'It makes life worthwhile!' Peer mentoring in long-term care-a feasibility study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Mental Health Research
• Community Health Programs

Background:

• Loneliness and depression are significant concerns in long-term care (LTC) settings, exacerbated by isolation protocols.
• The Java Mentorship program was developed to address social disengagement in LTC residents.
• This program utilized a team-based approach with community and resident volunteers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of implementing the Java Mentorship program in LTC facilities.
• To evaluate the program's potential for a larger-scale study.
• To examine the impact of mentorship on resident well-being.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods pre-post study design was employed across 10 Canadian sites.
• Feasibility data included recruitment, retention, adherence, and acceptability.
• Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from community mentors, resident mentors, staff facilitators, and mentees.

Main Results:

• High program adherence and acceptability were reported by participants.
• A 29% reduction in depression scores (p=.048) and a 15% reduction in loneliness scores (p=.014) were observed.
• While purpose in life, social identity, and sense of belonging remained unchanged, interviews revealed positive participant perceptions.

Conclusions:

• The Java Mentorship program is a feasible and acceptable intervention for reducing loneliness and depression in LTC settings.
• Mentorship demonstrates potential as a viable strategy to enhance mental health outcomes for older adults in residential care.
• Findings support further research and larger-scale implementation of mentorship programs in LTC.