Date Presented 3/31/2017
This presentation will provide useful information to practitioners working in long-term care facilities about an occupation-based cultural group intervention that can be incorporated into their daily practice for older clients who have experienced recent relocation.
Primary Author and Speaker: Pei-Fen Chang
Additional Authors and Speakers: Anlee Birch-Evans, Harriett Davidson, Gayle Hersch, Kai-Li Tsai
PURPOSE: Population aging is a universal trend. Many challenges and issues arise as the number of older adults increases. One such challenge is when older adults experience relocation in late life; this occurs for various reasons. Some elderly people want to move closer to children after retirement; others move to different senior housing options due to health decline or financial issues. We lack understanding about the ways these older adults adjust to a new environment in order to make a new place be their “home” again. To fill this knowledge gap, the purpose of this proposed study was to examine the effectiveness of an occupation-based cultural heritage intervention (OBCHI). The intent of the intervention was to improve the occupational adaptation process for older adults who experience recent relocation. The study was funded by a private foundation.
DESIGN: We used a two-group comparison with randomization and repeated measures at baseline, 1 wk postintervention, and 1-mo follow-up. Twenty-one participants were recruited from four long-term care facilities and were randomly assigned to the OBCHI group (n = 13) or control group (n = 8). Trained staff from the LTC facility’s activity department led the OBCHI; the intervention group met twice a week for 4 wk. Results from intent-to-treat repeated measures showed the overall quality of life index score significantly improved between baseline and the end of the intervention among those in the treatment group (p = .009; Cohen’s d = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.41, 2.38]). Among those in the treatment group, SF–12 (physical health) scores significantly increased from baseline to posttreatment (p = .008; Cohen’s d = 2.82, 95% CI [1.25, 4.39]), and this increase was maintained at the 1-mo follow-up (p = .047; Cohen’s d = 2.27, 95% CI [0.57, 3.96]).
DISCUSSION: From this study, we found that participants who experienced the OBCHI demonstrated significant improvement in physical health and significant improvement in quality of life compared with those in the control group. This OBCHI study was the first of its kind for older adults who relocated to long-term care facilities. Results provide insights into transition and adaptation to new environment in LTC settings and a perspective of the relationship between a cultural intervention and quality of life.
CONCLUSION: Occupational therapy clinicians may learn from this study to develop an intervention protocol with the cultural aspect of the environment and its impact on transitions to long-term care in older adults. Significant changes in the quality of life and physical functioning measures observed in participants in the treatment group warrant undertaking a larger study.
