How Befriending Services Can Help Older Adults' Health
Author Information
Author(s): Hannigan Caoimhe, Kelly Michelle, Holton Eimile, Lawlor Brian, Scharf Thomas, Kee Frank, Moynihan Sean, O’Reilly Aileen, McHugh Power Joanna
Primary Institution: National College of Ireland
Hypothesis
What mechanisms do befriending services use to impact the health of older adults?
Conclusion
Befriending services may improve the health of older adults through mechanisms like emotional support, cognitive stimulation, and promoting healthy behaviors.
Supporting Evidence
- Befriending services support health behaviors like exercise and nutrition.
- Befrienders provide emotional support, acting as confidantes for older adults.
- Befriending improves mood through enjoyable interactions.
- Befriending offers cognitive stimulation and opportunities for socializing.
- Participants reported feeling less lonely due to the befriending service.
Takeaway
Befriending services help older people feel less lonely and healthier by providing friendship and support.
Methodology
Qualitative interviews with 13 dyads of older adults and their befrienders, analyzed using constructivist grounded theory and dyadic analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported data from both older adults and befrienders regarding their perceptions of the befriending relationship.
Limitations
The study was limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted in-person interviews and may have affected the depth of data collected.
Participant Demographics
Participants included older adults experiencing loneliness and their volunteer befrienders, with a mix of genders and ages.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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