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Stroke, heart failure, COPD, hip fracture, other trauma, amputation, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions such as MS and Parkinson as well as oncological conditions are often found among the elderly. To control the effect of these problems and to improve the quality of life significantly, geriatric rehabilitation is effective. Unfortunately, for many elderly patients in China, this medical treatment is not available. These patients are often bound to stay at home, depending on overburdened children but too often in social isolation without any support available if children are living far away. These negative effects can be avoided by geriatric rehabilitation.
How does it work?
Geriatric rehabilitation has three components. The first one is passive rehabilitation: physical treatment f.i. by application of shockwave therapy to improve the musculoskeletal apparatus. The second one is active rehabilitation with a range of equipment to improve medical fitness. The devices and equipment for both passive and active rehabilitation have built-in protocols. These protocols are evidence-based, following the latest results of scientific research. The third component of geriatric rehabilitation is training in self-management focused on activities of daily life (ADL) and social participation. For each patient, a tailor-made treatment program will be made according to the specific physical and social conditions. Geriatric rehabilitation can be offered in inpatient as well as outpatient settings. A combination of therapy, starting with inpatient, followed by outpatient treatment and even training at home gives the best results.
Requirements for successful implementation?
For a complete geriatric rehabilitation facility, without patient rooms, a minimum of 400 m² is required. More is better, but if the numbers of patients and target groups are smaller, less is also possible. Besides equipment and devices, instruction to use and training to embed it in modern geriatric rehabilitation is a second requirement. Dutch doctors, therapists and nurses can come to China for adequate training on the job. A study visit to the Netherlands, including intensive training of key staff, is recommended.
“Since the equipment of Enraf-Nonius is installed in our department and our training in China and the Netherlands was completed, the number of patients, including many elderly, increased significantly. Today all medical specialists in our hospital are well aware of the benefits of our expertise for elderly patients dealing with the long-lasting effects of their medical problems.”
SHEN Mei, Chief Rehabilitation Physician, Zhongshan Affiliated Hospital of Dalian University
Why is this solution relevant for China?
Rehabilitation in China is booming since the publication of Guidelines for Rehabilitation Departments in Level 3 and Level 2 Hospitals in 2011, developed with the support of Dutch experts. However, geriatric rehabilitation is still in its infancy. China’s elderly care policy is aimed at bridging the gap between medical care and social care for the aged population. Geriatric rehabilitation is a key speciality to realize a chain of facilities for elderly care. Hospitals are important for acute rehabilitation, but post-acute and chronic rehabilitation treatment facilities at the level of communities are extremely beneficial in realizing China’s goals in elderly care.
TESTIMONIAL
“I really recommend Enraf-Nonius. It is the combination of advanced equipment, adequate instruction to use it and extensive training in China as well as the Netherlands to embed it in modern geriatric rehabilitation that makes our decision to go for Enraf-Nonius a big success. I myself learned a lot in my one-year traineeship in the Netherlands.”
