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Outreach Psychotherapy for Seniors and Psychotherapy in Retirement Homes in German-speaking Countries - An Overview

Received: 15 July 2021     Accepted: 27 August 2021     Published: 4 September 2021
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Abstract

Introduction: Growing older confronts seniors with a variety of challenges and problems. Dealing with losses or the transition to a retirement home and the abandonment of the previous life pose difficulties for people in old age. Although there is a great need for treatment, there are hardly any therapy offers in retirement homes or outreach psychotherapy for seniors. This article aims to provide an overview of the current state of studies on psychotherapy in retirement homes and outreach psychotherapy in German-speaking countries. Study Overview: For this purpose, 9 studies were examined in more detail. Different approaches to psychological and psychotherapeutic care of seniors were adopted in the described studies. In addition to specific therapy techniques, such as life review therapy, there were also non-specific counseling services, activations with music or a clinical consultation and lay service. Despite good approaches in the available studies, controlled research with sufficient samples for significant effects is lacking in this area. Also, the presented approaches often pose challenges to therapists and patients. Conclusion: In summary, this article aims to emphasize the importance of psychotherapeutic work with seniors, whether living at home or in a retirement home. The already elaborated and good approaches, such as life review procedures, should be further evaluated in controlled studies in the future. The studies presented here could provide inspiration for a study in a multicenter setting.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20
Page(s) 130-135
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gerontological Psychology, Life Review Procedures, Outreach Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy in Retirement Homes

References
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[2] Böhler, G., & Jenull, B. (2008). Activation with music: An intervention for nursing home residents/ residents to maintain cognitive performance and independence. Journal of Gerontopsychology & Psychiatry, 21 (4), 267-272. https://doi.org/10.1024/1011-6877.21.4.267.
[3] Haight, B. & Haight, B. (2007). The handbook of structured life review. Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press.
[4] Heufft G, Kruse A, Radebold H (2006) Textbook of gerontopsychosomatics and geriatric psychotherapy, 2nd ed. Reinhardt, Munich.
[5] Hirsch R. (2010) Psychotherapy of the elderly. VPP 42: 677-694.
[6] Kessler, E.-M. (2016). Life review in nursing home residents with depression: qualitative study of behavioral therapists' experiences in a pilot project. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 49 (6), 520-525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-015-0960-6.
[7] Kuhlmann, A. (2011). At the limits of our way of life. Texts on bioethics and anthropology. Frankfurt/Main: Campus.
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[9] Laireiter AR, Baumann U, Lenzenweger R, Messer R, Thiele-Sauer C, Mitmansgruber U, Crombach H (2006). Clinical-geronto-psychological intervention in nursing homes-psychological therapy and consiliar- liaison activity: concept and results. Psychology in Austria 3: 169-183.
[10] Laireiter, A.-R., Baumann, U., Messer, R., Thiele-Sauer, C., Mitmansgruber, U., & Crombach, H. (2007). Clinical-geronto-psychological consultation and liaison service in nursing homes: a pilot project. Journal of Gerontopsychology & Psychiatry, 20 (2-3), 151-161. https://doi.org/10.1024/1011-6877.20.23.151
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[14] Mitmansgruber, H. Baumann, U., Feichtinger, L., & Thiele, C. (2002b). Psychological intervention for transition to a retirement home. Guide for nursing staff. Federal Ministry for Social Security and Generations, Vienna.
[15] Oswald, W. D., & Hagen, B. (Eds.). (1998). Memory training: A program for senior citizens' groups (2nd, fully revised and supplemented ed.). Hogrefe, Publ. for Psychology.
[16] Perrez M, Laireiter AR, Baumann U (2011) Psychological factors: stress and coping. In: Perrez M, Baumann U (eds) Lehrbuch Klinische Psychologie, Psychotherapie, 4th ed. Huber, Bern, pp 272-304.
[17] Rabaioli-Fischer, B. (2008). Outpatient psychotherapy with elders (1st ed.). Pabst Science Publ.
[18] Rabaioli-Fischer, B. (2015). Biographical work and life review in psychotherapy: a practice manual (1st ed.). Hogrefe.
[19] Soeder, U. (2002). Disorder epidemiology: prevalence, treatment needs, and care of mental disorders. In A. Maercker (Ed.), Old-age psychotherapy and clinical gerontopsychology (pp. 59-72). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
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[21] Tegeler, C., Beyer, A.-K., Hoppmann, F., Ludwig, V., & Kessler, E. (2020). Current state of research on psychotherapy for home-living vulnerable older adults with depression. Zeitschrift Für Gerontologie Und Geriatrie, 53 (8), 721-727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-020-01805-3.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Rabaioli-Fischer Barbara, Söder Jessica. (2021). Outreach Psychotherapy for Seniors and Psychotherapy in Retirement Homes in German-speaking Countries - An Overview. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 9(3), 130-135. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20

