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Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors (PEARLS)

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors (PEARLS) is a counseling program for seniors that teaches participants how to manage depression. PEARLS uses an in-home counseling model, which consists of counseling sessions followed by a series of follow-up phone calls. The counseling covers three behavioral approaches to depression management: (1) teaches participants to recognize symptoms of depression and understand the link between unsolved problems and depression; (2) helps participants meet recommended levels of social and physical activity; and (3) helps participants identify and participate in personally pleasurable activities. In addition to the in-home counseling and follow-up phone calls, the PEARLS program assesses other factors in the participants’ lives to ensure that other potential factors contributing to depression, such as chronic medical conditions, are adequately treated.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the PEARLS program is to provide home-based counseling in order to manage and treat depression among older adults.

Results / Accomplishments

The PEARLS counseling program has been evaluated and shown to be effective at managing depression in older adults. A randomized controlled trial was conducted by the University of Washington’s Health Promotion Research Center and the City of Seattle’s Aging and Disability Services. At 12 months, compared with the usual care group, patients receiving the PEARLS intervention were significantly more likely to have at least a 50% reduction in depressive symptoms (43% vs 15%), to achieve complete remission from depression (36% vs 12%), and to have greater health-related quality-of-life improvements in functional well-being and emotional well-being.

Ciechanowski P, Wagner E, Schmaling K, et al. Community-Integrated Home-Based Depression Treatment in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2004;291(13):1569-1577.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Washington
Primary Contact
4311 11th Ave NE, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98105
206-543-3970
uwpearls@u.washington.edu
http://www.pearlsprogram.org/
Topics
Health / Older Adults
Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Health / Wellness & Lifestyle
Organization(s)
University of Washington
Date of publication
2004
Location
Washington
For more details
Target Audience
Older Adults
Michigan Health Improvement Alliance