Adapting Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities
Author: Christian Terry1, Michael Penland1, Devon Garland1, Wendy Wang1, Taylor Burton1, Alissa Dark-Freudeman1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA.
Conference/Journal: Gerontol Geriatr Med
Date published: 2021 Nov 24
Other:
Volume ID: 7 , Pages: 23337214211057703 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1177/23337214211057703. , Word Count: 172
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have received increased clinical attention in recent years. While some MBI research has focused on healthy older adults, research with more emotionally and physically vulnerable populations, such as residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs), is lacking. The current paper presents quantitative and qualitative results from a pilot study of an individual MBI designed for residents of LTCFs. Participants included 8 residents from two skilled nursing facilities in the southeastern United States. Data were collected between October 2016 through June 2017. A modified MBI is proposed with specific adaptations for LTCF residents. Recommended adaptations for LTCFs include a shift from a group to an individual format, individual weekly instructor-participant meetings, removal of the yoga and full-day silent retreat and shortening the duration of the formal practices. The current study found that these adaptations result in an individual MBI that is accessible to most LTCF residents while still providing the associated benefits of traditional group MBIs.
Keywords: adaptation; long-term care facilities; mindfulness; mindfulness-based intervention; mindfulness-based stress reduction; skilled nursing facilities.
PMID: 34869793 PMCID: PMC8637702 DOI: 10.1177/23337214211057703
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