Counselling older people: what can we learn from the research evidence?

Brettle, A; Hill, A

Abstract

This paper reports on a systematic review aimed at providing a reliable overview of the effectiveness, appropriateness and feasibility of counselling older people. Papers were located from a wide range of sources to ensure comprehensive coverage of the literature and 47 papers were included in the final review. The review concluded that counselling is efficacious with older people, particularly in the treatment of anxiety, depression and in improving subjective well-being. Evidence indicates that individual, as opposed to group counselling, is the psychological treatment of choice among the community-dwelling elderly and that this may be the more effective modality with this population. Group counselling for nursing home residents and home-based individual counselling for community-dwelling older people are both feasible modes of service delivery. A pro-active approach to the identification of psychological problems among residential and community-dwelling older people is necessary to ensure problems are not left untreated.

Citation

Brettle, A., & Hill, A. (2006). Counselling older people: what can we learn from the research evidence?. Journal of Social Work Practice, 20(3), 281-297. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650530600931807

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Jan 14, 2009
• Journal: Journal of Social Work Practice
• Print ISSN: 0265-0533
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 281-297
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02650530600931807
• Keywords: older people; ageing; counselling; psychotherapy; psychological therapy; community; nursing homes; hospitals; depression; anxiety; dementia; physical illnesses; subjective wellbeing; systematic review; evidence
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02650530600931807