Holistic Wellness Coaching for Older Adults: Preliminary Evidence for a Novel Wellness Intervention in Senior Living Communities.

Although resident wellness is increasingly a priority in senior living communities, there are few programs that promote holistic wellness in later life. A total of 79 residents (ages 71 to 97; M = 84.27, SD = 6.46) from eight senior living communities completed a pilot study of a novel, staff-led wellness coaching program consisting of resident-driven goals and individual and group coaching sessions. Participants completed surveys at three time points (pre-program, post-program, and 1-month follow-up). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed positive changes in resident health satisfaction, physical quality of life (QOL), psychological QOL, loneliness, relatedness, competence, and sense of purpose. Some of these results (i.e., psychological QOL, loneliness) persisted at follow-up. Residents reported high satisfaction with the program. These findings have implications for the application of holistic wellness frameworks in later life, as well as the development and implementation of wellness coaching programs with older adults.

Therapeutic interactions to enhance the mental health and wellness of dementia caregivers and patients.

Individuals with dementia and their family caregivers have higher rates of stress and mental health concerns than the general population. Gerontological nurses have unique and valuable opportunities to conduct therapeutic interactions that support the mental health and well-being of patients and family members. Information regarding dementia patient and family caregiver stressors are presented, followed by engaging strategies for opening therapeutic conversations about these topics. Ways in which gerontological nurses can facilitate coping skills and strengths identification are also outlined.