Promover o bem-estar de idosos institucionalizados: Um estudo exploratório com treino em mindfulness

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of a mindfulness group intervention, which aimed to improve the well-being of institutionalized elderly people. The sample comprised seven elderly people living at the Unidade de Saúde de Coimbra “ Fernão Mendes Pinto “ with a mean age of 75.1. Participant selection criteria were age, literacy level, and lack of cognitive and sensory impairments. The researchers used a pre-experimental design and the instruments used in the pre- and post-test data collection were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the COOP/WONCA Charts, the Faces Scale for pain intensity evaluation, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). In the post test phase the Questionnaire for older people after Mindfulness Training was also used. The study was conducted over a period of 9 weeks, in a total of 27 sessions (3 sessions of 50 minutes each week). Mindfulness meditation, breathing and movement techniques were used to improve the well-being and pain control of the participants. The results show significant gains in depression levels between the pre and post-test. The participants also described improvement in cognitive, emotional, physiological and behavioural aspects, which were measured by the Questionnaire for older people after Mindfulness Training. No other significant changes were recorded in the remaining instruments.