The Extended Effects of the Life Review in Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

To date, there is little information on the therapeutic effects of the life review beyond one year. This analysis followed fifty-two of 256 subjects who lived for at least three years in a nursing home. These participants received either a life review or friendly visit and took part in four repeated testings to determine the lasting effects of the life review at two and three years. Measures of integrity (life satisfaction, psychosocial well being, self-esteem) and despair (depression, hopelessness, and sucide intent) were used as pretest, posttest, and retest. Results showed a trend toward continued and by year three significant improvement over time in those who received the life review on measures of depression ( t = −2.20, p < .03), life satisfaction ( t = 2.51, p < .02), and self-esteem ( t = −2.31, p < .03).