Influence of personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) on health, social participation, and life satisfaction: Perspectives from older adults and attendants.

INTRODUCTION

The personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) is promising to foster health and social participation of older adults with disabilities, especially when working in collaboration with occupational therapists. When implemented by community organisations, little is known about the influence of APIC on older adults, including perspectives of older adults and attendants. This study aimed to explore the short-term influence of APIC on physical and mental health, social participation, and life satisfaction of older adults with disabilities by considering the perspectives of older adults and their attendant.

METHODS

A mixed methods study was carried out by a team, including two occupational therapists. Twelve attendants were interviewed, and 12 older adults completed questionnaires about their health, social participation, and life satisfaction before and after the APIC.

RESULTS

Improvements in mental health, social participation, and life satisfaction were found. The influence of APIC was generally more subtle than expected and greatly affected by older adults' personal and environmental factors.

CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

This study was possible because of the collaboration between researchers, health-care professionals, community organisations, volunteers, and older adults.

CONCLUSION

The APIC might have a limited influence on the physical health of older adults with disabilities. Future studies examining the effects of this intervention on different levels of disabilities are recommended to target the best suited population.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

The personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) is a 12-month intervention in which an older adult with disabilities (i.e., having difficulty to perform daily activities) meets weekly with a volunteer to experiment social activities. Although promising, little is known about the influence of APIC on older adults. This study explores the influence of APIC on the health, social participation (i.e., involvement in activities that provide interactions with others), and life satisfaction of older adults with disabilities. The perspective of 12 older adults and 12 volunteers were considered. Improvements in mental health, social participation, and life satisfaction of older adults were observed, but the influence of APIC was greatly affected by other factors such as their physical capabilities and their place of residence. APIC seems to have a limited influence on the physical health of older adults with disabilities.