Martha L Bruce1, Renee Pepin2, C Nathan Marti3, Courtney J Stevens2, Namkee G Choi3. 1. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (MLB, RP, CJS). Electronic address: mbruce@dartmouth.edu. 2. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (MLB, RP, CJS). 3. The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work (CNM, NGC).
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Lonely and socially isolated homebound older participants of a randomized trial comparing behavioral activation (BA) versus friendly visiting, both delivered by lay counselors using tele-videoconferencing, were reassessed at 1-year to determine whether benefits at 12 weeks were maintained over time. METHODS: The study reinterviewed 64/89 (71.9%) participants. RESULTS: The positive 12-week impact of tailored BA on 3 indicators of social connectedness (loneliness, social interaction and satisfactions with social support) was maintained, albeit to a lesser degree, over 1 year. The positive impact on depressive symptoms and disability was also maintained. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention's potential reach and scalability are suggested by several factors: participants were recruited by home delivered meals programs during routine assessments; the intervention was brief and delivered by lay counselors; care delivery by tele-videoconferencing is increasingly common. The 1 year outcomes indicate that brief BA delivered by tele-video conferencing can have an enduring impact on social connectedness.
OBJECTIVES: Lonely and socially isolated homebound older participants of a randomized trial comparing behavioral activation (BA) versus friendly visiting, both delivered by lay counselors using tele-videoconferencing, were reassessed at 1-year to determine whether benefits at 12 weeks were maintained over time. METHODS: The study reinterviewed 64/89 (71.9%) participants. RESULTS: The positive 12-week impact of tailored BA on 3 indicators of social connectedness (loneliness, social interaction and satisfactions with social support) was maintained, albeit to a lesser degree, over 1 year. The positive impact on depressive symptoms and disability was also maintained. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention's potential reach and scalability are suggested by several factors: participants were recruited by home delivered meals programs during routine assessments; the intervention was brief and delivered by lay counselors; care delivery by tele-videoconferencing is increasingly common. The 1 year outcomes indicate that brief BA delivered by tele-video conferencing can have an enduring impact on social connectedness.
Authors: Renee Pepin; Courtney J Stevens; Namkee G Choi; Sharon M Feeney; Martha L Bruce Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2020-09-05 Impact factor: 7.996
Authors: Namkee G Choi; Renee Pepin; C Nathan Marti; Courtney J Stevens; Martha L Bruce Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2020-03-02 Impact factor: 4.105