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Happiness and mindfulness in care facilities

Project overview

How can the health potential of residents in care facilities be strengthened through mindfulness-based interventions?

We investigated this question in a research project in cooperation with the German Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (vdek). Long-term care insurance has the legal mandate to develop and implement measures for full inpatient care facilities that can be used to promote the health resources of those in need of care (reference guide "Prevention in inpatient care facilities").

In this project, we investigated the contribution that mindfulness-based exercises can make tostrengthening psychosocial health and cognitive resources.

The research project was divided into two project arms:

  • Project arm A contains a mindfulness-based group intervention
  • In project arm B, outreach, app-supported mindfulness-based individual interventions are being developed and trialled.


In terms of content, the individual exercises deal with the topics of behaviour, exercise, relaxation and nutrition (the four pillars of the BERN concept).

Further information

  • Duration: April 2020 to July 2023
  • Funding: Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (vdek)
  • Responsible: Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion (IGVF)

Research objective

The aim of the project was to gather findings on the implementation and effectiveness of such interventions. To this end, a randomised controlled pilot study was conducted. This pilot study comprises a questionnaire survey, guided interviews and a focus group with all participants - and the implementation of the actual interventions on site.

If a benefit of the mindfulness-based interventions can be derived, the interventions will then be transferred to other care facilities via the multiplier approach(roll-out).

The publication will follow.

Project management