Developing and Implementing Meaningful Activities Facilitators in Short-stay Geriatric Unit to Prevent Geriatric Complication - A Feasibility Study

Older people are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of hospitalization, which can compromise their functional autonomy. The onset of confusion, loss of mobility or malnutrition is largely related to the context of hospitalization itself, which creates stressful situations for patients in addition to the acute pathology: change in the usual living environment, lack of human and reassuring interactions, lack of mobility related to the pathology or caused by the use of barriers or restraints. These geriatric complications can be prevented. Programs involving the intervention of volunteers or dedicated professionals with hospitalized patients have been developed. These "Meaningful Activities Facilitators" (MAF) have the task of preventing or limiting the deleterious effects of hospitalization on the older people, in particular by stimulating eating and walking, and by practicing social activities in line with the patient's lifestyle habits. This system has been set up in geriatric short-stay wards in the United Kingdom, where MAFs, who received specific training, are integrated into the care team and work with patients at risk. The integration of these MAFs has shown a reduction in the incidence and duration of delirium episodes, the use of psychotropic drugs, and the use of restraint. A study currently underway in Australia aims to reduce hospital-acquired complications through a program of mobilization, nutrition, and engagement of patients in constructive activities (the "Eat, Walk, Engage" program) implemented by a trained MAFs. The investigators hypothesis is that the implementation of MAFs in geriatric short-stay wards will reduce the incidence of geriatric complications associated with hospitalization.

Objectives: The investigators objective is to study the feasibility and acceptability of integrating MAFs into the care teams of two geriatric short-stay services in France. The investigators will evaluate the adaptations to be proposed to the MAF model to make it relevant in our context from the point of view of patients, their relatives and professionals, and will study the effect of this intervention on the occurrence of complications and the functioning of the teams, its implementation and its costs.

Perspectives: The results of this study will allow us to define if the MAFs intervention is feasible and acceptable in the French context, and if so, to propose an intervention model adapted to our context.