Who benefits most from resilience-building groups for ‘at-risk’ older people? a pilot service-evaluation

Abstract

Objectives

Resilience-building interventions have not yet targeted older adults, despite the importance of well-being for maintaining independence and health. The ‘My Generation’ programme aims to build resilience through greater access to social networks, well-being activities, and psycho-educational support; this paper examines service evaluation data from its pilot implementation to identify factors leading to positive outcomes.

Method

The ‘My Generation’ programme comprises eight weekly 2-hour group sessions; each session includes both psychoeducation and a well-being activity. Participants were invited to complete questionnaires at the start and end of the course, and 12 weeks later. These included measures of well-being, loneliness, social connections and self-efficacy.

Results

Baseline assessments were completed by 239 older people (average age 71, range 50-97), attending 38 courses in four centres. Most were female (80%), 40% were widowed, 25% divorced/separated and 64% lived alone. Demographics did not differ between those completing post-intervention assessments (N = 137) and those who did not. Compared with normative data, participants had significantly lower well-being and greater feelings of loneliness than age-peers. Significant improvements in well-being, self-efficacy, social connections and one measure of loneliness were evident at post-intervention and follow-up assessments. Improvement in well-being at post-intervention was greater in those who were divorced/separated and who were not carers, and at follow-up in females and those living alone.

Conclusion

The ‘My Generation’ package appeared effective in improving well-being, self-efficacy, social connections and aspects of loneliness in at-risk older people. More research is needed to identify the intervention’s key components and possible between-centre differences in outcomes.

Keywords:

• Self-efficacy
• well-being
• prevention
• psychoeducation
• loneliness

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all those who contributed to the development and delivery of the pilot ‘My Generation’ programme, through a service design workshop, planning workshops and an Advisory Group. These include programme leads and project coordinators and older people from Mind Cymru, Age Cymru, four local Mind organisations (Merthyr & the Valleys, Newport, Torfaen & Blaenau Gwent, and Pembrokeshire), two local branches of Age Cymru (Sir Gar and Gwent) and Age Connects Morgannwg. They also thank all those contributing to the evaluation, through distributing and collecting evaluation packs. Special thanks to all the course participants for completing questionnaires and for their feedback.

Disclosure statement

Mind (JC), Mind Cymru (JJ) and Merthyr and the Valleys Mind (RP) are charitable not-for-profit organisations which advocate for improved provision of preventative mental health services for older people and may receive commissions from statutory bodies to provide such services.

Additional information

Funding

The overall project and evaluation were funded by a Welsh Government Sustainable Social Services Grant to Mind Cymru, who commissioned Ecorys UK to conduct the evaluation, with advisory input from Bangor University.