1. Aging in the Netherlands
Shara Batson1
, JessieMae Belcher1
, Patrick Binio1
, Chelsey Billig1
, Nathan Cutler1
, Ally George1
, Hannah Fowler1
, Taylor Kresconko1
,
Mattea Ringey1
, Kristina Unikewicz1
, and Hendrika Maltby PhD, RN2
1
UVM Nursing students; 2
UVM Faculty
Purpose
Background
Methods
Objective Data
Discussion Limitations
References
By identifying areas of need for the growing
aging population, interventions were
explored that could help the older adult
population of Maastricht, Netherlands.
● A community assessment based on
Stanhope and Lancaster (2014) was
conducted examining issues such as
healthcare and housing needs for people
over age 65.
● Using observations, perceptions,
community member interviews, and
research on the Maastricht area to assess
the community core; history, demographics,
ethnicity, and values and beliefs of the
community.
● The group assessed subsystems, which
include the physical environment, health
and social services, economy,
transportation and safety, politics and
government, communication, education,
and recreation of the community.
● The aging population is defined as adults
who are 65 and older, as it is encouraged
by the Netherlands to retire by that age
(International Longevity Center Global
Alliance, 2011).
● In 2011 there were 15.6 per 1,000 people 65
and older living in the Netherlands and it is
estimated that this number will increase to
24.8 per 1,000 people by 2060 (Statistics
Netherlands, 2010).
● A shift is occurring in the number of acute or
episodic illness to greater prevalence of
chronic illnesses. Chronic diseases will
continue to be more prevalent in the future
because of the aging population. (Pruitt &
Epping-Jordan, 2005).
● The most prevalent diseases in the
Netherlands are chronic, such as: Lung
Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, and
several other lung diseases as reported by
the Central Statistics Office (2015).
● The percentage of elderly people in residential
care is decreasing and will continue to decrease;
almost 95% of senior citizens live independently.
To meet this demand, the number of houses
suitable for senior citizens and those with
functional limitations will have to increase from 1.8
million in 2009 to 2.16 million in 2018 (Smits, Van
Den Beld, Aartsen, & Schroots, 2013).
● Dutch nursing students at Amsterdam’s Academic
Medical Center are exploring strategies to prevent
isolation in older adults in the Amsterdam
community through engagement with university
students and participation in senior center
activities (AMC nursing students, personal
communication, March 9, 2015).
● Research is being conducted concerning how to
better serve older adults in the community setting
by incorporating early disease detection and
health interventions using primary care as a
platform (Stijnen, Duimel-Peeters, Jansen, &
Vrijhoef, 2013).
● The social and physical well-being of older adults
is improved with a heightened sense of belonging
in their communities (Cramm & Nieboer, 2015).
● Language barrier
●
● Restricted geographical area
●
● Small population size
●
● Short time available for research
● An employee of the Molenhof senior housing
facility reported that the facility is closing due
to lack of funding.
● Citizens reported that they believed that the
primary disease that affected their
community was cancer but did not appear
concerned about the widespread presence
of smoking.
● Dutch nursing students reported that they
did not receive any specific training in
regards to caring for older adults.
● According to one city office employee in
Maastricht, there are regular neighborhood
meetings held to discuss issues specific to
that neighborhood and/or the larger
community. One neighborhood member is
designated as a liaison between the
neighborhood and City Hall.
Solutions
● Increase awareness of government policy
makers about the health concerns of the
aging population.
● Incorporate gerontology courses in nursing
school curriculums as greater education
about the needs of older adults and the
treatment of chronic diseases is necessary
due to the shift from acute to chronic
disease.
● Strengthen arrangements that foster social
ties between older adults and their
neighbors like the neighborhood meetings
held in Maastricht or other informal neighbor
volunteer support programs.
● Incorporate early illness detection and
associated interventions in the primary care
setting specific to the older adult population.
Cramm, J. M., Nieboer, A. P. (2015). Social cohesion and belonging predict the
well-being of community-dwelling older people. BMC Geriatrics, 15(30). doi:10.1186/s12877-015-0027-y
Central Statistics Office (2015). Population [Data file]. Retrieved from
http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/bevolking/nieuws/default.html
ILC Global Alliance. (2011). Retirement Age. Retrieved from
http://www.ilcalliance.org/images/uploads/publication-pdfs/Ci
culator_state_pension_age_2_.pdf
Pruitt, S. D., Epping-Jordan, J.E. (2005). Preparing the 21st century
global healthcare workforce. British Medical Journal, 330, 637-639
Smits, C., Van Den Beld, H.K., Aartsen, M., Schroots, J. (2013).
Aging in the netherlands: State of the art and science. ThecGerontologist. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt096
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2014). Public health nursing:
Population-centered health care in the community. Maryland
Heights, MO: Elsevier Mosby
Statistics Netherland. (2010). Population forecasts; key figures,
2010-2060.Retrieved from:http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/
publication/?VW=T&DM=SLEN&PA=03766engLA=EN
Stijnen, M., Duimel-Peeters, I., Jansen, M., Vrijhoef, H. (2013). Early detection of
health problems in potentially frail community-dwelling older people by general practices - project [G]OLD: Design of a
longitudinal, quasi-experimental study. BMC Geriatrics, 13(7). doi:10.1186/1471-2318-13-7
http://venv.envida.nl