Evaluation of a positive life review programme in two samples of elderly people

The paper presents two pilot interventions to improve the well-being of older people. The study involved 19 residents of retirement homes (study 1) and 45 people attending adult day care centres (study 2). We reviewed subjects' life focusing on positive events, either individually (study 1) or in group (study 2). A positive story about the life of the elderly, written by the interviewer (study 1) and a positive poster (study 2), were added to the life review intervention. Subjects' mood, life satisfaction, hopelessness, and autobiographical memory were measured. Even before the intervention, participants showed high levels of well-being. In study 2, the experimental group significantly increased the number of specific positive memories and decreased their hopelessness levels in comparison with the control group after the intervention. These findings suggest the potential benefits of positive interventions even with elderly people.