Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Testing an Occupation-Based Cultural Group Intervention for Residents in Long-Term Care Settings

In today's society adults are living longer and one challenge these adults face is a relocation that often happens late in life when they are no longer able to live independently, whether that is for financial, physical or cognitive reasons. Some of these adults are leaving their life long homes where they raised their families to move closer to their children (or move in with their children). Some are moving to retirement communities, long term care facilities, or into assisted living. Whatever the reason they are leaving these people are just looking to be able to call some place "home" again.

The purpose of this study was to look at the effect occupation-based cultural heritage intervention (OBCHI). The intent of the intervention was to improve the occupational adaptation process for older adults who experience recent relocation.The group was led by a well trained activity staff and met twice a week for 4 weeks.

The quality of life index was used to measure the effectiveness of intervention given to the experimental group (n= 13) compared to those in the control group (n=8).  Those participants that experienced OBCHI demonstrated significant improvement in physical health and significant improvement in quality of life compared with those in the control group. Physical health was measured by a physician at the LTC facility. Follow up interviews were given 1 month after last intervention to show positive long last effects on quality of life. 

Results provide insights into the transition and adaptation to new environment in LTC settings and a perspective of the relationship between a cultural intervention and quality of life. A larger study would be beneficial to see if the results could be better generalized to the overall growing population of older adults. 

I chose to read this article because I am facilitating a group session on taking care of aging parents and I wanted to read the effects of a group intervention on easing the transition to a new environment for aging adults.

Pei-Fen Chang, Anlee Birch-Evans, Harriett Davidson, Gayle Hersch, Kai-Li Tsai; Testing an occupation-based cultural group intervention for residents in long-term care settings. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 2017;71(4_Supplement_1):7111520284p1. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2017.71S1-PO3161.
 

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