Older People and Loneliness: The Impact of Day Centre Reablement Programmes

Abstract

This research investigated the impact of day centre ‘reablement’ programmes on loneliness amongst older people in the Northern Health & Social Care Trust area of Northern Ireland using a mixed methods approach. Quantitative analysis examined whether loneliness reduced over time whilst qualitative data explored the meaning and perception of loneliness as well as the adult day service experience.

Initially, 91 participants completed questionnaires, examining loneliness as defined by two scales, the UCLA and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scales, with data also gathered on quality of life, using the CASP-19 Scale, and independent living skills, using the IADL scale. Data collection occurred at three intervals: baseline (at the commencement of the programme), T¹ (programme end) and T² (at two to four month following completion). Due to attrition, 68 respondents at T¹ and 43 at T² completed questionnaires.

Qualitative analysis involved five participants completing diaries for the programme duration and submitting to follow-up interviews based on the information recorded. Diarists were asked to write about the day centre experience and their social lives. Qualitative findings were supplemented by
information gathered from additional diarists, interviewees and reflections from the researcher’s own study journal.

Findings suggested that, whilst there were no significant changes in loneliness scores for the cohort as a whole, significant differences in emotional loneliness at baseline for sub-cohorts who were widowed, divorced or single or who lived with or had daily contact with children, disappeared at programme end. Additionally, those attending the Positive Living Programme and those who were younger returned higher mean loneliness scores. Comparison with larger population data sets indicated that older people who attended day centres were significantly lonelier than those who did not. Qualitative findings supported the idea that loneliness remains a subjective experience that is not easily described by certain variables.

Date of Award	May 2015
Original language	English
Supervisor	Roger Manktelow (Supervisor) & John Mallett (Supervisor)