Enhancing the quality of life of older people in rural Türkiye: A randomised controlled appraisal of solution-focused case management

Abstract

Objective

With a rapidly growing older population in rural Türkiye, it is crucial to identify their unmet needs and develop targeted intervention programs to enhance their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a solution-focused case management program, that incorporated an ecosystemic framework, on the QoL of Turkish older adults living in rural areas whose family caregivers were receiving a home care allowance.

Methods

A randomised controlled experimental design was employed. Sixty older adults participated, with the experimental group receiving a solution-focused case management program in addition to the home care allowance provided to their family caregivers. The control group only received the home care allowance. The intervention lasted 8 months and involved contact every 3 weeks. The QoL of older adults in both groups was measured using the WHOQOL-OLD scale.

Results

The intervention significantly improved the overall QoL, autonomy, past, present and future activities, and social participation domains in the experimental group. There was no significant impact on the death and dying or intimacy domains. In the control group, there was a significant reduction in the overall QoL, past, present and future activities, and death and dying domain scores, with no changes observed in sensory abilities, autonomy, social participation or intimacy domain scores.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that the solution-focused case management program effectively enhances the QoL of Turkish rural older adults. Home care allowance alone did not impact the QoL, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions in this population.