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    ACS Style

    Rabaioli-Fischer Barbara; Söder Jessica. Outreach Psychotherapy for Seniors and Psychotherapy in Retirement Homes in German-speaking Countries - An Overview. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2021, 9(3), 130-135. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20

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    AMA Style

    Rabaioli-Fischer Barbara, Söder Jessica. Outreach Psychotherapy for Seniors and Psychotherapy in Retirement Homes in German-speaking Countries - An Overview. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2021;9(3):130-135. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20,
      author = {Rabaioli-Fischer Barbara and Söder Jessica},
      title = {Outreach Psychotherapy for Seniors and Psychotherapy in Retirement Homes in German-speaking Countries - An Overview},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {9},
      number = {3},
      pages = {130-135},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20210903.20},
      abstract = {Introduction: Growing older confronts seniors with a variety of challenges and problems. Dealing with losses or the transition to a retirement home and the abandonment of the previous life pose difficulties for people in old age. Although there is a great need for treatment, there are hardly any therapy offers in retirement homes or outreach psychotherapy for seniors. This article aims to provide an overview of the current state of studies on psychotherapy in retirement homes and outreach psychotherapy in German-speaking countries. Study Overview: For this purpose, 9 studies were examined in more detail. Different approaches to psychological and psychotherapeutic care of seniors were adopted in the described studies. In addition to specific therapy techniques, such as life review therapy, there were also non-specific counseling services, activations with music or a clinical consultation and lay service. Despite good approaches in the available studies, controlled research with sufficient samples for significant effects is lacking in this area. Also, the presented approaches often pose challenges to therapists and patients. Conclusion: In summary, this article aims to emphasize the importance of psychotherapeutic work with seniors, whether living at home or in a retirement home. The already elaborated and good approaches, such as life review procedures, should be further evaluated in controlled studies in the future. The studies presented here could provide inspiration for a study in a multicenter setting.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Outreach Psychotherapy for Seniors and Psychotherapy in Retirement Homes in German-speaking Countries - An Overview
    AU  - Rabaioli-Fischer Barbara
    AU  - Söder Jessica
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20
    T2  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JF  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JO  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20210903.20
    AB  - Introduction: Growing older confronts seniors with a variety of challenges and problems. Dealing with losses or the transition to a retirement home and the abandonment of the previous life pose difficulties for people in old age. Although there is a great need for treatment, there are hardly any therapy offers in retirement homes or outreach psychotherapy for seniors. This article aims to provide an overview of the current state of studies on psychotherapy in retirement homes and outreach psychotherapy in German-speaking countries. Study Overview: For this purpose, 9 studies were examined in more detail. Different approaches to psychological and psychotherapeutic care of seniors were adopted in the described studies. In addition to specific therapy techniques, such as life review therapy, there were also non-specific counseling services, activations with music or a clinical consultation and lay service. Despite good approaches in the available studies, controlled research with sufficient samples for significant effects is lacking in this area. Also, the presented approaches often pose challenges to therapists and patients. Conclusion: In summary, this article aims to emphasize the importance of psychotherapeutic work with seniors, whether living at home or in a retirement home. The already elaborated and good approaches, such as life review procedures, should be further evaluated in controlled studies in the future. The studies presented here could provide inspiration for a study in a multicenter setting.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Practice Researcher, Psychotherapy Practice Barbara Rabaioli-Fischer, Munich, Germany

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