A study by the Free University of Amsterdam reveals that people over the age of fifty lead less healthy lives than ten years ago. They drink more, move around less and are overweight. Above all, more women are smoking. Because of their unhealthy lifestyle the over-fifties have a greater chance of life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart conditions. It often appears that older people are not aware of the health risks. Health problems in older people can be prevented through regular health checks and advice about a healthy lifestyle.

What are support centres for older people?

Many places in the Netherlands are investigating the state of health of older people as a preventive measure. Not with a population survey that covers every older person, but on a self-referral basis. Age-orientated preventive examinations are carried out for older people. The support centre is not meant for medical complaints. People should go to their own doctor or a specialist for that.

Different initiatives

The Knowledge Centre on Ageing has made a list of fifteen different initiatives in the Netherlands. A guidebook has been written based on the information from these projects, in which we look at how the target group can be reached, which methods of screening and questionnaires are used, what the staff’s tasks and responsibilities are, what demands are being placed on the staff, location and accommodation, how much they cost and how the initiatives are financed.

Research and sharing knowledge

Before support centres for older people can be introduced on a large scale, we need to know more about the effects of prevention on older people’s health and their quality of life. We also have to know more about which illnesses can be considered for (secondary) preventive actions, and the methodology must be developed further.

The Knowledge Centre on Ageing has set up a national platform to share experiences.

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