TRAJECT

People can live in relatively good health until late in life. For many, old age is a positive period of life, with enriching relationships and activities and good well-being. However, many older people are affected by one or several serious chronic illnesses that can lead to complex fluctuations in people's physical health and in their social, psychological and existential well-being, especially towards the end of life.

The TRAJECT project aims to gain groundbreaking insights into the end-of-life trajectories of older people. Using both quantitative methods from epidemiology and narrative methods (storytelling) from social anthropology, we examine shared patterns of changes in health and well-being as well as individually specific experiences. We also want to learn about the various clinical, social and societal circumstances that shape end-of-life trajectories. These new insights will impact science and practice alike. We will find out how older people's health and well-being change and fluctuate as they near death, and how they experience these changes. Our project will also provide a much-needed evidence base for assessing needs, improving palliative care, and guiding the organisation of health and social services for ageing populations.

TRAJECT is a five-year project (2023-2028) funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The research has received approval from the Committees for Medical Ethics from the Brussels and Ghent University Hospitals. The inclusion of research participants and data collection has started in April 2025 and we will continue to include participants until at least the end of 2026.