title: Reclaiming joy: pilot evaluation of a mental health peer support program for older adults who receive Medicaid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stigma and lack of access to providers create barriers to mental health treatment for older adults living in the community. In order to address these barriers, we developed and evaluated a peer support intervention for older adults receiving Medicaid services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reclaiming Joy is a mental health intervention that pairs an older adult volunteer with a participant (older adult who receives peer support). Volunteers receive training on the strengths-based approach, mental health and aging, goal setting and attainment, community resources, and safety. Participant-volunteer pairs meet once a week for 10 weeks. Participants establish and work toward goals (e.g., better self-care, social engagement) that they feel would improve their mental health and well-being. Aging services agencies provide a part time person to manage the program, match volunteers and participants, and provide ongoing support. Outcomes evaluation for this pilot study included pre/postintervention assessments of participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two participants completed the intervention. Pre/postassessment group means showed statistically significant improvement for depression but not for symptoms of anxiety. Quality-of-life indicators for health and functioning also improved for participants with symptoms of both depression and anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Reclaiming Joy peer support intervention has potential for reducing depression and increasing quality of life in low-income older adults who have physical health conditions. It is feasible to administer and sustain the intervention through collaborative efforts with minimal program resources and a small amount of technical assistance.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, Office of Aging and Long Term Care, University of Kansas, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA. rchapin@ku.edu
authors.forename: Rosemary K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chapin
authors.forename: Julie F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sergeant
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: Skye N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Leedahl
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rachlin
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States