Centre for Policy on Ageing



The investigation of pastoral care interventions as a treatment for depression among continuing care retirement community residents
Author(s)	David C Baker
Journal title	Journal of Religious Gerontology, vol 12, no 1, 2000
Pages	pp 63-85
Source	Haworth Document Delivery Center, The Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA.
Keywords	Pastoral care ; Depression ; Residents [care homes] ; Retirement communities ; United States of America.
Annotation	This prospective study provided support for the efficacy of pastoral care with older adults both as a treatment for depression and as a prophylactic to deter the potential negative impact of change and life circumstances. Subjects included 40 people taking antidepressant medication, 40 people at risk for depression, and 40 people recruited by convenience. Treatment subjects were visited by a chaplain for a 30-minute period weekly for six months. Control subjects received only minimal pastoral care. Treatment group post-test scores for depression decreased, while follow-up treatment group scores for depression increased after cessation of the intervention. Prayer, counselling for issues raised, grief work, active listening, life review and the provision of blessings were significantly associated with a reduction in depression scores. (KJ/RH).
Accession Number	CPA-011023211 A
Classmark	OW: ENR: KX: ROA: 7T
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.