معرفی
Ton JEM Bakker is a lecturer in Functional Maintenance in Older Adults in a Lifespan Perspective at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences' Healthcare Innovation Knowledge Center. A geriatric medicine specialist with expertise in psychiatric disorders, he has been active in this role since 2013 while also directing the ANBI Stichting Wetenschap Balans (Science Balance Foundation) and serving as a CCE consultant for complex behavior in vulnerable older adults since 2021.
Dr. Bakker obtained his PhD in 2010 with a thesis on "Psychiatric Functional Disorders (Problem Behavior) in Psychogeriatrics; the Integrative Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation (IRR) Program." Prior to his academic role, he worked as a Treatment & Care Manager alongside Geriatric Medicine Specialists and participated in hospital memory clinics as a behavioral specialist. His educational background includes medical training followed by specialized work in geriatric care settings.
Bakker's research focuses on preventing functional decline in vulnerable older adults, with particular emphasis on dementia care, behavioral disorders in elderly patients, and person-centered interventions. His work addresses the critical issue that 35 percent of people over 75 leave hospital in worse condition than when they arrived, highlighting the need for early intervention during hospitalization. He has developed the STIP Method (Personalized STEP-by-STEP Integrated Prevention and treatment) as a comprehensive approach to managing problem behavior in dementia.
His publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated interventions for dementia-related behavioral issues, with recent work (2022-2025) focusing on personalized, stepped-care approaches that consider individual personality traits. The STIP Method has emerged as a central theme in his most recent research, representing an evolution from earlier work on general functional preservation to more targeted, individualized interventions.
Bakker actively contributes to policy discussions, as evidenced by his interview with Radio Rijnmond regarding dementia prevention investment. He has also edited the book "Clinical Reasoning in Older Adults; Function Preservation from a Lifespan Perspective" and serves as editor-in-chief for related publications.
As a lecturer, Bakker is involved in various postgraduate and post-HBO programs including the Integrative (Psycho)geriatric Psychiatry Program at Breederode University of Applied Sciences and the Mental Health and Addiction Care program in Utrecht. His leadership extends to multiple research projects including the STIP Method implementation study, Nestor (maintaining vitality for seniors at home), and Quality of Geriatric Rehabilitation Care.
His research group operates within the Healthcare Innovation Knowledge Center with a mission to prevent and minimize functional disorders in vulnerable older adults. The work focuses on two key areas: primary care (for early detection and treatment) and hospital settings (for rehabilitation and recovery of vulnerable older adults).
