The number of older persons who are institutionalized with complex care needs is rapidly augmenting. The interaction between patient and the interprofessional team is seen as key to goal-concordant care.

We will combine two pillars of gained expertise in the geriatrics department of Ghent University Hospital. First, we aim to expand our understanding of human connection with and between patients, families, and team members, as well as the interventions that enhance human connection in healthcare. The second pillar focuses on physical activity, examining its relationship to well-being and human connection in frail older persons. We will pay special attention to transmural connectedness in healthcare by outreaching from acute medical care to nursing homes in a living lab.

This project will gain fundamental insights into the determinants of quality of life in older institutionalized persons and offer insights in how interprofessional teams can work better towards goal-concordant care.