogt structurele verandering in gang te zetten, zodat sociaal beleid mensen met een uitkering of schulden in staat stelt om zo gezond mogelijk te leven. Samenwerking met kennispartners Consumptie en gezonde leefstijl - Wageningen Universiteit Sociaal beleid en volksgezondheid - Universiteit Utrecht Departement Bestuurs- en organisatiewetenschappen, Universiteit Utrecht Afdeling Economie - Universiteit Leiden Gemeentes Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Doetinchem, Ermelo, Aalten, Bronckhorst, Brummen, Elburg Academische Werkplaats Publieke Gezondheid (AGORA) Gelderland Landelijke Federatie Belangenverenigingen Onderling Sterk (LFB) Schouders Eronder Divosa GGD Noord- en Oost-Gelderland Raad voor Volksgezondheid en Samenleving Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid Cofinanciering Gefinancieerd door NWO NWO: Funding for studies on improving the health of people in low socioeconomic positions NWA: Gezondheidsverschillen - beter benutten van het gezondheidspotentieel
