Abstract:
Objective: Loneliness is a common experience of people, regardless of gender, age, socio economic and cultural experience in the course of its life. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Gestalt group therapy on the loneliness of Alzheimer’s caregivers. Methods: In an experimental study with a pre- post test design and control group, women participants were selected from Alzheimer Association of Iran. Total number of 50 women members was evaluated according to inclusion/ exclusion criteria. 28 participants selected and were divided into two equal groups randomly. Loneliness Scale was administered to both groups at the beginning. Gestalt therapy sessions were applied to the intervention group, each session 90 minutes weekly and continued for 12 successive weeks. The post-test data collected after the last session by administering Loneliness Scale. Data was analyzed by using t-test for independent group. Results: The results showed that the mean differences between the two groups were significant and gestalt therapy decreased the loneliness of member of intervention group significantly. Loneliness scores of intervention group in two sub-scales were also significantly lower in post-test compared to control group. Discussion: Gestalt therapy can be helpful in enhancing positive emotions and decreasing loneliness in Alzheimer caregivers which is one of the hardest emotions that these women threatens reduced and the introduction of enhanced quality of life of the caregivers and hence increase the quality of care for patients increased.
Machine summary:
Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 12, No. 22, December 2014 Original Article Effectiveness of Gestalt Group Therapy on Loneliness of Women Caregivers of Alzheimer Patients at Home1 Hemn Saadati; Fateme Shoaee; Asrin pouryan; Emad Alkasir*; Leila Lashani University of social welfare and rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran Masome Salehi Alzheimer Society of Iran.
Methods: In an experimental study with a pre- post test design and control group, women participants were selected from Alzheimer Association of Iran.
Discussion: Gestalt therapy can be helpful in enhancing positive emotions and decreasing loneliness in Alzheimer caregivers which is one of the hardest emotions that these women threatens reduced and the introduction of enhanced quality of life of the caregivers and hence increase the quality of care for patients increased.
Keywords: Gestalt therapy, Loneliness, Alzheimer patients’ caregivers Submitted: 12 Oct. 2014 Accepted: 07 Dec 2014 Introduction Nowadays elderly population in many countries has increased progressively (1,2) , and greater need to provide better health care for the elderly is felt (3) .
Participating in the group therapy provides the opportunity to establish social relationships and reduce feelings of loneliness for individual that contribute to the promotion of mental health in members.
The purpose of this study was to determine the eeffectiveness of gestalt group therapy on loneliness of women caregivers of Alzheimer`s patients.
The present study demonstrates the effects of Gestalt therapy on reducing loneliness of women caregiver of Alzheimer's patients.
The results obtained in this study are consistent with results of Bahrami, Sudani and Honarmand (25) which showed that Gestalt therapy reduced depression, loneliness and increased self-esteem of divorced women in the experimental group.