Op weg naar een proactieve en persoonsgerichte ouderenzorg
DOI: 10.5177/ntvt.2019.12.19059 Bladzijden: 647-652Thema: Mondzorg bij kwetsbare ouderen
Mensen verouderen verschillend. Waar de ene persoon tot op hoge leeftijd vitaal blijft, wordt een andere al veel vroeger in het leven getroffen door gebreken. In het ouderenzorgbeleid is aging in place een basisfenomeen geworden. Dit betekent dat ouderen zolang mogelijk in staat gesteld moeten worden om een betekenisvol leven te leiden in hun eigen woonomgeving, ook als ze kwetsbaar en hulpbehoevend zijn. Hierdoor zal de meeste zorg voor ouderen in de toekomst daadwerkelijk in de eigen woonomgeving plaatsvinden. Vanuit het fenomeen ‘kwetsbaarheid’ (frailty) en het concept van de ‘veerkracht’ (resilience) wordt een basis gelegd voor een duurzame, proactieve en persoonsgerichte ouderenzorg, dichtbij de leefomgeving van de oudere zelf en waarin ook de tandarts en andere mondzorgverleners een belangrijke rol spelen.
Towards proactive and personalised care for the elderly
The Netherlands, like other Western countries, shows an obvious demography of aging, which is associated with many challenges. People age differently, after all. Some remain vital until very old age, while others become frail and disabled much earlier in life. Because of the indicated demographic trend, morbidity is expected to increase and with it, the number of older people needing care. ‘Aging in place’ has become a central phenomenon in healthcare policies. This means that older people should be empowered to lead a meaningful life in their own living environment as long as possible, even when they are frail and care dependent. Therefore, in the future, most care for older people will actually occur at home. This article aims to present a meaningful care model for the older people. Starting from the ‘definition discussion’ about frailty and a revaluation of the concept of’ resilience, a basis will be provided for a sustainable, proactive and personalised elderly care, close to the living environment of older people, in which dentists and other oral health professionals play an important role as well.
Towards proactive and personalised care for the elderly
The Netherlands, like other Western countries, shows an obvious demography of aging, which is associated with many challenges. People age differently, after all. Some remain vital until very old age, while others become frail and disabled much earlier in life. Because of the indicated demographic trend, morbidity is expected to increase and with it, the number of older people needing care. ‘Aging in place’ has become a central phenomenon in healthcare policies. This means that older people should be empowered to lead a meaningful life in their own living environment as long as possible, even when they are frail and care dependent. Therefore, in the future, most care for older people will actually occur at home. This article aims to present a meaningful care model for the older people. Starting from the ‘definition discussion’ about frailty and a revaluation of the concept of’ resilience, a basis will be provided for a sustainable, proactive and personalised elderly care, close to the living environment of older people, in which dentists and other oral health professionals play an important role as well.