Study outlines life-enhancement paths for those in long-term care facilities

A University at Buffalo study of older adults transitioning to long-term care has identified "life-enhancing" activities to counteract loneliness, sadness, and isolation. In the study, published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, researchers in the schools of Nursing and Public Health and Health Professions observed 20 life-enhancement activity sessions in a Canadian long-term care facility in September 2024 to see what really influences engagement among older adults. The researchers tracked things like self-initiative, social interaction, emotional expression, and distractions.