Nursing Home Resident

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a behavioral health program (Interventions for Stressful Transitions in Later Life, InSTILL, for Individuals) for skilled nursing facility residents. The main questions it aims to answer is whether the program is program is feasible, satisfactory, and helpful. Participants will join 6 bi-weekly sessions of the InSTILL program. Participants will complete assessments at three timepoints (all) and a brief-exit interview.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a behavioral health program (Interventions for Stressful Transitions in Later Life, InSTILL) for skilled nursing facility residents and their primary support person. The main questions it aims to answer is whether the program is program is feasible, satisfactory, and helpful. The researchers will compare the InSTILL program to minimally enhanced usual care. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the InSTILL program or minimally enhanced usual care. Participants will complete assessments at three timepoints (all) and a brief-exit interview.

Nursing home (NH) residents have complex healthcare needs. Barriers to collaboration hinder the delivery of high-quality care in nursing homes. To bridge the gap between hospital-based and NH-based care, various innovative approaches have been proposed, including geriatric mobile teams. In Belgium, geriatric expertise has long been confined to hospital settings. Until recently, no specific organization existed for outpatient geriatric assessment, particularly for NH residents. In April 2024, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI) introduced a new reimbursement code for geriatric consultations in NHs, promoting the development of extramural geriatric activities. However, evidence on the effectiveness of mobile geriatric teams remains limited, particularly regarding hospitalization prevention. The geriatrics department of CHU UCL Namur is implementing a one-year pilot project involving a mobile team composed of a geriatrician and a nurse to conduct geriatric assessments in the three nursing homes. This non-randomized pilot project aims to establish a new standard of care for residents selected by their general practitioner, leveraging the new reimbursement code. The project is accompanied by a clinical study assessing the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of this intervention. Prospectively collected data will also help define key indicators for a future large-scale study focused on cost-effectiveness.