Social inclusion of older adults in care: Is it just a question of providing activities?

Abstract

We investigated the experiences of older adults in residential care in relation to social activity and inclusion. We also examined the explored phenomenon of resident's social inclusion from the perspective of those providing care for the residents. Our participants were 25 care providers and 25 residents drawn from five low-level-care residential facilities in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. We used one-to-one in-depth interviews which were aimed at tapping into themes related to social inclusion. Of special interest to us was residents' lived experience of social inclusion within the context of their lives in residential care. We found that although participation in activities emerged in our study as being valued and encouraged by care providers, residents were left feeling isolated, compromised, and as though they were not ''at home''. We concluded that the difference between caregivers' understanding and residents' experiences of social inclusion highlights the need to shift the focus from the provision of activities as an indicator of social inclusion to gaining a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of those in care. We suggest that such a focus would assist in the care of the growing number of older adults who face the transition from their own homes to a residential care facility, and guide us toward a more meaningful understanding of ''well-being'' in this context.

Biopsychosocial factors related to depression in aged care residents

“…Low scorers are concerned about the expectations and evaluations of others and rely on the judgments of others to make decisions (Ryff and Keyes, 1995). Research with older adults in aged care settings has indicated that they receive limited opportunities to make independent decisions about their day-to-day lives (Choi et al, 2008;Knight and Mellor, 2007). Those older people living in this highly regulated environment who tend to conform to social pressures to think and act in certain ways and who worry about the opinions of others appear to be at a greater risk of presenting with a depressive illness.…”

Wellbeing-enhancing occupation and organizational and environmental contributors in long-term dementia care facilities: an explorative study

“…Also, for residents that are regularly involved in central activities, the sole provision of a central activity program might not meet the specific needs of long-term care residents. Knight and Mellor (2007) pointed out that a central activity program for long-term care residents can emphasize their feelings of living in an institution instead of at home, and may facilitate only superficial interaction with other residents, although residents with dementia were excluded in this study.…”

The effects of playing Nintendo Wii on depression, sense of belonging and social support in Australian aged care residents: a protocol study of a mixed methods intervention trial

“…Older adults in residential care are at an increased risk of a number of mental health disorders even though residents are in an environment that has been designed to provide social support, alleviate boredom, and decrease loneliness along with providing medical support. Knight and Mellor [ 8 ] have proposed that a combination of unfulfilling social activities and constant interactions with unfamiliar people can lead to the development of poor mental health in aged care residents.…”

“…Lower levels of belonging is, in turn, associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms [ 9 ]. Other research has indicated that residents feel that they do not fit in with those around them, despite aged care providers believing that the provision of a range of social activities facilitates a sense of belonging among residents [ 8 ]. The above research highlights the importance of sense of belonging to the well-being of aged care residents and emphasises the need for interventions to enhance a sense of belonging within the aged care environment.…”