Biomedical subjects

J P H Hamers

Publications and source records attributed to J P H Hamers.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Demand of elderly people for residential care: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Because of the rapid aging population, the demand for residential care exceeds availability. This paper presents the results of a study that focuses on the demand of elderly people for residential care and determinants (elderly people's personal characteristics, needs and resources) that are associated with this demand. Furthermore, the accuracy of the waiting list as a reflection of this demand has been examined. METHODS: 67 elderly people waiting for admission into a home for the elderly, are subjected to semi-structured interviews. The data are analyzed by using multivariate statistics. RESULTS: Elderly people who indicate that they would refuse an offer of admission into a home for the elderly feel healthier (p = 0.02), have greater self-care agency (p = 0.02) and perceive less necessity of admission (p < 0.01), compared to those who would accept such an offer. Especially the inability to manage everyday activities and the lack of a social network are highly associated with the elderly people's demand for residential care. Furthermore, it is evident that waiting lists for homes for the elderly do not accurately reflect the demand for residential care, since 35% of the elderly people on a waiting list did not actually experience an immediate demand for residential care and stated that they would not accept an offer of admission. Quite a lot of respondents just registered out of a sense of precaution; a strategic decision dictated by current shortages in care provision and a vulnerable health status. CONCLUSION: The results contribute to the understanding of waiting lists and the demand for residential care. It became apparent that not everybody who asks for admission into a home for the elderly, really needed it. The importance of elderly people's resources like social networks and the ability to manage everyday activities in relation to the demand for care became clear. These findings are important because they indicate that resources also play a role in predicting elderly people's demand and as a result can guide the development and the (re)design of adequate health care services.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Why do we use physical restraints in the elderly?

The use of physical restraints in the elderly is a common practice in many countries. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the use of restraints in home care, hospitals and nursing homes. Between 1999-2004 the reported prevalence numbers range from 41-64% in nursing homes and 33-68% in hospitals; numbers of restraint use in home care are unknown. Bed rails and belts have been reported as the most frequently used restraints in bed; chairs with a table and belts are the most frequently reported restraints in a chair. It is evident that physical restraints in most cases are used as safety measures; the main reason is the prevention of falls. In the hospital setting, the safe use of medical devices is also an important reason for restraint use. Predictors for the use of physical restraints are poor mobility, impaired cognitive status and high dependency of the elderly patient and the risk of falls in the nurses' opinion. Furthermore, there are indications that restraint use is related to organizational characteristics. Finally, many adverse effects of restraint use have been reported in the literature, like falls, pressure sores, depression, aggression, and death. Because of the adverse effects of restraints and the growing evidence that physical restraints are no adequate measure for the prevention of falls, measures for the reduction of physical restraints are discussed and recommendations are made for future research.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2005

The role of the nurse in community continence care: a systematic review.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a condition that is associated with decreased quality of life. Apart from this impact on quality of life, UI is also a very costly problem. It is recognised that 'usual care' for patients suffering from UI is not optimal. Specialised nurses can play an important role in the care for community-dwelling incontinent patients, as they have the appropriate interpersonal and technical skills to provide patient-tailored care. This systematic review analyses the effect of treatment by nurses on clinical and economic outcomes. A total of 12 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were found, varying in terms of population, setting, outcome measurement and control/intervention. There is limited evidence that treatment by nurses results in a decrease in incontinence. No evidence was found for cost reduction. Recommendations are made for future studies.

Adult↗