Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping review
Abstract Background The global population is undergoing a significant demographic transformation characterized by an aging population. Healthcare systems need to prepare for this shift. Challenges concerning care of older adults will be significant in the Netherlands in the coming years, as the coun...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Discover Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00399-8 |
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| author | Hanne Jacomijntje van de Haar Maria Nordheim Alme |
| author_facet | Hanne Jacomijntje van de Haar Maria Nordheim Alme |
| author_sort | Hanne Jacomijntje van de Haar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The global population is undergoing a significant demographic transformation characterized by an aging population. Healthcare systems need to prepare for this shift. Challenges concerning care of older adults will be significant in the Netherlands in the coming years, as the country is just at the beginning of the predicted fast increase in its ageing population. Within healthcare systems, geriatric rehabilitation is seen as a core component. To gain more insight into how the healthcare sector is preparing for this change, this study aims to describe the actions taken and the effects of these actions within geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands. Methods Following established scoping review methods, the electronic databases Medline Ovid, AMED, Cinahl, and Embase were searched for peer-reviewed papers from 2013 to 2024 reporting on geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands. Results Twenty-six articles were selected, and three themes informing the actions taken were identified: (1) policy implications for geriatric rehabilitation, (2) content and structure of geriatric rehabilitation, and (3) follow-up care and prevention. Policies influence funding and this is primarily governed by diagnostic treatment combinations (DBCs). The main challenges are the exclusion of certain conditions and limited flexibility. The structure of geriatric rehabilitation has been developed to emphasize patient-centred, multidisciplinary approaches. Follow-up care and prevention strategies focus on home rehabilitation, the implementation of e-health, and support for informal caregivers. No articles focused specifically on preparedness, and a limited number of studies mentioned the use of resources for geriatric rehabilitation. Conclusions Actions are taken in line with health policies aiming to meet the future care needs of older adults in the Netherlands. However, the actions seem to be fragmented, and an understanding of resource use and needs seems to be lacking. There is a clear need for ongoing adaptations and developments in healthcare policy and practice to meet the needs of an aging population and ensure equitable access to rehabilitation services in the Netherlands. The readiness of geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands for the growing population of older adults is not discussed in the included articles. Addressing preparedness and the sustainability of geriatric rehabilitation could provide important insights for ensuring good care for older adults in the Netherlands. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dcdfac02339f47a88954220b73acfeb5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 3005-0774 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-dcdfac02339f47a88954220b73acfeb52025-01-19T12:10:39ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-01-0122111210.1186/s12982-025-00399-8Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping reviewHanne Jacomijntje van de Haar0Maria Nordheim Alme1Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied SciencesAbstract Background The global population is undergoing a significant demographic transformation characterized by an aging population. Healthcare systems need to prepare for this shift. Challenges concerning care of older adults will be significant in the Netherlands in the coming years, as the country is just at the beginning of the predicted fast increase in its ageing population. Within healthcare systems, geriatric rehabilitation is seen as a core component. To gain more insight into how the healthcare sector is preparing for this change, this study aims to describe the actions taken and the effects of these actions within geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands. Methods Following established scoping review methods, the electronic databases Medline Ovid, AMED, Cinahl, and Embase were searched for peer-reviewed papers from 2013 to 2024 reporting on geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands. Results Twenty-six articles were selected, and three themes informing the actions taken were identified: (1) policy implications for geriatric rehabilitation, (2) content and structure of geriatric rehabilitation, and (3) follow-up care and prevention. Policies influence funding and this is primarily governed by diagnostic treatment combinations (DBCs). The main challenges are the exclusion of certain conditions and limited flexibility. The structure of geriatric rehabilitation has been developed to emphasize patient-centred, multidisciplinary approaches. Follow-up care and prevention strategies focus on home rehabilitation, the implementation of e-health, and support for informal caregivers. No articles focused specifically on preparedness, and a limited number of studies mentioned the use of resources for geriatric rehabilitation. Conclusions Actions are taken in line with health policies aiming to meet the future care needs of older adults in the Netherlands. However, the actions seem to be fragmented, and an understanding of resource use and needs seems to be lacking. There is a clear need for ongoing adaptations and developments in healthcare policy and practice to meet the needs of an aging population and ensure equitable access to rehabilitation services in the Netherlands. The readiness of geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands for the growing population of older adults is not discussed in the included articles. Addressing preparedness and the sustainability of geriatric rehabilitation could provide important insights for ensuring good care for older adults in the Netherlands.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00399-8Geriatric rehabilitationPreparednessNetherlandsAgeingOlder adultsHealth care systems |
| spellingShingle | Hanne Jacomijntje van de Haar Maria Nordheim Alme Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping review Discover Public Health Geriatric rehabilitation Preparedness Netherlands Ageing Older adults Health care systems |
| title | Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping review |
| title_full | Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping review |
| title_short | Geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults: a scoping review |
| title_sort | geriatric rehabilitation in the netherlands and their preparedness for the increase in older adults a scoping review |
| topic | Geriatric rehabilitation Preparedness Netherlands Ageing Older adults Health care systems |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00399-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hannejacomijntjevandehaar geriatricrehabilitationinthenetherlandsandtheirpreparednessfortheincreaseinolderadultsascopingreview AT marianordheimalme geriatricrehabilitationinthenetherlandsandtheirpreparednessfortheincreaseinolderadultsascopingreview |