Abstract: The Impact of an Intergenerational Service Learning Program on Depressive Symptoms for Home-Bound Older Adults with Chronic Illness (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)
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The Impact of an Intergenerational Service Learning Program on Depressive Symptoms for Home-Bound Older Adults with Chronic Illness

Schedule:
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Liberty Ballroom J, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
* noted as presenting author
Keith Chan, PhD, Associate Professor, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
Christina Marsack-Topolewski, PhD, Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
Maggie Ratnayake, MS, Executive Director, Lori's Hands, Newark, DE
Background and Purpose: More than 2 million of older adults are homebound and 5 million need help leaving their homes. They often have chronic conditions and experience social isolation, food insecurity, lack of connection to community resources, and symptoms of depression which for many has intensified since the pandemic. To date, home-based services for those aging in place are lacking.

Methods: Using newly available data, this study examined the benefits of an intergenerational home-based service learning program in reducing depressive symptoms for a community-based sample of 190 homebound older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of living in one’s own home, disability status, presence of child and spousal caregivers, and length of services from the program with depressive symptoms.

Results: Findings indicated that length of service with the intergenerational in-home support program was associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = -0.15, p < 0.05). Having a child as a caregiver was associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = -0.14, p < 0.05). Poor health status was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (β = 0.15, p < 0.05). Living in one’s own home, having a spouse as a caregiver, disability status, and having a long-term medical condition were not associated with depressive symptoms in the analysis.

Conclusion & Implications: Results from this study suggest that intergenerational in-home support services can help reduce depressive symptoms for homebound older adults. Policies and practice can support a pipeline of geriatric health professionals through innovative service learning models to benefit older adults, caregivers, and students.

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