Mental Capacity In Older Adults: The Blossom Implementation Project

Proceedings of the 2nd Global Conference on Aging and Gerontology

Year: 2025

DOI:

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Mental Capacity In Older Adults: The Blossom Implementation Project

Dr. Tom Vermeulen, Annelies Pieters BSc, Jo Sels MA, Dr. Margo Annemans, Dr. Kris Van den Broeck

ABSTRACT:

Mental health in older adults is a highly medicalized topic. Most often, a reactive biomedical approach is preferred to anwer to the psychological and physical burden of these mental health problems. Mental health problems in older adults however are typically complex and comprise multiple psychological symptom domains (cognitive, depressive and psychotic), as well as physical symptoms. The blossom project is a research and implementation project aimed at building mental capacity in older adults. Blossom further focusses on augmenting autonomy and integrity by strengthening cognitive reserve, resilience and connectedness. It is a holistic person-centered program targeting non-pharmacological and environmental determinants of mental health. Also, the negative impact of harmful medication is tackled by deprescribing efforts. The research project revealed the potential of mind-body interventions (e.g. acupressure, mindfulness, combinations of physical activity and cognitive-social interaction), nutritional interventions improving the gut microbiome and deprescribing interventions. This comprehensive program could mean a feasible and integrative approach in long term care facilities, as well as the community. The conceptual basis, the evidence-based aspects and implementation features are elaborated and documented.

keywords: older adults, mental health, holistic care, non-pharmacological, deprescribing