Xuxi Zhang

Satisfaction and experience Satisfaction with the UHCE approach among older persons is reported in Table 6. Persons were generally satisfied with the UHCE approach. Overall, 82.1% of persons in all cities felt they had benefitted from the health assessment and 85.4% of persons felt it was worth the time and effort. The mean rating of the UHCE approach was 8.3 (SD = 1.9) out of 10, ranging from 6.5 (SD = 2.4) in Pallini to 9.3 (SD = 1.2) in Manchester. In the focus groups, several benefits of the UHCE approach for older persons and care professionals were identified. A benefit according to older persons and professionals, which was identified in all cities, was that older persons valued the feeling that someone looked out for them; either the care coordinator or care professionals in the care ‐ pathways. Another benefit according to older persons and professionals in most cities was that older persons valued meeting other people. The group ‐ based care ‐ pathways of UHCE had given older persons involved in these activities the opportunity to meet others. An older woman in Valencia commented on the social support group: “I liked it a lot, it helped me to open up to people”. A benefit according to older persons and professionals in several cities was that results from the assessment and contact with care professionals had motivated older persons to take action regarding their health. Several benefits for care professionals were identified in the focus group with care professionals in Rotterdam. A key benefit was that using a structured preventive assessment for recording older person’s health had aided in future care decisions, because care professionals were able to look back in the records. Some barriers and recommendations were also identified. One of the main barriers for older person’s engagement in care according to care professionals in all cities was mistrust among older persons towards unfamiliar care professionals and activities. A recommendation made by care professionals in several cities which related to this was the importance of building a trusted relationship with clients. A geriatric nurse in Rotterdam said: “You have to invest in it [the relationship], once the trust is there then the older person will follow your advice”. Another main barrier according to older persons in most cities was feeling embarrassed or Table 5 Reasons participants reported why they did not enroll in care ‐ pathways (N=173) Reason reported a N (%) Wants to deal with it themselves 49 (28.3) Does not want 47 (27.2) Involved other care or exercise 38 (22.0) Health problems prevent participation 20 (11.6) Interested but not yet applied 15 (8.7) Feels too healthy 9 (5.2) Too far/transportation difficulties 9 (5.2) Too busy to participate 6 (3.5) Moved 2 (1.2) Care for someone, too busy 2 (1.2) a Multiple reasons could be reported per person 114 Chapter 5