WILL RESIDENT PARTICIPATION IN GROUP REMINISCENCE THERAPY CORRELATE WITH ENGAGEMENT OF RESIDENTS IN PRE-EXISTING ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVATES?

Publication Date

4-5-2019

Document Type

Poster

Degree Type

Graduate

Department

Social Work

Mentor

Kathyrn Conley Wehrmann

Mentor Department

Social Work

Abstract

The portion of American's who are over the age of 85 is the fastest growing age demographic in the United States. Long term care facilities are becoming an ever growing market that aims to provide housing and medical services to those who require assistance completing activates of daily living. In addition to providing housing, and medical care, long term facilities in Illinois are required to provide meaningful opportunity for social engagement for their residents. Facilities are required by law to provide a set number of activities for their residents, however many residents choose not to engage in the activities provided through the LTC facility. In order to better serve the aging population, further research into aiding residents in developing social behaviors is need. This study purposes an intervention model utilizing reminiscence therapy. Residents of a rural Midwest assisted living facility will be recruited on an at- will basis to participate in an 8 week group therapy session where they will be encouraged to recall and share their significant experiences with their fellow group members with the intention of finding new meaning and purpose to their current situation. It is anticipated that participating in the re-authoring of the participants' life narrative in a group setting, group members will be able to connect with one another more easily and result in greater feelings of connectedness and social behaviors at the facility. This will be measured by residents' attendance at facility sanctioned activities and through self-report loneliness measure using the UCLA revised loneliness scale.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS