Background
The prevailing majority of seniors prefer their own home to elderly care centers or other facilities. Due to this, it is highly important for them to maintain not only physical and mental health, which is defined by three factors: 1) evaluative wellness; 2) hedonic wellness (happiness); 3) eudemonic wellness (the sense of purpose). It has been proven that life review and reminiscence produce a positive impact on all these components (Chippendale & Boltz, 2015). Thus, the article under the analysis investigates the Living Legends program in order to find out what therapeutic benefits this intervention has.
Hypothesis
The authors of the study hypothesized that “older adults who participated in Living Legends would have an enhanced sense of purpose and meaning in life compared with older adults who participated in life review writing alone” (Chippendale & Boltz, 2015, 6904270010p. 3).
Method
The researchers used s mixed-methods design for the suggested intervention. RCT results were supported by a qualitative component (the data were obtained from the participant’s written responses). Triangulation protocol was implemented to unite quantitative and qualitative findings in one comprehensive picture and to find out whether these sets of findings converge or diverge. 48 community-dwelling participants aged 60 or older, having the ability to write and speak English and showing no signs of dementia were selected (Chippendale & Boltz, 2015). The control group took part in the writing workshop only while the intervention group members were enrolled in Living Legends.
Intervention
The program took place over the course of one year, during which the elderly took part in the “Share Your Life Story” workshop, where they shared their memories and received feedback. The workshop took place at four sites. After the final writing workshop, the intergenerational exchange was launched (controlled by the principal investigator), giving the participant a chance to discuss their writing with healthcare students (Chippendale & Boltz, 2015).
Findings
It was discovered that those seniors who took part both in the writing workshop and intergenerational exchange with students showed increase eudemonic well-being (their sense of meaning and purpose rose considerably in comparison to those who attended only the first part of the program). Qualitative benefits indicated by the participants included “1) positive experience; 2) promotion of well-being; 3) positive views of students; 4) value of a supportive program environment; 5) sharing and cultivating; and 6) shared experiences, interests, and emotions” (Chippendale & Boltz, 2015, 6904270010p. 7).
Conclusion
It was concluded that the Living Legends program increased the sense of purpose in the elderly as compared with the writing intervention taken separately, which makes it an effective means of improving the quality of life of community-dwelling seniors (Chippendale & Boltz, 2015).
Critical Analysis
The study is highly significant for the field of occupational therapy since the program it describes provides the elderly with a unique opportunity to lead a meaningful life through the realization of the importance of their community occupations and roles, which is the key goal of this kind of therapy. Furthermore, it can be implemented in community-based settings (not requiring hospitalization). As far as my future of as an OTA is concerned, the study provides me with practically applicable guidelines to provide community members with happy and healthy aging.
Disease I Would Like to Research
If I were to choose a disease to research, I would opt for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. First and foremost, this is accounted for by the fact that this condition ranges among the top leading causes of death in the United States. More than 5 million American citizens suffer from it, and this number is likely to triple by 2050, which makes research in this field particularly urgent. Second, there are plenty of gaps that need to be bridged as it is currently unknown how to reverse degeneration of the brain. News methods to prevent, treat, and diagnose the disease are yet to be discovered.
Reference
Chippendale, T., & Boltz, M. (2015). Living legends: Effectiveness of a program to enhance sense of purpose and meaning in life among community-dwelling older adults. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(4), Web.