Reclaiming Joy: Pilot Evaluation of a Mental Health Peer Support Program for Older Adults Who Receive Medicaid

Autor/inn/en	Chapin, Rosemary K.; Sergeant, Julie F.; Landry, Sarah; Leedahl, Skye N.; Rachlin, Roxanne; Koenig, Terry; Graham, Annette
Titel	Reclaiming Joy: Pilot Evaluation of a Mental Health Peer Support Program for Older Adults Who Receive Medicaid
Quelle	In: Gerontologist, 53 (2013) 2, S.345-352 (8 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0016-9013
DOI	10.1093/geront/gns120
Schlagwörter	Goal Orientation; Intervention; Well Being; Mental Health; Older Adults; Physical Health; Anxiety; Depression (Psychology); Community Resources; Barriers; Health Insurance; Aging (Individuals); Access to Health Care; Social Bias; Volunteers; Safety; Program Descriptions; Program Evaluation; Quality of Life; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Health Services + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Zielorientierung; Zielvorstellung; Well-being; Wellness; Wohlbefinden; Psychohygiene; Älterer Erwachsener; Gesundheitszustand; Angst; Krankenversicherung; Aging; Altern; Freiwilliger; Sicherheit; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Lebensqualität; Psychiatrische Symptomatik; Health service; Gesundheitsdienst; Gesundheitswesen
Abstract	Purpose: Stigma and lack of access to providers create barriers to mental health treatment for older adults living in the community. In order to address these barriers, we developed and evaluated a peer support intervention for older adults receiving Medicaid services. Design and Methods: Reclaiming Joy is a mental health intervention that pairs an older adult volunteer with a participant (older adult who receives peer support). Volunteers receive training on the strengths-based approach, mental health and aging, goal setting and attainment, community resources, and safety. Participant-volunteer pairs meet once a week for 10 weeks. Participants establish and work toward goals (e.g., better self-care, social engagement) that they feel would improve their mental health and well-being. Aging services agencies provide a part time person to manage the program, match volunteers and participants, and provide ongoing support. Outcomes evaluation for this pilot study included pre/postintervention assessments of participants. Results: Thirty-two participants completed the intervention. Pre/postassessment group means showed statistically significant improvement for depression but not for symptoms of anxiety. Quality-of-life indicators for health and functioning also improved for participants with symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Implications: The Reclaiming Joy peer support intervention has potential for reducing depression and increasing quality of life in low-income older adults who have physical health conditions. It is feasible to administer and sustain the intervention through collaborative efforts with minimal program resources and a small amount of technical assistance. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10