The Role of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Enhancing Mental Health and Reducing Loneliness among Nursing Home Residents

Background: The increasing elderly population necessitates comprehensive healthcare, including palliative care. Elderly patients in palliative care often experience loneliness, decreased resilience, and mental health issues that affect their quality of life. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been recognised as an effective intervention for addressing psychological issues, but its effectiveness in elderly palliative care patients remains limited. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of CBT intervention on levels of loneliness, resilience, and mental health in elderly patients undergoing palliative care. Methods: This quasi-experimental study involved 126 elderly participants aged 60-90 years undergoing palliative care at long term care Budi Mulia 1. Participants were divided into two groups: an intervention group receiving CBT sessions for four weeks and a control group receiving no intervention. Data were collected using the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale) Loneliness Scale, Resilience Scale, and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Data analysis was performed using a paired t-test and linear regression. Results: The study results indicated that the intervention group experienced a significant reduction in loneliness scores from 65 ± 10 to 45 ± 8 (p = 0.000), a significant increase in resilience scores from 90 ± 12 to 130 ± 15 (p = 0.000), and a significant improvement in mental health scores from 25 ± 5 to 10 ± 3 (p = 0.000) compared to the control group. Conclusion: CBT intervention is effective in reducing loneliness, increasing resilience, and improving mental health in elderly patients under palliative care. These findings not only support the use of CBT as part of holistic care for the elderly but also highlight its potential to transform healthcare practices by addressing psychological needs alongside physical care, ultimately improving overall quality of life.