Hans Hobbelen

Hans Hobbelen serves as Professor (Lector) at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, Netherlands, where he leads the Centre of Expertise Healthy Ageing and specializes in Healthy Aging, Allied Health Care and Nursing. His international leadership includes presidency of IPTOP (International association of Physical Therapists working with Older People), a subgroup of the World Confederation of Physical Therapists.

His research focuses on geriatric care complexities, particularly dementia-related motor disorders (paratonia), frailty assessment through gait analysis, health literacy adaptations in physiotherapy, and oral health implementation in long-term care. He develops practical clinical tools like the Safe Use of Mobility Aid Checklist (SUMAC) and Com-In-Action communication framework, emphasizing real-world application in community and institutional settings for vulnerable older populations.

Recent publications (2025) reveal three dominant trends: systematic reviews on oral health implementation strategies, qualitative explorations of subjective frailty experiences, and capability frameworks for dementia care. His work consistently bridges clinical practice and research through tools for health literacy adaptation, mobility assessment, and interdisciplinary care protocols.

• World Physiotherapy International Service Award (2023)

Hobbelen directs major research initiatives including PRODEM (Practical Research for People with Dementia) and the international Move in Age consortium, securing €2.1M+ in funding since 2018. His supervision spans doctoral candidates in geriatric rehabilitation, with current projects addressing palliative pain management, aphasia rehabilitation, and sarcopenia-dementia intersections. Grant portfolios emphasize implementation science and interdisciplinary collaboration across nursing, physiotherapy, and geriatrics.

He co-leads the Move in Age international research group and directs Hanze's Centre of Expertise Healthy Ageing. His IPTOP presidency shapes global physiotherapy standards for older adults, while national roles include board membership in the Dutch Association for Geriatric Physiotherapy (NVFG). Current initiatives focus on translating research into clinical masterclasses on paratonia management and dementia care protocols used across European healthcare systems.