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Aim of the study: analyse publications about geriatric rehabilitation. Objectives: 1. To assess the definition of geriatric rehabilitation and geriatric patients. 2. To analyse the process of aging and various diseases and conditions for which rehabilitation could be effectively applied. 3. To analyse literature about the geriatric rehabilitation team structure and its role and functions in geriatric rehabilitation. 4. To assess the organization process and course of geriatric rehabilitation. 5. To provide practical recommendations for the process of geriatric patient rehabilitation. Methods: Literature review was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol, using PubMed database. Literature review was performed from January 2019 to December 2019. Last use of database was in 2019.12.17. Search algorithm used: “geriatric” OR “elderly” AND “rehabilitation“ AND “team“ AND “structure“. Used filters: “10 years”, ”aged: 65+, “human“. Results: 17 publications were analysed. Basis of geriatric rehabilitation team was found to be geriatrician or other trained doctor, occupational therapist, physical therapist, nursing staff, psychologist, social worker. Other specialists can be added based on need. All authors describe the patient as the most important member of the team, furthermore all authors agree that a crucial component of the team – good, strong, competent leadership. Conclusions: 1. Geriatric rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary approach to a patient older than 60 years, including various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions whose goal is to preserve the functional reserve of the patient, encourage physical and social activity of older patients with disabilities, affecting their everyday life. 2. The ageing process – unavoidable changes on a structural, functional, and molecular level happening in the body with age, affecting all systems. Rehabilitation can be used in a lot of age-related diseases, restoring lost function. 3. Geriatric rehabilitation must be organised so that it starts as soon as possible after an event, ideally in the environment closest to the patient. Uninterrupted and personalized care is recommended. 4. Basis of rehabilitation team is geriatrician or physiatrist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, nursing staff, social worker, psychologist. Additional specialists which can be employed – speech therapist, dietitian, pharmacologist, additional assistants. Main member of the rehabilitation team – the patient. Structure of the team is hard to define when working with patients with dementia. Function of rehabilitation team concerning the patient – 6 not only examination, treatment, but also motivating, teaching, encouraging them, making them more independent. Function of team concerning team members – solve interdisciplinary conflicts, teach each other professional skills. Ability to adapt to patients’ needs is mandatory. Critical quality of the team – strong, competent leadership. 5. We have prepared practical recommendations: 1) The patient is the most important member of the rehabilitation team. We recommend including patients into their own rehabilitation process as much as possible. 2) Rehabilitation process must be organised according to patient-oriented care principles. 3) Team leader must be competent, know how to communicate not only with patients but other team members as well, be respectful, but critical at the same time. 4) Properly applied comprehensive geriatric assessment makes rehabilitation process easier, more effective and more useful to the patient and the team. |
