Objective Control and Well-Being in Assisted Living Settings

Abstract

The present study sampled 85 residents of assisted living facilities and delineated two groups based on functional independence, or objective control. The groups were then compared on measures of life satisfaction and affective experience. No significant differences were found on these criteria, suggesting that personal control capabilities are less instrumental in determining well-being among this population. Implications include the possibility that assisted living arrangements for older adults may assuage the often-observed decline in well-being reported under conditions of lesser functional capabilities.     

Autobiographical Narration as a Tool for the Empowerment of Older Adults’ Subjective and Psychological Wellbeing in Nursing Homes

Objectives: Conceiving narration as a resource to promote older people’s wellbeing, the present work aimed to implement a narrative-based intervention to empower the subjective and psychological wellbeing of older adults living in nursing homes.

Methods: Twenty-one nursing-home residents took part in a narrative training experience consisting of three weekly interview sessions. During each interview, a psychologist helped the participants to construct an autobiographical narrative about their present life in the nursing home based on a Deconstruction-Reconstruction technique. Subjective and psychological wellbeing variables were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results: Subjective but not psychological wellbeing increased over the course of the intervention. The participants reported to appreciate the intervention.

Conclusions: Although preliminary, the results suggest that brief narrative training based on narrative therapy can positively affect nursing-home residents’ subjective wellbeing.

Clinical Implications: Brief narrative interventions implementing deconstruction-reconstruction techniques are feasible for long-term care residents.     

Lighten UP! A Community-Based Group Intervention to Promote Eudaimonic Well-Being in Older Adults: A Multi-Site Replication with 6 Month Follow-Up

Objectives: Eudaimonic well-being (EWB), increasingly recognized as a critical component of health, typically declines in later life, and there are no existing programs to sustain or increase EWB in older adults. Lighten UP! is an 8-week program to promote EWB through facilitated group sessions in community settings and at-home practice. Building on earlier pilot research, the current study assessed the effect of the Lighten UP! Program using a longitudinal, multi-site design.

Methods: Men and women (N = 169) aged 60 and over were recruited from three Wisconsin communities. EWB, life satisfaction, depression, and diverse aspects of health were assessed before and after the program and at 6-month follow up.

Results: Participants reported significantly increased EWB; these changes were maintained 6 months later. The specific EWB domains of self-acceptance, positive relations, and personal growth showed the most robust gains. Participants also showed significant and sustained declines in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and hostility.

Conclusions: Lighten UP! Program confirmed its positive effects for enhancing EWB in older adults living in multiple community settings.

Clinical Implications: Programs that sustain or enhance EWB in older adults can be expected to yield improvements in diverse aspects of mental and physical health.     

Feasibility of a Yoga Intervention for Enhancing the Mental Well-Being and Physical Functioning of Older Adults Living in the Community

This study assessed the feasibility of a yoga intervention to improve the mental and physical well-being of older adults. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 18 older adults living in a low-income housing complex. Utilizing a classical experimental design, the participants were assigned to either a yoga group or a socialization group; both met twice a week for an hour for four weeks. Results showed that although there is inconclusive evidence to demonstrate that the yoga intervention was superior to the socialization group in improving mental and physical health, yoga could provide some benefit for older adults.     

The Utilisation of Group Process Strategies as an Intervention Tool for the Promotion of Health-Related Physical Activity in Older Adults

Abstract

This study contrasted the effects of an enhanced group intervention program against a standard group intervention, with specific reference to the influences of group cohesion on changes in health-related physical activity of older adults. Older adults (N = 122) took part in a 12-week intervention with repeated post-intervention follow-up (6 & 12 months) assessing physical activity behaviour and perceptions of group cohesion. Results indicated significant positive change (p< 0.05) across time, but a non-significant difference between groups, for physical activity behaviour. For group cohesion, results indicated a significant negative (p< 0.05) change across time and similar to physical activity behaviour, a nonsignificant difference between the intervention groups. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism that fosters group cohesion in order to develop future interventions aimed at increasing physical activity behaviour and adherence in older adults.     

Mindfulness Skills Training: A Pilot Study of Changes in Mindfulness,Emotion Regulation,and Self-Perception of Aging in Older Participants

A randomized clinical trial was conducted to investigate the impact of an eight-session mindfulness meditation (MM) training versus a control training. The older adult participants also answered open-ended questions weekly about any perceived influence the training was having on how they were feeling. Improvements were detected in mindfulness, emotion regulation, negative affect, and self-perception of aging in the experimental group (MM) as compared with the control condition; however, due to small sample size (n = 22) the statistical analyses did not produce significant results. Statements provided by some of the participants of the MM training indicate that they perceived improved emotion regulation and self-perception of aging.