[In process] / Comment adapter les médicaments en long séjour pour malades psycho-gériatriques ou gériatriques ?

Over a short period of one month we undertook a systematic review of all medications of our residents in the nursing home. Prior to this we examined the patients with great care and where necessary, laboratory tests or other further investigations took place. By the end of this procedure, we analysed the medications prescribed and on the recommendations of the program Stopp and Start, several adaptations were done. In summary, some medications increased, mainly for osteoporosis prevention and some other could be reduced, mainly the psychotropic drugs. A systematic review for patients in nursing homes, twice a year seems sufficient for the adaptations of chronically used medications. Psycho-Geriatric patients - Medications - Stopp and Start programme.

[The flexibility of family medicine]. / La flexibilité en médecine générale.

We are a European academic group of family doctors and we propose a definition of flexibility in family medicine. A review of the literature shows that flexibility and complexity are emerging concepts in the field of family practice. The outcomes of a workshop at the WONCA-Europe congress in 2014 are discussed. The flexibility is a capability of the general practitioner to deal with complex clinical situations in a biomedical and societal changing world. Flexibility is framed by ethics. It could improve the quality of care, be useful against burnout and used in medical research. In conclusion, family medicine should adopt a specific definition of the flexibility describing its specificity, a useful and teachable capacity.

Music and elderly.

Since more than 3 decades now, music with seniors (or younger persons), either as an educational or recreational activity, but also as a therapeutically approach has progressed. Even nowadays, in the medical field, more and more studies prove its efficiency as complementary therapy with no known side-effects. The areas where music therapy has a positive outcome, reach from pulmonary disorders to a lot of neurological chronic diseases, including aphasia, dementia or Parkinson. And at the end of life, music therapy has found a remarkable place for expressing or supporting strong emotional feelings. Evidence-based results on physiological and hormonal changes will also be reviewed.

[The first 7 months of activities in a psychogeriatric unit in Luxembourg]. / Les sept premiers mois de fonctionnement d'une unité de psycho-gériatrie au Luxembourg.

Since September 1991 a new unity has been opened in the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital: a ward of 26 beds for psychogeriatric patients. 50 persons (half women and half men) have been admitted during the first seven months. By the end of this study (June 1992) 76% are no more staying in the hospital. Besides the five deaths, most of the people have returned to their previous home. With a mean stay of two to three months we believe that our psychogeriatric ward will be able to admit about 70 or 80 new patients by one year.