Date Presented 3/31/2017
This presentation describes potential positive impacts on quality of life that social participation and meaningful activity groups can have on residents during their transition to assisted living. Occupational therapists possess distinct expertise in facilitating engagement in these areas.
Primary Author and Speaker: Helene Lohman
Additional Authors and Speakers: Amy Pietro, Erin Gotschall, Kellie Thomen, Kate Tranel, Shara Luther
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine how support groups impact the transition process for participants relocating to assisted living (AL) facilities, as research demonstrates that this transition can have a significant impact on an older adult’s emotional well-being. Occupational therapists possess distinct expertise in facilitating engagement in both social participation and meaningful activities and thus are beneficial in designing interventions appropriate for residents transitioning to a new type of living environment. This study compared the impact of social participation and meaningful activities on quality of life (QoL) while transitioning into AL.
DESIGN: A mixed-methods experimental design was used for this study. All participants relocated to the AL facility within the 5 mo prior to the start of the study and scored 21 or above on the Mini-Mental State Exam. Participation was voluntary. Participants’ ages ranged from 71 to 95 yr. Participants were randomly selected to be part of a social participation group, a meaningful activity group, or a control group that did not receive any intervention.
METHOD: The World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL–BREF) assessment and Likert scale questions quantitatively examined QoL pre- and postintervention. Pre- and postintervention structured interviews were analyzed as qualitative data.
RESULTS: The quantitative data results were insignificant; however, there was a trend toward increasing QoL on both the Likert-scale questions and WHOQOL–BREF for the social participation group and in the Likert-scale questions for the meaningful activity group. Qualitative results supported increased QoL in both groups receiving the intervention.
CONCLUSION: Support groups help transitioning residents maintain or improve QoL. Further research is needed to determine the significance of transition groups on QoL to AL. This research supports future practice in this area for occupational therapists. Due to the increased need for practitioners to support the aging population and occupational therapists’ expertise in facilitating engagement in both social participation and meaningful activities, there is opportunity for occupational therapists to be helpful in supporting successful transitions for the aging population.
References
Kozar-Westman, M., Troutman-Jordan, M., & Nies, M. A. (2013). Successful aging among assisted-living community older adults. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 45, 238–246. https://doi.org/10.1111.jnu.12027
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. (2010). Rehab measures: World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.rehabmeasures.org/Lists/RehabMeasures/PrintView.aspx?ID=937
Stefanacci, R. G. (2008). How big an issue is depression in assisted living? Assisted Living Consult, 4(4), 30–35.
