A community‐based program for older women living alone: a systematic review

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundLife expectancy has been increasing over the decades, while there is a gap between the genders. Women are more likely to live longer than men, resulting in older women living alone. Older adults living alone could be at risk of physical or mental health and well‐being. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to identify which interventions affected older women living alone and suggest community programs to improve their health and well‐being.MethodThis study was conducted using three databases, including PubMed, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Scopus. This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRiSMA) guidelines, and studies were assessed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Standardised Critical Appraisal Tool from Joanna Briggs Institute Meta‐Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI‐MAStARI) was used to appraise the methodological quality of these studies.ResultOf the 2003 articles, three of them met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were reviewed. The articles are clinical trials, and the interventions were psychosocial support, reminiscence therapy, and a well‐being enhancement program. As a result of the interventions, self‐efficacy, cognitive function, and quality of life were improved, and the level of loneliness was decreased in older women living alone.ConclusionThe findings indicated that a community intervention such as psychosocial support, reminiscence therapy, and a well‐being enhancement program positively affected self‐efficacy, cognitive function, quality of life, and the level of loneliness for older women living alone. However, further studies are required with sufficient sample sizes and diverse intervention programs.