Adaptation of the Minding Your Well-being Programme for older adults in the community

Description

The HSE’s Minding your Wellbeing Programme was developed in 2015 and delivered to HSE staff with the aim of promoting mental health and wellbeing. It is an evidence based programme based on the concepts of positive psychology.

This project adapted the content of Minding your Wellbeing to an older adult audience taking into account the practical considerations of working with an older adult group. Some of the adaptations included:

• Delivering the programme over a 6-week time period. This allowed a different topic area to be covered each week so as not to overload the participants with new information. A 6-week programme also provided a weekly opportunity for social connection and help create a safe space to share feelings and emotions.
• Adapting the slides and activities to increase font size and reduce the amount of text to take into account possible issues with literacy or eyesight.
• Allowing more time for group discussions. This allowed the voice of the older person to be heard and created a shared learning experience.
• Including simple practical techniques for relaxation such as breathing exercises or mindfulness activities each week. This allowed the participants to try a new weekly activity that could be incorporated into their week to help reduce stress and improve relaxation.
• Having tea and a chat after each session. This provided a social opportunity and allowed the participants and facilitators to bond.

The pilot programme recruited 18 participants (2 male and 16 female). The first week of the programme involved an introduction to the course, establishing a group agreement and building a rapport with the group. Weeks 2-6 of the programme covered the 5 themes of the Minding Your Wellbeing programme: Self-Care, Understanding our Thoughts, Exploring Emotions, Building Positive Relationships and Resilience.

Each participant completed a pre-evaluation on week 1 and a post evaluation on week 6.

Aim of Initiative

To pilot the HSE’s Minding your Wellbeing Programme with an older adult population in a community setting in north Dublin.

To establish if Minding your Wellbeing could help tackle the issue of loneliness and improve mental health and wellbeing amongst an older adult population.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at older persons living in the community who are experiencing loneliness or who want to learn skills to improve their mental wellbeing.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Comprehensive Planning and Stakeholder Engagement

   Detailed Location and Stakeholder Analysis:

   Identify and select locations that have the necessary community infrastructure and align with the programme’s goals.
   Engage with key stakeholders, such as community center leaders, local health officials, and representatives from community groups, to gain their support and involvement.
   Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders to ensure a shared vision and commitment to the programme’s success.

2. Effective Recruitment and Engagement of Participants

   Targeted Recruitment Strategies:

   Use diverse and targeted recruitment methods to reach the intended demographic, including community center posters, local media advertisements, and outreach through community groups.
   Ensure recruitment materials are clear, accessible, and culturally appropriate, emphasizing the benefits and expectations of the programme.
   Consider providing small incentives and highlighting the social aspects to encourage participation and enhance engagement.

3. Robust Evaluation and Feedback Mechanism

   Pre- and Post-Programme Evaluations:

   Implement thorough evaluation processes, including pre- and post-programme surveys, to measure changes in participants’ mental health and wellbeing.
   Collect qualitative feedback through discussions, focus groups, or written comments to gain deeper insights into participants’ experiences and the programme’s effectiveness.
   Analyze the evaluation data to identify strengths and areas for improvement, making necessary adjustments to the programme content and delivery.
   Develop a replication guide based on the lessons learned, including step-by-step instructions, templates, and best practices, and train additional facilitators to ensure consistent delivery across different locations.
   By focusing on comprehensive planning and stakeholder engagement, effective recruitment and engagement of participants, and a robust evaluation and feedback mechanism, the Minding Your Wellbeing programme can be successfully replicated and scaled to benefit more older adults in different communities.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Variable Attendance Due to External Factors

   Fluctuating Participation: Attendance varied each week due to participants having other commitments or unforeseen circumstances such as doctor’s appointments, sickness, etc. Despite a strong initial registration, attendance never dropped below 14, but the inconsistency posed a challenge for maintaining continuity and engagement in the programme.

2. Limited Experience with Self-Care Practices

   Lack of Prior Engagement: A significant majority of participants had never participated in self-care practices such as mindfulness, positive thought, or gratitude before the programme. This lack of prior experience required additional effort from facilitators to introduce and establish these practices effectively within the limited timeframe of the course.

3. Transportation Issues for Older Participants

   Access to Reliable Transport: Many older participants faced challenges in accessing reliable transportation to attend the programme sessions. This issue was particularly significant for those with mobility issues or those living in areas with limited public transport options. Ensuring participants had the means to attend consistently was crucial for the programme’s success and required additional support and resources to address transportation barriers.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Improved Mental Wellbeing and Reduced Loneliness

   Self-Reported Mental Health Improvement: By the end of the programme, 100% of participants reported an improvement in their overall mental health, with 50% rating their mental health as ‘Excellent’ and the other 50% as ‘Good’.
   Reduction in Loneliness: Over the course of the 6-week programme, 54% of participants reported that they ‘hardly ever’ or ‘never’ felt lonely, indicating a significant decrease in feelings of loneliness among the participants.
   6-Week Programme Duration: This structure allowed each week to cover a different topic, preventing information overload. It also provided weekly opportunities for social connection, creating a safe space for sharing feelings and emotions.

2. High Participant Satisfaction and Positive Feedback

   High Satisfaction Rates: 92% of participants reported being extremely satisfied with the MYWB programme.
   Positive Recommendations: 100% of participants stated they would recommend the programme to a friend.
   Constructive Feedback: Participants provided positive comments about the programme, highlighting aspects such as engaging with others, learning to deal with everyday situations, and the benefits of relaxation and mindfulness exercises.
   Enhanced Group Discussions: Allocated more time for group discussions to ensure that the voices of older participants were heard and fostered a shared learning experience.

3. Strengthened Community Connections and Engagement

   Building Community Links: A connection was established between the Health Promotion Department, the Local Resource Centre, and members of the local community in Priorswood, fostering a stronger community network.
   Increased Social Engagement: The programme provided a safe space for older adults to share feelings and emotions, promoting social opportunities and improving feelings of connectedness among participants.
   Slide and Activity Adaptations: Increased font sizes and reduced text to accommodate literacy or eyesight issues.
   Practical Relaxation Techniques: Included simple techniques like breathing exercises and mindfulness activities. Each week participants tried a new activity to help reduce stress and improve relaxation.
   Social Interactions: Organised tea and chat sessions after each programme. This offered a social opportunity for participants and facilitators to bond.