Loneliness Interventions
LifeBio captures life stories/biographies, health stories, veteran stories, and other personalized data from patients or clients. LifeBio and UnitedHealthcare are working on innovative approaches to help address loneliness and social isolation. This effort is led by UnitedHealthcare and Optum, and it is focused on research designed to help improve the health and wellbeing of members. Positive benefits of reminiscence and storytelling are being reported by most participants involved in the pilot programs so far. Ongoing research will track LifeBio’s ability to help increase social connectedness while reducing loneliness and/or social isolation.
The LifeBio Project in Ohio
The LifeBio Project was implemented and evaluated in a pilot study in 16 Ohio nursing homes. This project was funded by Civil Monetary Penalty grant money and it was led by the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Volunteers and project staff conducted life story interviews with 186 residents. This is one of the largest studies of life story work in nursing homes in the United States. Upon completion of the program:
Disclaimer: The LifeBio Project was funded by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and administered by the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center. The views expressed herein are solely those of the publishers and authors and do not represent the views of the state of Ohio or federal Medicaid programs. The study was conducted by the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Publication is forthcoming.
Here are some reactions to college students who participated in our LifeBio Project in Ohio.
Increasing Quality of Care, Making Delivering Care More Enjoyable
Increased Happiness and Satisfaction with Life
The use of LifeBio was found to result in a statistically significant increase in happiness and satisfaction with life for people over age 65. This study was done in a GROUP of seniors who were engaging with each other to communicate their stories together with the research done by Iowa State University.
Happiness and Satisfaction with Life
Mayo Clinic
LifeBio has been used in a program for individuals with MCI (mild cognitive impairment) and their care partners (HABIT: Healthy Action to Benefit Independence & Thinking®). The book is used during the Support Group hour of the program with those with MCI as a therapeutic tool. Reminiscence helps provide the group members with a sense of success, a way to bond with each other, and a chance to rehearse and reinforce their most precious memories during a time of episodic memory loss. Reminiscence provides a tool to allow for success and meaningful interaction, something that is often sorely needed.
For additional Research Information, click here.