Mental health distress in homebound older adults: Importance of the aging network

The Impact of an Intergenerational Service Learning Program on Psychological Distress for Homebound Older Adults

This study examined the benefits of an intergenerational home-based service learning program to reduce psychological distress for homebound older adults. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted with a sample of 182 to examine the association of length of service from the program and presence of caregivers with psychological distress. Findings indicated length of service (β = -0.15, p < .05) and having a child as a caregiver (β = -0.14, p < .05) were associated with a reduction in psychological distress. Policies and practice can support a pipeline of geriatric health professionals through innovative service learning models to benefit older adults, caregivers, and students.

'We all have a stake in this': a phenomenological inquiry into integrating suicide intervention in home-delivered meal service contexts

OBJECTIVES

Late-life suicide is a public health concern, yet many older adults do not have access to traditional mental health services. The present study sought to explore how suicide intervention is integrated into home-delivered meal (HDM) contexts following volunteer training in an evidence-based suicide first responder program.

METHODS

Using phenomenological inquiry, we examined the experiences of 20 HDM volunteers trained in ASIST.

RESULTS

Three primary themes emerged: (a) Logistics influencing integration of Suicide Intervention into HDM Systems, describing HDM program logistics; (b) Intrapersonal Context, describing HDM volunteer characteristics influencing intervention utilization and HDM client concerns; and (c) Interpersonal Context, describing HDM relationship characteristics that influenced intervention utilization.

CONCLUSION

HDM and other nutrition services have potential for addressing late life suicide, particularly when volunteers best equipped to address risk receive training and HDM policies reflect the needs of their clients. Implications for HDM services, as well as the Aging Services Network, are discussed.

Effects of Social Interaction and Depression on Homeboundness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Living Alone

This study examines the levels of social interaction, depression, and homeboundness, and the effects of social interaction and depression on homeboundness in community-dwelling older adults living alone. Survey data were collected from 6444 older adults aged 65 and over, living alone, who registered for individualized home care services at 42 public health centers in Gyeonggi Province. A total of 5996 participants with complete questionnaire data were included in the analysis. The mean social interaction score was 2.90 out of 6, and the mean depression score was 6.21 out of 15. The mean homeboundness score was 0.42 out of 2. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed with general characteristics, health factors, social interaction, and depression to identify their effects on homeboundness. In general characteristics and health factors, homeboundness is associated with decreasing social interaction (β = 0.17, p < 0.001) and increasing depression (β = 0.25, p < 0.001) in older adults living alone. Homeboundness was severe among participants aged 80 and over (β = 0.04, p = 0.015) and those with several chronic diseases (β = 0.04, p < 0.001), falling history (β = 0.14, p < 0.001), and lack of exercise (β = −0.20, p < 0.001). Thus, interventions that target social interaction, depression, and health functions are important for this demographic.

Social isolation and suicide risk: Literature review and perspectives

Background

Suicide is a major public health problem and a cause of premature mortality. With a view to prevention, a great deal of research has been devoted to the determinants of suicide, focusing mostly on individual risk factors, particularly depression. In addition to causes intrinsic to the individual, the social environment has also been widely studied, particularly social isolation. This paper examines the social dimension of suicide etiology through a review of the literature on the relationship between suicide and social isolation.

Methods

Medline searches via PubMed and PsycINFO were conducted. The keywords were “suicid*” AND “isolation.”

Results

Of the 2,684 articles initially retrieved, 46 were included in the review.

Conclusions

Supported by proven theoretical foundations, mainly those developed by E. Durkheim and T. Joiner, a large majority of the articles included endorse the idea of a causal relationship between social isolation and suicide, and conversely, a protective effect of social support against suicide. Moreover, the association between suicide and social isolation is subject to variations related to age, gender, psychopathology, and specific circumstances. The social etiology of suicide has implications for intervention and future research.