Geriatrics – Braine-l'Alleud Hospital

Our services

Our geriatric hospitalisation service specialises in caring for the needs of elderly people. Patients are monitored by geriatric doctors and a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, nursing assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, dieticians and social workers.

We treat problems commonly seen in elderly people, such as loss of independence, falls, cognitive disorders, malnutrition, depression, continence problems and polypharmacy. Our facilities are specially designed to offer our patients safety, comfort and mobility.

Scientific studies show that hospitalisation in a specialised geriatric unit improves survival, reduces complications and facilitates the return home compared to conventional hospital wards. At the end of the stay, a detailed medical report and a multidisciplinary geriatric assessment are sent to the attending physician to ensure optimal follow-up.

Some non-urgent geriatric problems can be treated at the day hospital without requiring full hospitalisation. To obtain an appointment, a written request must be sent by the attending physician. Contact information is available in the brochures on the website.

The most common assessments concern cognitive disorders, recurrent falls and loss of independence. Onco-geriatric assessments can also be carried out to optimise cancer treatment. Intravenous medication, such as for osteoporosis, or transfusions can also be administered on site.

Each assessment takes place over the course of a day and is carried out by a geriatrician accompanied by a multidisciplinary paramedical team, including, as needed: geriatric nurses, occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, speech therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists and social workers. Additional tests, such as blood tests or radiological and cardiological examinations, may be carried out during the day.

At the end of the assessment, the various professionals involved consult with each other to draw up a detailed report, which is then sent to the patient's GP. It is possible to have a follow-up consultation to discuss the results and treatment recommendations.

The internal liaison team is a mobile team that works in non-geriatric units to support frail elderly patients. It carries out a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including autonomy, cognition, nutrition and fall risks, in order to identify the frailties and specific needs of each patient.

The team then makes personalised recommendations to doctors in other departments to prevent functional decline during hospitalisation and after discharge. It also anticipates the patient's return home or transfer to a suitable facility in order to limit readmissions and complications.

At the same time, the internal liaison raises awareness among hospital teams about the specific needs of elderly patients in order to improve the quality of care. At the end of the assessment, a detailed report is sent to the attending physician, ensuring consistent and safe medical follow-up.

Each geriatric site maintains functional links with several nursing homes and care facilities (MRS) to ensure optimal follow-up care for elderly patients after hospitalisation. Regular meetings are held several times a year between geriatric teams and MRS to coordinate care and share recommendations.

At some sites, geriatric consultations can be carried out directly in nursing homes, at the request of the attending physician, facilitating access to specialised care for residents.

In addition, geriatric consultations are available at the various sites to ensure personalised and continuous follow-up of elderly patients, whether for check-ups, monitoring of chronic diseases or assessment of autonomy.

Hospital services :

Geriatrics 1, D21 : 02 434 72 01 Building D, 2 nd floor

Geriatrics 2, A11 : 02 434 94 80 Bâtiment A, 1 st floor

Day hospital at A11 from Monday to Thursday : 02 434 78 89

Geriatric liaison service : 02 434 9113

Practical information

Upon arrival at the geriatric ward, please give your contact details, those of your legal representative or trusted person, and your personal medication to the nurses.

It is important to designate a contact person. This person can be contacted for any questions regarding laundry, toiletries, or to provide medical or social information.

Please also bring your toiletries and a change of clothes: soap, toothbrush, washcloths, towels, razor, etc.

To ensure patients receive proper care, rest and convalescence, visits must be reasonable and respectful of visiting hours. You may be asked to leave the room to allow for care to be provided.

Private rooms: 12 noon – 7 p.m.
Shared rooms: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

To obtain information about a patient's condition, please make an appointment with the unit secretary between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments are usually held in the afternoon. Please notify us of your arrival.

You may also contact us by telephone. Please leave your contact details with the secretary, who will pass them on to the doctor. The doctor will contact you directly to provide the necessary information.

Each patient has a landline telephone in their room. To obtain the corresponding telephone number, please contact the unit. Please do not hesitate to contact the department for any further information.

