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This research group studies both pain and functioning of older people and how these phenomena affect their well-being. Older people with a reduced ability to report pain, for instance due to cognitive decline, are at risk of under-detection and under-treatment of pain. These risks can lead to a lower quality of life and well-being. We investigate how to improve the recognition and treatment of pain in people with dementia. Concerning functioning of older people we focus on (changes in) physical activity, mobility and the interaction with the (new) living environment before, during and after the transition from home to a nursing home of older people.

Training and workshops for nurses and paramedics are an important part of implementing our (evidence-based) research findings into the workplace. In addition, we investigate the psychometric quality of various existing and developed measurement instruments related to pain and functioning of older people.

Current research within this research group:

  • Observational pain assessment in dementia using the PAIC-15;
  • Maintaining functioning during older peoples’ transition to the nursing home;
  • Dutch translation, validation and implementation of the Life-Space Assessment.
Relevance

How our research benefits to society

Due to increasing comorbidity and improved care at home, people move to the nursing home later in life, which means that the care needs of older people living in nursing homes are becoming increasingly complex. This, together with the demographic developments in the coming decades, poses major challenges for healthcare organizations. Maintaining physical functioning and preventing pain are important outcomes to enhance well-being and the quality of care of older people living at home and in nursing homes. We aim to achieve this by collaborating, developing and conducting research projects together with healthcare professionals from innovative nursing homes out of the Northern and Eastern parts of the Netherlands.

Contact

Marlies Feenstra Senior researcher

Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
Department of Primary and Long-term Care
P.O. Box 196
9700 AD Groningen

Visiting address
Department of Primary and Long-term Care
Oostersingel | entrance 47 | building 50 | 2nd floor
Groningen
The Netherlands