Centre for Policy on Ageing
 

 

Activity, friendships and wellbeing in residential settings for older people
Author(s)K J McKee, G Harrison, K Lee
Journal titleAging & Mental Health, vol 3, no 2, May 1999
Pagespp 143-152
Sourcehttp://www.tandfonline.com
KeywordsFriendship ; Well being ; Engagement ; Care homes ; Nursing homes ; Social surveys ; Sheffield.
AnnotationFriendships have been demonstrated to influence a person's psychological well-being. This paper reports a study into whether friendships influence the psychological well-being of residents in long-stay care settings for older people in the Sheffield postcode area. The study consisted of the observational assessment of activity in 64 residents drawn from three care settings, with brief structured interviews assessing self-reports of friendships and psychological well-being. Results indicated that non-intimate friendships were more common than close friendships. Activity levels were higher in residents with good friends, compared to residents without good friends, but the degree of difference was dependent on the home in which the resident lived. Neither activity levels nor friendships were associated with residents' well-being. Qualitative analysis of fieldnotes indicated that the pattern of friendships found in the residential settings was influenced by resident choice, the prevailing care regime, and aspects of the physical environment. Results are discussed in relation to disengagement theory, the importance of reminiscence in later life, and methodological issues in the measurement of well-being in older people. (RH).
Accession NumberCPA-990715229 A
ClassmarkDS:SX: D:F:5HH: DN: KW: LHB: 3F: 85C

Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.
 

CPA home >> Ageinfo Database >> Queries to: webmaster@cpa.org.uk