Verspeek Emmie A M, Haas Maximilian, Brehmer Yvonne, van Scheppingen Manon A, Bender Nadine, Kliegel Matthias, Hering Alexandra
Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands.
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 40, Boulevard du Pont-d'-Arve, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
Eur J Ageing. 2025 Jul 22;22(1):35. doi: 10.1007/s10433-025-00869-7.
A relocation to a nursing home is a major life transition in older age, with potential impacts on cognitive functioning and quality of life. In line with psychosocial models of successful aging, we investigated how older adults adapted to this major life transition. Using data collected at nine nursing homes in Geneva, Switzerland, we studied changes in cognitive functioning (i.e., short-term, long-term, and working memory, verbal fluency, prospective memory, and inductive reasoning) and quality of life (i.e., emotional and social loneliness, depressive symptoms, and purpose in life) in cognitively healthy older adults. Moreover, we exploratorily studied whether relational resources (e.g., participation in activities) impacted these changes. Forty-seven nursing home residents, aged 59 to 99 years (M = 85.55, SD = 9.43, 36 women), completed a neuropsychological test battery and self-report questionnaires approximately one, three, and six months after relocation. Repeated Measures ANOVAs indicated that short-term and long-term memory declined and (emotional) loneliness increased during the first three months after relocation. Yet, no differences were found between the first and last assessment of those indicators. Other factors did not show significant changes over time. Exploratory analyses revealed that visits of friends and participation in activities may play an important role in the impact of- and adaptation to this life transition. Although our results suggest preserved psychosocial adaptational capacities in nursing home residents, we should remain vigilant for the potential negative short-term and long-term impacts of major life transitions in this vulnerable population of older adults.
搬到养老院是老年人生活中的一个重大转变，可能会对认知功能和生活质量产生影响。根据成功老龄化的社会心理模型，我们调查了老年人如何适应这一重大生活转变。利用在瑞士日内瓦的九家养老院收集的数据，我们研究了认知健康的老年人在认知功能（即短期、长期和工作记忆、语言流畅性、前瞻记忆和归纳推理）和生活质量（即情感和社交孤独感、抑郁症状和生活目的）方面的变化。此外，我们还探索性地研究了关系资源（如参与活动）是否会影响这些变化。47名年龄在59岁至99岁之间（M = 85.55，SD = 9.43，36名女性）的养老院居民在搬迁后大约1个月、3个月和6个月完成了一组神经心理测试和自我报告问卷。重复测量方差分析表明，搬迁后的前三个月，短期和长期记忆下降，（情感）孤独感增加。然而，这些指标的首次评估和最后评估之间没有发现差异。其他因素随时间没有显示出显著变化。探索性分析表明，朋友来访和参与活动可能在这种生活转变的影响和适应中发挥重要作用。虽然我们的结果表明养老院居民保留了社会心理适应能力，但我们仍应警惕这一脆弱老年人群体中重大生活转变可能产生的短期和长期负面影响。
