TY - JOUR
T1 - EuGMS survey on structures of geriatric rehabilitation across Europe
AU - Grund, Stefan
AU - van Wijngaarden, Janneke P.
AU - Gordon, Adam L.
AU - Schols, Jos M. G. A.
AU - Bauer, Juergen M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was financially supported by Nutricia Research, Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition. Janneke van Wijngaarden, Yvette Luiking are Nutricia Research employees. Stefan Grund, Adam Gordon, Jos MGA Schols, Jürgen M Bauer have no conflict of interest to declare.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank all the respondents of this survey for filling out the questionnaire and the following correspondences, the Executive Board of the EuGMS for giving the opportunity to undertake this study, to Benedetta Belotti (EuGMS secretariat) for their support to contact and correspondence with the respondents of the survey. The authors would like to thank Yvette Luiking for their support in accompanying the design of the survey and reviewing the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019, The Author(s).
PY - 2020/4
Y1 - 2020/4
N2 - Key summary pointsAim The aim of this study is to provide an overview on structures of geriatric rehabilitation across Europe. Findings We observed major differences among EuGMS member countries with regard to the availability of geriatric rehabilitation and how it was organized. Despite various barriers in most countries, future improvement in geriatric rehabilitation services is anticipated. Message Work now needs to focus on establishing a consensus on what geriatric rehabilitation should look like to further geriatric rehabilitation services in all European countries.Purpose Geriatric rehabilitation provides effective multidisciplinary treatment for older people who show symptoms of relevant and potentially reversible functional decline. The aim of this study is to provide an overview on structures of geriatric rehabilitation across Europe. Methods All European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Full board members, each representing one member state of the society, were asked to complete an online questionnaire about the current structure of geriatric rehabilitation in their country. Results Thirty-one out of 33 EuGMS Full Board members participated in this questionnaire. Geriatric rehabilitation was officially recognized in 65% (20/31) of participating countries while 29% (9/31) had no geriatric rehabilitation services in their country. In countries with geriatric rehabilitation, the number of available beds varied widely (0-70/100,000 inhabitants). Average length of stay varied from 7 to 65 days. The estimated mean age of the patients in geriatric rehabilitation was 80 years, with most patients being older than 70 years. Six countries had no specified lower age limit and no country had an upper age limit. 42% (13/31) of countries reported having national or local guidelines and 35% (11/31) had a benchmarking or audit system established. Most participants responded positively about the prospects for improvement in the field. Conclusion We observed major differences among EuGMS member countries with regard to the availability of geriatric rehabilitation and how it was organized. Despite various barriers in most countries, future improvement in geriatric rehabilitation services is anticipated.
AB - Key summary pointsAim The aim of this study is to provide an overview on structures of geriatric rehabilitation across Europe. Findings We observed major differences among EuGMS member countries with regard to the availability of geriatric rehabilitation and how it was organized. Despite various barriers in most countries, future improvement in geriatric rehabilitation services is anticipated. Message Work now needs to focus on establishing a consensus on what geriatric rehabilitation should look like to further geriatric rehabilitation services in all European countries.Purpose Geriatric rehabilitation provides effective multidisciplinary treatment for older people who show symptoms of relevant and potentially reversible functional decline. The aim of this study is to provide an overview on structures of geriatric rehabilitation across Europe. Methods All European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Full board members, each representing one member state of the society, were asked to complete an online questionnaire about the current structure of geriatric rehabilitation in their country. Results Thirty-one out of 33 EuGMS Full Board members participated in this questionnaire. Geriatric rehabilitation was officially recognized in 65% (20/31) of participating countries while 29% (9/31) had no geriatric rehabilitation services in their country. In countries with geriatric rehabilitation, the number of available beds varied widely (0-70/100,000 inhabitants). Average length of stay varied from 7 to 65 days. The estimated mean age of the patients in geriatric rehabilitation was 80 years, with most patients being older than 70 years. Six countries had no specified lower age limit and no country had an upper age limit. 42% (13/31) of countries reported having national or local guidelines and 35% (11/31) had a benchmarking or audit system established. Most participants responded positively about the prospects for improvement in the field. Conclusion We observed major differences among EuGMS member countries with regard to the availability of geriatric rehabilitation and how it was organized. Despite various barriers in most countries, future improvement in geriatric rehabilitation services is anticipated.
KW - Geriatric rehabilitation
KW - Structure of supply
KW - EuGMS
KW - European consensus
KW - DEMENTIA
U2 - 10.1007/s41999-019-00273-2
DO - 10.1007/s41999-019-00273-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 32297190
SN - 1878-7649
VL - 11
SP - 217
EP - 232
JO - European Geriatric Medicine
JF - European Geriatric Medicine
IS - 2
ER -