StressadaMente: Mental health promotion program for direct care workers of older people

Abstract

Background: In the current context, associated with the increase in longevity, there is a greater need for institutionalization of old people in search of formal support. The direct care workers of institutionalized older people, who work at day care centers and residential homes, are at risk of being victims of occupational psychosocial risks. There are several psychological complaints of these workers, highlighting the need to develop a mental health promotion program aiming at job satisfaction of direct care workers, improving their provision of care at work and quality of life. Aim: The StressadaMente program is a mental health promotion program for direct care workers of institutionalized older people in day care centers and residential homes. This article aims to describe the StressadaMente program and to evaluate the level of satisfaction of the direct care workers with the program. Methods: The program was implemented in two day centers/residential homes, enrolling 25 participants, and comprised one session per week, with 90 min per session, during 7 weeks. Sociodemographic information of direct care workers was collected. The assessment protocol comprised a satisfaction questionnaire of the program. Results: In general, the program was evaluated as “very good” and “excellent” by 9.5% and 90.5% of the participants, respectively. These results may indicate that mental health promotion intervention seems to encourage new skills and changes to a better practice, prevent adverse effects of caregiving by improving the mental health of professionals.