We advise against keeping valuables or money in your room. If necessary, secure code-locked cabinets or a built-in safe drawer in the bedside table are available. Staff are on hand to help you with any questions you may have about how the electronic locks work.

Meal times for geriatric patients are:

Breakfast: 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Coffee or tea: around 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Each bedside table is equipped with a small refrigerator. It is possible to bring food and drinks that are suitable for the patient's condition, in appropriate quantities and textures. If you have any questions or need advice, please speak to the nurses, who will provide the necessary medical instructions.

In the event of swallowing difficulties, warning signs are posted in the room to ensure patient safety.

The clinic respects the opinions and beliefs of each patient. Representatives of different faiths can visit patients upon request to the nursing staff, offering spiritual and moral support tailored to individual needs.

Podiatric care can be arranged on request through the secretariat, subject to medical approval. Pedicure and hairdressing services are also available for the comfort and well-being of elderly patients, contributing to their hygiene, foot health and quality of life during their stay.

Discharge from the geriatric ward is organised by the social worker, who coordinates all external parties to ensure a safe and well-prepared return home.

Preparations are made in collaboration with the care team, the patient and their loved ones to ensure continuity of care and comfort. Upon discharge, a complete medical report and all necessary documents are given to the patient and their attending physician.

It is recommended that families or loved ones collect non-essential items the day before to facilitate organisation and ensure the patient's comfort.

Additional Information

Among elderly people, health status and independence vary. Many remain independent, but from the age of 75 onwards, some patients become frail and are at increased risk of losing their independence.

These patients are assessed using geriatric scales in the emergency department to determine their geriatric profile. The proportion of geriatric patients increases with age:

75% of patients between 80 and 84 years of age
95% of patients over 84 years of age

During hospitalisation, these patients ideally receive specialised geriatric care.

Geriatric patients often have one or more of the following problems:

Decreased homeostasis (balance):
Organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, brain) function less efficiently and have difficulty coping with stress, such as a heatwave. A minor problem can upset the fragile balance.
Episodes of confusion are common during hospitalisation, sometimes linked to infection or possibly an early sign of dementia. Dementia affects about 1 in 6 people in their 80s.

Multiple chronic conditions:
Patients may suffer from several chronic conditions (dementia, heart failure, kidney failure, etc.). Treatment aims to treat acute flare-ups, slow progression and maintain residual functions.
It is normal that some very frail patients cannot avoid death. Staff encourage respectful dialogue, while prioritising the patient's well-being and wishes. Limited therapeutic measures may be taken to avoid prolonging suffering unnecessarily. The psychologist and staff are available to support families in these situations.

Risk of disability:
Chronic diseases increase the risk of loss of independence. Immobilisation, malnutrition or infection can cause muscle wasting and falls.
Specialised assessments and physiotherapy exercises are carried out to prevent these risks. Patients are encouraged to perform certain activities on their own in order to maintain their independence.

Polypharmacy:
Older patients often take too many medications, which can cause interactions, side effects or dosage errors.
Medical staff reassess treatments, remove unnecessary medications and adjust those that are necessary, always with patient safety in mind. Patients should not take medications themselves without medical authorisation.

Clinical picture and atypical progression:
In elderly people, symptoms can be atypical: confusion, incontinence, anorexia, silent heart attack, etc. Daily observation is essential for an accurate diagnosis.
Rehabilitation begins as soon as the patient's condition allows, in order to prepare for their return home. The average length of stay in geriatric care at Braine-l'Alleud is 16.4 days, slightly below the Belgian average. Discharge is planned 1 to 2 days in advance with the doctor's approval.

Psychological and social aspects:
Returning home is not always easy. A multidisciplinary assessment and weekly meetings determine each patient's capabilities.
If necessary, home help, rehabilitation or suitable placements are offered. The psychologist helps with decision-making, and the social worker guides families through the administrative procedures.

Our teams

The geriatric department relies on an experienced multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing comprehensive care for elderly patients.

The teams are made up of nurses, nursing assistants, logistics assistants, medical secretaries, social workers, physiotherapists, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and dieticians.

This collaboration between healthcare professionals ensures coordinated, personalised care tailored to the specific medical, functional, psychological and social needs of elderly patients.