Interventions to reduce caregiver burden are of great interest as the number of informal family caregivers continues to grow. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of an online mindfulness meditation intervention for community-dwelling older adult caregivers and to evaluate its impact on quality of life, caregiver burden, and psychological well-being. A total of 40 caregivers were recruited from 2 community center support groups to participate in an 8-week online mindfulness intervention. Pre and post surveys were administered. Retention rates were high with 55% completing the post surveys and attending at least 5 out of 8 sessions. Matched pairs t test indicated that the intervention reduced caregiver burden, perceived stress, anxiety, and loneliness and improved mental well-being. Online interventions offer flexibility for caregivers regardless of their responsibilities. Future research should expand this opportunity and explore the scalability of online mindfulness interventions.
New and recurring back pain patients can be stratified by pain medication intensity to review treatment patterns and target back pain prevention programs. Those with back pain but taking no prescription pain medications may benefit from back pain prevention programs. More research on guidelines for treatment options for those on high levels of pain medications is warranted.
Older adults facing age-related transitions are at increased risk for depression and loneliness. Reminiscence therapy has demonstrated positive outcomes for older adults, including improved socialization and reduced depression. A program known as LifeBio was designed as a group intervention to engage participants by capturing their life stories to positively impact wellness through reminiscence. This program was adapted to a telephonic format for the Aging Strong 2020 initiative. Semi-structured interviews eliciting feedback about participants’ experiences in the program were conducted with 24 participants. Respondent feedback indicated that those with limited mobility and fewer social connections reported the greatest benefit. Many identified the value of journaling as a form of recordkeeping for family members, but reported varying degrees of journal completion. Suggestions for improvement included future facilitation of two-way communication with other participants and opportunities for face-to-face interaction in group settings.
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