The Impact of Social Participation Interventions on Quality of Life of Older Adults in Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Systematic Review.
Sara Habibian, Guogui Huang, Nasir Wabe et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined social participation interventions and quality of life among adults aged 65 years and older living in residential aged care homes. Ten studies met the review criteria. Six interventions were associated with improved quality of life: virtual reality tourism, resistance training, Sinaki exercises, tai chi, and two multicomponent person-centred care programmes. Four studies also reported correlations between quality-of-life scores and participation in activities. The included studies were appraised as moderate to high quality, although the review describes the overall evidence on effectiveness as limited and fragmented.
Key findings
- Ten studies met the inclusion criteria; quality appraisal rated the studies as moderate to high quality.
- Six interventions were associated with improved quality of life, including exercise-based activities and multicomponent person-centred care programmes.
- Four studies reported correlations between quality-of-life scores and participation in specified activities.
Why it matters
Social participation may be a relevant component of efforts to support quality of life in residential aged care. The review identifies a range of activities and care approaches associated with better outcomes, including programmes that combine social interaction with broader person-centred care. However, the evidence remains limited and fragmented, so the findings are informative rather than definitive.
What to keep in mind
The review included only ten studies, and its authors describe the evidence on effectiveness as limited and fragmented. Findings were synthesised without meta-analysis.