abstract: 'Purpose: Stigma and lack of access to providers create barriers to

  mental health treatment for older adults living in the community. In

  order to address these barriers, we developed and evaluated a peer

  support intervention for older adults receiving Medicaid services.

  Design and Methods: Reclaiming Joy is a mental health intervention that

  pairs an older adult volunteer with a participant (older adult who

  receives peer support). Volunteers receive training on the

  strengths-based approach, mental health and aging, goal setting and

  attainment, community resources, and safety. Participantvolunteer pairs

  meet once a week for 10 weeks. Participants establish and work toward

  goals (e.g., better self-care, social engagement) that they feel would

  improve their mental health and well-being. Aging services agencies

  provide a part time person to manage the program, match volunteers and

  participants, and provide ongoing support. Outcomes evaluation for this

  pilot study included pre/postintervention assessments of participants.

  Results: Thirty-two participants completed the intervention.

  Pre/postassessment group means showed statistically significant

  improvement for depression but not for symptoms of anxiety.

  Quality-of-life indicators for health and functioning also improved for

  participants with symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Implications:

  The Reclaiming Joy peer support intervention has potential for reducing

  depression and increasing quality of life in low-income older adults who

  have physical health conditions. It is feasible to administer and

  sustain the intervention through collaborative efforts with minimal

  program resources and a small amount of technical assistance.'
affiliation: 'Chapin, RK (Corresponding Author), Univ Kansas, Sch Social Welf, Off
  Aging \& Long Term Care, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS 66044 USA.

  Chapin, Rosemary K.; Landry, Sarah; Leedahl, Skye N.; Rachlin, Roxanne; Koenig,
  Terry, Univ Kansas, Sch Social Welf, Off Aging \& Long Term Care, Lawrence, KS 66044
  USA.

  Sergeant, Julie F., Kansas Dept Hlth \& Environm, Bur Hlth Promot, Canc Sect, Topeka,
  KS USA.

  Graham, Annette, Cent Plains Area Agcy Aging, Wichita, KS USA.'
author: Chapin, Rosemary K. and Sergeant, Julie F. and Landry, Sarah and Leedahl,
  Skye N. and Rachlin, Roxanne and Koenig, Terry and Graham, Annette
author-email: rchapin@ku.edu
author_list:
- family: Chapin
  given: Rosemary K.
- family: Sergeant
  given: Julie F.
- family: Landry
  given: Sarah
- family: Leedahl
  given: Skye N.
- family: Rachlin
  given: Roxanne
- family: Koenig
  given: Terry
- family: Graham
  given: Annette
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1093/geront/gns120
eissn: 1758-5341
files: []
issn: 0016-9013
journal: GERONTOLOGIST
keywords: 'Mental health (services therapy); Peer support; Strengths based;

  Outcomes evaluation; Medicaid; Medicare'
keywords-plus: 'GERIATRIC DEPRESSION SCALE; CASE-MANAGEMENT; LIFE; INDIVIDUALS;

  FRAMEWORKS; SYMPTOMS; BENEFITS; ILLNESS; ANXIETY'
language: English
month: APR
number: '2'
number-of-cited-references: '40'
pages: 345-352
papis_id: ba6968a3e55c83a0ba47939deff32981
ref: Chapin2013reclaimingjoy
times-cited: '36'
title: 'Reclaiming Joy: Pilot Evaluation of a Mental Health Peer Support Program for
  Older Adults Who Receive Medicaid'
type: Article
unique-id: WOS:000316148600016
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '26'
volume: '53'
web-of-science-categories: Gerontology
year: '2013'