The Effect of a Combination of Adapted Physical and Artistic Activities on Isolation and Aggression of the Elderly Living in the Farzanegan Nursing Home in Shiraz 2018

Objectives: Isolation and aggression are common problems in the elderly that create serious psychological and physical consequences for the elderly. Due to the growing trend of the elderly population, it is essential to use practical strategies for reducing isolation and aggression of the elderly. This study aimed to determine the effect of a combination of adapted physical and artistic activities on the isolation and aggression of the Farzanegan nursing home residents in Shiraz. Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study with considering the research ethics, 68 elderlies in a nursing home in Shiraz with symptoms of isolation and aggression and without acute psychological and physical problems were selected using available sampling method and then assigned to the control and experimental groups by permutation block randomization method. The control group received standard care, and the experimental group participated in 16 sessions of adapted combined physical and artistic activities. Data was gathered using the UCLA Social Isolation and Buss and Perry's aggression Questionnaires before and immediately after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and frequency) and inferential statistics (Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon test statistics) by SPSS software version 22. Results: In this study, the participants' mean age was 70.93±7.99, and 69.1% were women. The scores of the Isolation and Aggression Questionnaires after the intervention in the experimental group were significantly lower than the scores before the intervention in the same group (P= 0.000) and lower than the scores of the Isolation (P= 0.000) and Aggression Questionnaires (P= 0.001) in the control group. Conclusion: The isolation and the level of aggression of the elderly decreased significantly after performing a combined intervention of adapted physical and artistic activities. It seems practical and cost-effective prevention strategies such as a combination of adapted artistic and physical activities can affect isolation and aggression in the elderly.