1. Empowerment and care for disadvantaged elderly Bienke Janssen Fontys University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands JSWEC Conference, Cambridge 11 th July 2008

2. Design of the presentation Consequences of an ageing population Empowerment in theory Empowerment in practice: Multidisciplinary conferences for older persons Discussion and questions

4. Definition of empowerment “A strengthening process whereby individuals, organisations and communities gain mastery over their own situation and their environment through the process of Gaining control Sharpening the critical awareness Stimulating participation”

5. Tailored care: five pillars ‘ Principles shape practice ’ 1. Positive basic attitude 2. Integrated care 3. Participation 4. Structured care 5. Coordinated care

6. Coordinated care: Multidisciplinary conferences for older persons Aim of the research : To examine the strengths and weaknesses of multidisciplinary conferences from the perspective of care practitioners

7. Multidisciplinary conferences Disadvantaged older persons Case-related consultation More than one elderly discussed during one conference Permission asked Fixed composition of practitioners Privacy guaranteed

8. Results Strengths multidisciplinary conferences Weaknesses multidisciplinary conferences Coordination of care Collegial consultation Face to face contact Informed about (local) developments in the care for the elderly The impression of elderly formed in the consultation Service users’ voice Responsibility for a situation of a service user Organizational context Routine and time investment

9. The link between theory and practice Pillars of tailored careExamples of remarks Positive basic attitude Integrated care Participation Structured care Coordinated care Attention for the impression of the client formed by the practitioners Different perspectives have a surplus value Stimulate dialogue the elderly Explicate individual care plan Appointments about who does what

10. Questions? bienke.janssen@fontys.nl http://www.fontys.nl