Health issues common among older adults living in institution settings include poor life satisfaction and depression conditions. Engagement in appropriate group reminiscence therapy programs could alleviate these health issues among older adults in long-term care institutions. This study tested the effectiveness of a structured group reminiscence therapy protocol on the life satisfaction of institutionalized older adults. A quasi-experimental design was applied. A convenience sample of older adults was drawn from two nursing homes in southern Taiwan. Participants were assigned to intervention or control groups based on the nursing homes they attended. The participants in the intervention group carried out group reminiscence therapy for 8 weeks in addition to their daily activities. The participants in the control group maintained their daily activities. Both groups were evaluated using a life-satisfaction scale including two aspects of life worries and situations in weeks 1, 8, and 12. The overall life satisfaction increased significantly over time for the intervention group compared to the control group from week 1 to week 8. The structured group reminiscence therapy programs showed promising effects in improving the life satisfaction of older adults living in nursing homes.
Keywords: Group reminiscence therapy; life satisfaction; nursing homes; older adults.