Reducing Loneliness through Intervention among Institutionalized Elderly: A Quasi-Experimental Study
R. Brigit, Lavina Rodrigues, M. T. P. SabeenaAbstract
Background:
Loneliness is a significant issue for the elderly individuals in elderly homes, often arising from family separation, loss of loved ones, and diminished social interactions. It negatively impacts their mental and physical health, leading to depression and cognitive decline.
Aim:
To evaluate the effectiveness of an interventional package on loneliness among elderly residents of selected old age homes.
Materials and Methods:
A quasi-experimental study involved 130 elderly participants from two old age homes were recruited through purposive sampling and divided into intervention and control groups. Permission from ethics committee and informed consent was obtained priorly. Pretest was conducted using baseline pro forma and UCLA Loneliness Scale and on the 7 th day following the interventional package. The control group was provided with routine care, while the intervention group engaged with daily 1-h activities of interventional package over 6 consecutive days.
Results:
The pretest data revealed that 47.7% of subjects in the intervention group experienced higher scores of loneliness (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 63.08 ± 6.55) compared to the control group (67.7%) reported moderately high loneliness (mean ± SD: 61.48 ± 6.13). The intervention package activities showed a significant reduction in loneliness among participants in the intervention group (mean ± SD: 30.48 ± 3.20) in comparison with the control group (mean ± SD: 63.77 ± 7.11). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (
Conclusion:
The interventional program successfully decreased loneliness in elderly residents of old age homes, emphasizing the importance of organized group activities in improving social interaction and overall well-being.