Development and validation of quality indicators for dementia diagnosis and management in a primary care setting.

Objectives: To construct a set of quality indicators (QIs) for dementia diagnosis and management in a primary care setting.

Design: RAND modified Delphi method, including a postal survey, a stakeholders consensus meeting, a scientific expert consensus meeting, and a demonstration project.

Setting: Primary care.

Process evaluation of a trial evaluating a multidisciplinary nurse-led home visiting programme for vulnerable older people.

Purpose: This article describes the content of and adherence with a nurse-led home visiting programme (Dutch Geriatric Intervention Programme; DGIP) for vulnerable older people. The randomised Dutch EASYcare Study showed positive patient endpoints for DGIP. Describing content and adherence is rarely performed, but highly important for understanding the results of trials.

The effect on caregiver burden of a problem-based home visiting programme for frail older people.

Objective: caregiver effects of geriatric care models focusing primarily at the patient have not been consistently studied. We studied caregiver effects of a nurse-led comprehensive geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) programme for community-dwelling frail older people that showed-in a randomised comparison with usual care--health-related quality of life benefits for the care receivers.

Methods: this randomised trial included 110 caregiver/patient dyads who were followed up for 6 months.

A randomized study of a multidisciplinary program to intervene on geriatric syndromes in vulnerable older people who live at home (Dutch EASYcare Study).

Background: The effectiveness of community-based geriatric intervention models for vulnerable older adults is controversial. We evaluated a problem-based multidisciplinary intervention targeting vulnerable older adults at home that promised efficacy through better timing and increased commitment of patients and primary care physicians. This study compared the effects of this new model to usual care.

Cost-effectiveness of a multidisciplinary intervention model for community-dwelling frail older people.

Background: There is growing interest in geriatric care for community-dwelling older people. There are, however, relatively few reports on the economics of this type of care. This article reports about the cost-effectiveness of the Dutch Geriatric Intervention Program (DGIP) compared to usual care in frail older people at 6-month follow-up from a health care system's point of view.

Feasibility of a new community-based geriatric intervention programme: an exploration of experiences of GPs, nurses, geriatricians, patients and caregivers.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility of the Dutch Geriatric Intervention Programme (DGIP) in primary care. Within the DGIP, a nurse cooperates with a General Practitioner (GP) and a clinical geriatrician to assess and manage care for community-living older patients. The aim of this study was to describe both views of care receivers and those of professionals in order to identify facilitating factors and barriers for implementation of the DGIP.

The design of the Dutch EASYcare study: a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of a problem-based community intervention model for frail elderly people [NCT00105378].

Background: Because of their complex clinical presentations and needs frail elderly people require another approach than people who age without many complications. Several inpatient geriatric health services have proven effectiveness in frail persons. However, the wish to live independently and policies that promote independent living as an answer to population aging call for community intervention models for frail elderly people.

Health education on self-management and seeking health care in older adults: a randomised trial.

The aim of this randomised trial was to determine the effects of a health education strategy for older adults living at home on GP attendance. The health education comprised a written booklet on five frequently by GP unnoticed, highly prevalent and potentially treatable health problems: hearing impairment, visual impairment, urinary incontinence, depression and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). The information comprised structured guidance to enhance decision-making on seeking health care by their GP and contained advice on self-management.

Interventions to improve medication compliance in older patients living in the community: a systematic review of the literature.

Noncompliance affects all age groups, but older patients have specific barriers against effective medication use and can be more vulnerable to the incorrect use of medication. Some age-related barriers are vision loss and cognitive impairment. In people aged 60 years or older, noncompliance with medication regimens varies from 26-59%.