Purpose: Emerging evidence indicates that museum object handling sessions offer short-term benefits to healthcare participants. This study aimed to further understand psychological and social aspects of object handling in mental health inpatients .Design: Older adults (N = 42) from a psychiatric inpatient ward with diagnoses of depression or anxiety took part in a series of object handling group sessions with 5-12 participants per group. Session audio recordings were subjected to thematic analysis.Findings: Five main themes were identified: "responding to object focused questions", "learning about objects and from each other", "enjoyment, enrichment through touch and privilege", "memories, personal associations and identity" and "imagination and storytelling". The first four were congruent with literature associated with positive wellbeing and engagement outcomes but the fifth was a new finding for group contexts.Research implications: Limitations include the relatively small sample and variable week-toweek group attendance. Audio recordings did not provide information on non-verbal communication and how objects were handled. Future studies should control for attendance and examine effects of multiple sessions over time, ideally with video recording. Originality: This study offers preliminary support for museum object handling as a group intervention in mental health care with potential to develop therapeutic aspects of the sessions. Findings indicate that object handling is a novel yet effective intervention with potential for conferring additional advantages by conducting sessions in group settings.

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Introduction:Moving house later in life can be a major transition and valued material objects may be important to this process. The present study aimed to develop an explanatory model for the meanings of material objects to older adults in the context of a residential transition.Method: Using grounded theory methodology, 12 participants were interviewed about the meanings and roles of valued material objects following a residential transition. Older adult participants lived in either their own home or a care home. Results: The model entails two core categories, "threats to identity" and "objects and identity continuity" along with four explanatory concepts, "moving and identity discontinuity", "connections across time", "attachments to others", and "preserving self and ancestors in the memories of the next generation". Discussion: Objects were described to have important personal meanings which helped people maintain a sense of identity continuity following residential transition. They were associated with comfort, security and life review processes, which support identity continuity later in life. Conclusion: Moving house later in life can threaten a person's sense of self. However, material objects can help maintain a sense of identity continuity through reminiscence and life review processes. Implications for community and residential care moving house transitions are discussed.