The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care.
The mental health of an increasing ageing population is an important part of healthcare. Research has explored means to enrich the lives of older adults living in residential settings, including approaches like the Eden Alternative. This is a cross-sectional, qualitative study with a quantitative co...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287369 |
| _version_ | 1827895746224979968 |
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| author | Elizabeth Jane Earl Debbie Marais |
| author_facet | Elizabeth Jane Earl Debbie Marais |
| author_sort | Elizabeth Jane Earl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The mental health of an increasing ageing population is an important part of healthcare. Research has explored means to enrich the lives of older adults living in residential settings, including approaches like the Eden Alternative. This is a cross-sectional, qualitative study with a quantitative component. It looks at common mental health conditions (CMHCs) in residential-living older adults in South Africa and describes their experiences of intergenerational interactions with playschool children. Participants completed a questionnaire which included the Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Scale and a semi-structured interview. Anxiety and depression were common in the sample with limited awareness of non-pharmacological therapy available at the facility. The intergenerational interactions were experienced positively with emerging themes of belonging, sense of purpose, reminiscence and positive affective experiences, but influenced by participants' preconceptions of children. The study concludes that intergenerational interactions may serve as adjunctive therapy in managing CMHCs in residential-living older adults. Recommendations are made for successful implementation of such programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:26:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8fdd33ff1eb4ea08d22acdbb54696b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:26:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8fdd33ff1eb4ea08d22acdbb54696b52023-07-22T05:31:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01187e028736910.1371/journal.pone.0287369The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care.Elizabeth Jane EarlDebbie MaraisThe mental health of an increasing ageing population is an important part of healthcare. Research has explored means to enrich the lives of older adults living in residential settings, including approaches like the Eden Alternative. This is a cross-sectional, qualitative study with a quantitative component. It looks at common mental health conditions (CMHCs) in residential-living older adults in South Africa and describes their experiences of intergenerational interactions with playschool children. Participants completed a questionnaire which included the Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Scale and a semi-structured interview. Anxiety and depression were common in the sample with limited awareness of non-pharmacological therapy available at the facility. The intergenerational interactions were experienced positively with emerging themes of belonging, sense of purpose, reminiscence and positive affective experiences, but influenced by participants' preconceptions of children. The study concludes that intergenerational interactions may serve as adjunctive therapy in managing CMHCs in residential-living older adults. Recommendations are made for successful implementation of such programs.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287369 |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth Jane Earl Debbie Marais The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care. PLoS ONE |
| title | The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care. |
| title_full | The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care. |
| title_fullStr | The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care. |
| title_short | The experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care. |
| title_sort | experience of intergenerational interactions and their influence on the mental health of older people living in residential care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287369 |
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