Effectiveness of a Community-based Intervention Programme to Promote Well-being in Older Adults

This study is conducted to assess the effectiveness of a community intervention programme on improving well-being, levels of distress, and loneliness in older adults (aged 55 years old and above), who have symptoms of depression.

Social Service Agencies (SSAs) will conduct focal talks on well-being for the community. As part of the focal talks, the Public Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will be conducted. Attendees with a PHQ-9 score of 1-9 will be invited to take part in the study. Up to 300 participants will be recruited and randomised into 2 arms: control arm (150 participants) and intervention arm (150 participants).

Participants in the intervention arm will undergo 8-week community intervention programme which includes 4 sessions on well-being and continuous follow-up with a Health Companion. Participants in the control arm will be offered to join a programme conducted by the SSAs 8 weeks after recruitment into the study. The programmes offered to the control group are independent of the study.