Targeting belongingness among older people through engagement in senior centres: intervention development study in Denmark

Langergaard, Sofie, Evans, Rhiannon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0239-6331, Andreasen, Jane, Schultz Petersen, Kirsten and Overgaard, Charlotte 2024. Targeting belongingness among older people through engagement in senior centres: intervention development study in Denmark. Health Promotion International 39 (2) , daae032. 10.1093/heapro/daae032

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Abstract

Adults often experience a loss of social relations and sense of belonging in later life, leading to the risk of social isolation. Municipal senior centres offer a potential site for intervention, as they provide social communities targeting older people. However, not all older people find it easy to access these social communities due to experiencing physical and/or psychosocial frailties and could therefore continue to experience a decline in social relations and sense of belonging, which potentiates poor physical and psychosocial health and well-being. To date, there are limited evidence-based interventions in Denmark. The present article describes the development of an intervention to increase belongingness and decrease social isolation among older people with frailties who attend Danish municipal senior centres. The development process was conducted with reference to the INDEX (IdentifyiNg and assessing different approaches to DEveloping compleX intervention) guidance. The development process resulted in a 6-month supportive intervention, consisting of four elements: skills development workshops for all staff members; a start conversation including frailty screening; allocation of a ‘buddy’ among existing service users; and monthly follow-up conversations with staff members. This theory-informed approach can progress to feasibility testing and outcome evaluation in order to generate an evidence base. Concurrently, the article reflects on current guidance for intervention development and how it may be used and optimized to strengthen developmental processes in the future.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer)
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0957-4824
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 May 2024
Date of Acceptance:	15 March 2024
Last Modified:	24 May 2024 15:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/169111

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