scholarly journals Becoming More Rugged and Better Resourced: The R2 Resilience Program’s© Psychosocial Approach to Thriving

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ungar ◽  
Philip Jefferies

The past decade has seen growing interest in interventions that build resilience as a complementary practice to trauma-informed care. From school-based programs focused on self-regulation and academic success to programs that support the well-being of disadvantaged populations or healthcare workers at risk of burnout, the concept of resilience is being used most commonly for programming that builds the capacity of individuals to adapt under conditions of adversity. Critiques have raised concerns that resilience-promoting programs demonstrate bias toward changing individual-level factors such as cognitions (e.g., mindfulness and grit), behavior (e.g., expressing gratitude and changing personal routines), or attachments (e.g., feeling secure in relationships) which help people adapt to socially toxic situations without changing access to the resources they require to overcome exposure to adverse psychosocial factors. This trend belies advances to the theory of resilience which support a more contextualized, multisystemic understanding of how external protective factors (resources) enhance individual qualities (ruggedness) and vice versa. Building on a multisystemic description of resilience, the R2 Resilience Program© was developed and piloted with six different populations ranging from clients of urban social services to workers in a long-term care facility, managers in the health care sector, staff of a Fortune 500 corporation, students in a primary to grade 12 school, and adult volunteers affiliated with an international NGO. Focused on building both individual ruggedness and enhancing people’s resources (the two Rs), the program provides contextualized content for each population by selecting from 52 resilience promoting factors with a strong evidence base to create training curricula that enhance the personal qualities and social, physical, and institutional resources most likely to support resilience. This paper reviews the justification for a multisystemic approach to designing resilience interventions and then explains the process of implementation of the R2 program. Preliminary findings are reported, which suggest the program is experienced as effective, with evaluations ongoing.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S161-S161
Author(s):  
Rebecca L Mauldin ◽  
Kathy Lee ◽  
Antwan Williams

Abstract Older adults from racial and ethnic minority groups face health inequities in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities just as they do in the United States as a whole. In spite of federal policy to support minority health and ensure the well-being of long-term care facility residents, disparities persist in residents’ quality of care and quality of life. This poster presents current federal policy in the United States to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities and to support long-term care facility residents’ health and well-being. It includes legislation enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for health care facilities receiving Medicare or Medicare funds, and policies of the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program. Recommendations to address threats to or gaps in these policies include monitoring congressional efforts to revise portions of the ACA, revising DHHS requirements for long-term care facilities staff training and oversight, and amending requirements for the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program to mandate collection, analysis, and reporting of resident complaint data by race and ethnicity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 311-312
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Albers ◽  
Robyn Birkeland ◽  
Colleen Peterson ◽  
Anna Drake ◽  
Joseph Gaugler ◽  
...  

Abstract Residents of long-term care settings and their family caregivers have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The present mixed-methods study examines trajectories of well-being pre- and post-pandemic onset for caregivers of persons with dementia living in residential long-term care. Participants were taking part in, or had recently completed, an ongoing intervention trial to support families transitioning a relative into long-term care. Beginning in summer 2020, we started assessing caregivers’ COVID-19-related experiences and added three surveys spanning 4-months beyond the 12-month parent study period to capture caregivers' adjustment throughout the pandemic. Using latent growth curve models, we estimated caregivers' (N = 104) trajectories of depressive symptoms, burden, and self-efficacy before and during the pandemic. We also tested whether the counseling intervention had protective effects for participants in the treatment group, and examined moderators including long-term care facility size, care recipient's dementia and health status, and quality of staff interactions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1569-1570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henriëtte G. Van der Roest ◽  
Marleen Prins ◽  
Claudia van der Velden ◽  
Stephanie Steinmetz ◽  
Elske Stolte ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Barnicle ◽  
Karen Stoelzle Midden

This study investigated the effects of indoor horticulture activities on the current psychological well-being of older people in two long-term care facilities over a 7-week period. Thirty-one participants at one facility served as the control group. Thirty-one participants at another facility served as the horticulture group. Participants in both facilities continued with their normal daily routine and activities over the 7-week period; however, the horticulture group participated in a 1-hour horticulture activity session once a week over the 7-week period and the control group did not. The control group and horticulture group did not differ significantly in psychological well-being prior to the start of the study. After the 7-week program, the horticulture group had a significant increase in psychological well-being, whereas the control group had a slight decrease in psychological well-being. The results of this study indicate that horticulture activities may have a beneficial effect on the current psychological well-being of older people in a long-term care facility.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 639-639
Author(s):  
Brandy Renee McCann ◽  
Karen Roberto ◽  
Rosemary Blieszner ◽  
Tina Savla ◽  
Emily Hoyt ◽  
...  

Abstract A demanding aspect of caregiving for a relative with dementia is need for constant vigilance of their behavior and well-being. Vigilance is associated with higher quality of care, but can take a toll on caregivers who have few opportunities for respite. Home- and community-based services have the potential to offer caregivers relief from constant vigilance. Using in-depth interviews with 30 rural caregivers, we found that service use did not necessarily provide relief from constant vigilance. Caregivers typically needed to monitor aspects of home- and community-based services and care facilities such as scheduling and quality of care from CNAs. In contrast, some caregivers found respite from constant vigilance when they used formal services—typically in extreme situations such as when a husband with dementia became violent and moved temporarily to a long-term care facility. Findings connect caregiver needs and concerns related to vigilance with availability, quality, and use of formal services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 738-738
Author(s):  
Emma King ◽  
Alaine Reschke-Hernandez

Abstract Growth of the aging population warrants a commitment to teaching students to work effectively with older adults. In an online university course focused on inclusive music practices, students engaged in an extensive service-learning project to enhance course learning objectives and increase sensitivity to disability, social justice, and inclusion issues across the lifespan. Based on community needs, one student aimed to reduce isolation among older adults living in a long-term care facility. The student selected this target and population because of the detrimental effects of isolation on psychosocial, cognitive, and physical well-being; and reduced access to interactive programs and services among older adults living in residential facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Components of the project included a service-learning proposal, an annotated bibliography, an interview with the community partner, three activity designs, and a reflective essay. Based on existing research regarding interventions used to reduce isolation among older adults, the three activities the student designed were music bingo, interactive singing, and stretches to music. Throughout the service-learning process, the student consulted the community partner to ensure relevance of the activities. Principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), such as providing multiple visual and auditory means to engage with materials, enhanced accessibility of the activities. In this presentation, the student and course instructor will reflect on this case experience and the value of service-learning to foster professional skill development, engaged citizenship in working effectively with older adults, and an appreciation of the need for justice, equity, and fairness for all community members.


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