Quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress for older forensic mental health patients: a qualitative investigation based on the perspectives of patients and staff

Walker, Kate; Yates, Jen; Dening, Tom; Völlm, Birgit; Tomlin, Jack; Griffiths, Chris

Abstract

Purpose
There is a lack of research informing service requirements for older (aged≥55 years) forensic mental health patients. The aim of this research was to increase knowledge about older forensic mental health patients’ quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress, in order to make recommendations of how to facilitate and enhance these factors.

Methods
In-depth interviews with patients (N = 37) and staff (N = 48) were undertaken; data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results
Environmental (e.g., physical, structural and facilities), relational (staff, family and friends) and individual (characteristics, feelings, behaviours) factors were identified as enablers and/or obstacles to wellbeing, recovery, progress and quality of life.

Conclusions
The physical and psychological environment of services needs to be adapted to meet the needs of patients. Therapeutic relationships with staff should be encouraged and a person-centred and individual recovery approach adopted. Prosocial relationships with peers, friends and family need to be fostered to enable positive recovery outcomes. Older patients should be empowered to develop a sense of autonomy to enable quality of life, wellbeing, and recovery, and progress.

Citation

Walker, K., Yates, J., Dening, T., Völlm, B., Tomlin, J., & Griffiths, C. (2023). Quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress for older forensic mental health patients: a qualitative investigation based on the perspectives of patients and staff. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 18(1), Article 2202978. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2202978

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 11, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Apr 20, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 28, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
• Print ISSN: 1748-2623
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-2631
• Publisher: Co-Action Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 2202978
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2202978
• Keywords: Forensic mental health; older patients; quality of life; recovery; service provision
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/20273011
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2023.2202978
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Kate Walker, Jen Yates, Tom Dening, Birgit Völlm, Jack Tomlin & Chris Griffiths (2023) Quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress for older forensic mental health patients: a qualitative investigation based on the perspectives of patients and staff, International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 18:1, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2202978