Shared Interest Groups (SHIGs) in Low-Income Independent Living Facilities

This paper describes a novel shared-interest group intervention program to promote socialization and enhance self-efficacy in a sample of 276 older adults who resided in several low-income senior independent living settings. Shared interest groups were initiated and informally evaluated. They were very well received by residents overall, and suggest their value for reducing loneliness and promoting satisfying relationships. Specific recommendations are provided to help initiate such groups in other residential settings.