Abstract
In healthcare, transitions have been reported to change one’s life, health, relationships, and view and understanding of the world and one’s self. Older adults (OAs) frequently experience depression and reduced well-being in a transition to long-term care (LTC) that leads to an increase risk for mortality. Studies indicate the need for interventions to assist OAs to achieve healthy transition outcomes of reduced depression and improved well-being when relocating to LTC. It was hypothesized that story-sharing could lead to well-being. In this randomized control trial we investigated the effects of a story-sharing intervention on depression and well-being of OAs transitioning to LTC. A convenience sample of 100 participants from 11 LTC facilities in Southeast Florida included adults, age 65 and older, who were transitioning to LTC. Participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 52), who received standard care, or to the intervention group (n = 48), who received story-sharing and standard care. Statistical tests included repeated measures analysis of variance and generalized linear model. Results indicated there was no significant improvement in participant depression or well-being however, overall the participant’s characteristics were significant for predicting satisfaction with life well-being [χ2 (17) = 29.45, p = .03]. Marital status, level of education, and months living in LTC may help to predict well-being. Participants indicated they were not depressed at the onset of the study. Process indicators for measuring pain, along with the inclusion of participants who are depressed, may offer new insights to healthy transition outcomes for this group.