Dr. Kristine Theurer, Founder and President Java group programpresented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living and Leading Ages Models for Addressing Mental Health Challenges such as Loneliness and Social Isolation in Elderly Lives and Other Long-Term Care Settings She recently talked more about the model McKnights Senior Living.
Q: Can you talk about the model and how it differs from the approach some senior living communities are currently taking?
A: Models of entertainment and pastimes such as bingo, bus trips, bowling, watching movies, and playing games are typical in older people’s lives.I wrote a paper on this Aging Research Journalalong with other great authors such as Dr. Robin Stone.
I worked in senior living for many years. We thought that if we did enough of these activities and had enough residents to participate in them, our job would be done. Meanwhile, residents were hungry for real, meaningful connections.
The approaches covered in this paper are peer mentoring and peer support groups. Groups especially because they provide a sense of community that is lacking in many of the entertainment and distraction programs I’ve mentioned. Loneliness and depression are reduced when a person participates in a peer support group. Not just a little, but a lot.
However, peer support groups are almost non-existent in older people’s lives, so we put this model together before researching programs and examining their outcomes.
Q: Please tell us some of the results.
A: We worked with the Schlegel University Institute on Aging and the Schlegel Village in Ontario. They implemented the first of a peer support group called the Java Music Club for all communities. We also added Java Memory Care, a peer support group for residents with advanced dementia, and we added Java Mentorship Program, an outreach program where residents come together with volunteers. The combination of peer support groups and peer mentoring is very powerful.
The UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to examine loneliness, the Geriatric Depression Scale was used to examine depression, and how many socially isolated residents participated in more programs. Loneliness decreased by an average of 15% for him, depression decreased by 30%, and residents who stopped leaving their room and participating in community increased by 60% for her.
Q: How did you become interested in this field?
A: My brother committed suicide when I was a teenager. As you can imagine, it was a devastating time for our family. In my 13-year-old mind, I assumed it was my fault that he died.
I carried that sadness even as an adult. I tried counseling, I tried therapy, and I got busy. I worked hard. Then a dear friend said to me: And I said, ‘Why am I doing this? I’m going to sit at the table with other sad people and grieve with them.
But we went to this support group together. It was so wonderful. I had no idea how wonderful it would be to talk to people who knew what I was going through. it changed everything. I healed at that grief support group.
My brother did not come back. The problem could not be solved that way. But what has changed is that I am no longer alone. As a result, what had felt unbearable suddenly became bearable.
At the time, I was working in senior living, and I looked around and thought, “Why don’t we have a peer support group?” they are very good
Q: In your presentations at the AHCA/NCAL and LeadingAge Annual Meetings, you shared some tips for fostering peer support and mentoring. What are some steps people can take?
A: When we talk about peer support and peer mentoring, we often talk about Java, and that’s something anyone can do. If your provider doesn’t already have a peer support group, we encourage you to start one. Please help me because it is important.
Loneliness is very scary. There is no medicine or vaccine for loneliness, but it is treatable and preventable. And that is through peer support and peer mentoring.
This is a shortened version of a. McKnights Senior Living Newsmaker Podcast Interviews. Listen to the full interview here.
From McKnight’s Senior Living December 2022
