According to sufficiently reported outcomes , social capital interventions showed mixed effects on quality of life , well-being and self-perceived health and were generally ineffective on loneliness , mood and mortality .
Conclusions Our review highlights the lack of evidence and the diversity among trials , while supporting the potential of social capital interventions to reach comprehensive health effects in older adults
Background Observational studies show that social capital is a protective health factor .
Therefore , we aim to assess the currently unclear health impact of social capital interventions targeting older adults .
Sustained benefit of supportive intervention for depressive symptoms in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE The long-term effect of counseling and support on symptoms of depression was examined in spouse-caregivers of patients with Alzheimer 's disease . METHOD The participants were 406 spouse-caregivers of Alzheimer 's disease patients who lived at home at baseline . The caregivers were r and omly assigned to either a group receiving enhanced counseling and support treatment or a group receiving usual care ( control group ) . Caregivers in the enhanced treatment group were provided with six sessions of individual and family counseling , agreed to join support groups 4 months after enrollment , and received ongoing ad hoc counseling . The Geriatric Depression Scale was administered at baseline and at regular follow-up intervals for as long as the caregiver participated in the study . RESULTS After baseline differences were controlled for , caregivers in the enhanced treatment group had significantly fewer depressive symptoms after the intervention than did the control subjects . These effects were sustained for 3.1 years after baseline , similar across gender and patient severity level , and sustained after nursing home placement or death of the patient . CONCLUSIONS Counseling and support lead to sustained benefits in reducing depressive symptoms in spouse-caregivers of Alzheimer 's disease patients and should be widely available to provide effective , evidence -based intervention for family caregivers
According to sufficiently reported outcomes , social capital interventions showed mixed effects on quality of life , well-being and self-perceived health and were generally ineffective on loneliness , mood and mortality .
Conclusions Our review highlights the lack of evidence and the diversity among trials , while supporting the potential of social capital interventions to reach comprehensive health effects in older adults
Background Observational studies show that social capital is a protective health factor .
Therefore , we aim to assess the currently unclear health impact of social capital interventions targeting older adults .