Citation

Haight BK, Michel Y, Hendrix S. Int. J. Aging Hum. Dev. 1998; 47(2): 119-142.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Baywood Publishing)

DOI

10.2190/A011-BRXD-HAFV-5NJ6

PMID

9836092

Abstract

Relocation to a nursing home places frail elders at risk for developing depression and suicide ideation. This study followed two hundred and fifty-six newly relocated nursing home residents for five years. Using a Solomon Four research design, participants were divided into four groups, two control and two experimental, one each with pretesting and all with posttesting. Participants in the control groups received a friendly visit and those in the experimental groups received the intervention of life review. Immediate short-term results showed the life review to be an effective preventive intervention for clinical depression (p =.05). Additionally, when looking at long-term effects at one year, there were significant decrease in depression (p =.05), hopelessness (p =.01), and psychological well-being (p =.02) with measurable increases in life satisfaction (p =.08). These findings support the hypothesis that life review prevents despair in frail elders newly admitted to a nursing home.

Language: en

Keywords

Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Depression; Humans; Middle Aged; Nursing Homes; Time Factors