Abstract
As the number of homebound adults increases, depression among this population is doubling to tripling. This study found significant correlation between loneliness and depression. Loneliness was correlated to limited visitors and decreased meaningful activities. OTs can impact this population through using the occupational profile to determine ways to increase meaningfulness in activities or serve as advisors to local agencies to determine ways to decrease loneliness and social isolation.
Primary Author and Speaker: Alissia Garabrant
The older adult population is a growing. The US Census Bureau states that by the year 2050, 88.5 million or 20% of our population will be over the age of 65. Homebound adults make up between 5-6% of our current population of older adults and this number has the potential to increase as our population ages. Homebound older adults have a unique set of needs. Homebound older adults have depression rates double to triple that of the normal population and depression can increase mortality rates through suicidal actions and health decline.
The purpose of this study is to determine what factors affect depression rates in these adults including. A review of the literature found social isolation, loss of meaningful activities, and loneliness as potential factors to increase depression. A quantitative research design was used to determine the correlation between these factors. A survey was distributed to older adults (60+) in 2 counties in Indiana through the local Area on Aging Agency which included general questions about health, visitors, and loneliness along with four assessments, the Geriatric Depression Assessment, UCLA loneliness Assessment, Engagement in Meaningful Activities, and Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment. SPSS was used to run calculations to determine if significant correlations could be found. The results showed that 77% of the participants lived alone and that 32% reported having one or less visitor per month. 62.5% of the respondents could be classified as having moderate or severe depression and higher than 50% of people could be classified as lonely. The calculations concluded a significant correlation between visitor rate and loneliness r(75)=.248, p<.029. A significant negative correlation between loneliness and engagement in meaningful activities r(75)=.724, p<.01. Finally, a significant correlation between loneliness and depression rates, r(75)=.248, p<.029. These results conclude that the homebound population studied have increased depression rates compared to the general population and that limited visitors can increase loneliness, a decrease in meaningful activities can increase loneliness, and that increased loneliness increases depression. Occupational Therapist can have a significant impact on this population of adults with services provided through home health or through advisory roles with agencies providing services to aging in place adults. OTs can determine ways to increase participation and increase meaningfulness in activities through the use of an occupational profile. OTs can provide services to these adults that include home modifications or task modifications that can increase meaningful participation. Local agencies can use information from this study and from OTs to determine ways to decrease loneliness and social isolation. If loneliness rates and meaningfulness in occupations increase depression rates in this population should decrease, thus helping this underserved and at risk population.
Participants will be encouraged to ask questions throughout poster presentation and discussion.
Ornstein, K. A., Leff, B., Covinsky, K. E., Ritchie, C. S., Federman, A. D., Roberts, L., . . . Szanton, S. L. (2015). Epidemiology of the homebound population in the United States. JAMA internal medicine, 175(7), 1180-1186.
Banerjee, S., Shamash, K., Macdonald, A. J., & Mann, A. H. (1996). Randomised controlled trial of effect of intervention by psychogeriatric team on depression in frail elderly people at home. Bmj, 313(7064), 1058-1061.
United States Census Bureau. (2012). Profile America facts for features: Older Americans month: May 2012 [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff07.html