Long-term effects of a structured life review process

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Homebound elderly individuals often experience decreased life satisfaction and psychological well-being.
• Life review is a therapeutic intervention aimed at improving mental health in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the short-term and long-term effects of a structured life review process on homebound elderly clients.
• To assess changes in life satisfaction, psychological well-being, depression, and activities of daily living.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed with 52 homebound elderly clients assigned to three groups.
• Participants were assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 1 year on four dependent variables.
• The experimental group received a structured life review intervention.

Main Results:

• At 8 weeks, the experimental group showed significant improvements in life satisfaction (p < .0001) and psychological well-being (p < .003).
• No significant changes were observed in depression or activities of daily living at 8 weeks.
• At 1 year, the experimental group maintained an upward trend in life satisfaction, while all groups showed a downward trend in activities of daily living and depression.

Conclusions:

• A structured life review intervention can positively impact immediate psychological outcomes for homebound elderly individuals.
• While initial gains are significant, long-term maintenance of benefits requires further investigation.
• The intervention did not significantly alter depression or daily living activities in the short or long term.