Geriatric assessment in Belgian nursing homes: qualitative insights

Nursing home residents (NHR) have complex health needs due to their multimorbidity and frailty, challenging interorganisational collaboration, particularly between nursing homes (NH) and hospitals. Coronavirus disease pandemic highlighted the need to strengthen the expertise of NHs care teams. Geriatric mobile teams (GMT) exist in several countries and aim to provide interdisciplinary advice to reinforce the primary care expertise. To develop GMTs in Belgium, we chose a participatory and systemic approach. The aim focuses on identifying areas of partnership between hospitals and NHs based on the geriatric needs of residents, from the perspective of the stakeholders involved in their care. Additionally, it examines the essential requirements for fostering collaboration among these stakeholders.

Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of 20 healthcare professionals working in a Belgian academic hospital or within its affiliated NH network. Themes were extracted using thematic analysis, employing simultaneously an inductive approach for the partnership areas and a deductive approach constructed around Karam's framework of interorganizational and interprofessional collaboration.

Participants highlighted the increasing complexity of NHRs' healthcare needs and the crucial role of geriatric expertise in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, assessing complex medical situations, and advance care planning. While all supported enhanced collaboration, key challenges included formalizing processes and facilitating care integration between providers. Balancing high-level care with the risk of over-medicalization also remains a critical issue. These findings are reflected in three main themes: empowering nursing homes with geriatric expertise; The high importance of integration and formalisation; and balancing tension between a place of residence and high skilled care.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of expected collaboration areas and practical strategies to manage constraints. By using a qualitative approach, we integrated the perspectives of all key stakeholders, ensuring that proposed initiatives align with actual needs. Strengthening collaboration between NHs and geriatric services requires formalized frameworks and co-designed protocols with frontline caregivers. Such an initiative has the potential to dismantle compartmentalized care pathways for NHRs.