Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T20:17:50.612Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Reality Orientation and Reminiscence Therapy

A Controlled Cross-over Study of Elderly Confused People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Sheila Baines*
Affiliation:
North Devon District Hospital
Peter Saxby
Affiliation:
St John's Hospital, Aylesbury
Karen Ehlert
Affiliation:
Moorhaven Hospital, Devon
*
North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple, Devon

Extract

We compared reality orientation with reminiscence therapy for elderly people in a large residential home, using a controlled cross-over design. Both kinds of therapy group were enjoyed by both staff and residents, and enabled staff to get to know moderately and severely confused residents. The group that received reality orientation followed by reminiscence therapy showed improvement in cognitive and behavioural measures which was not found in the other two groups. It may be important to use reality orientation techniques with confused residents before involving them in a reminiscence group.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1987 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barnes, J. A. (1974) Effects of reality orientation classroom on memory loss, confusion and disorientation in geriatric patients. Gerontologist, 14, 138142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bergmann, K., Foster, E. M., Justice, A. W. & Matthews, V. (1978) Management of the elderly demented patient in the community. British Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 441449.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blythe, R. (1979) The View in Winter. Harmondsworth: Penguin.Google Scholar
Brook, P., Degun, G. & Mather, M. (1975) Reality orientation, a therapy for psychogeriatric patients: a controlled study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 4243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burnside, I. M. (1976) Group therapy with regressed aged people. In Nursing and the Aged (ed. Burnside, I. M.), New York: McGraw-Hill.Google ScholarPubMed
Butler, R. N. (1974) Successful ageing and the role of the life review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 22, 529535.Google Scholar
Citrin, R. S. & Dixon, D. N. (1977) Reality orientation: a milieu therapy used in an institution for the aged. Gerontologist, 17, 3943.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ebersole, P. P. (1978) Establishing reminiscing groups. In Working with the Elderly: Group Process and Techniques (ed. Burnside, I. M.) North Scituate, Massachusetts: Duxbury Press.Google Scholar
Emery, G. (1981) Cognitive therapy with the elderly. In New Directions in Cognitive Therapy (ed. Emery, G.) New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Evans, G., Hughes, B., Wilkins, D. & Jolley, D. (1981) The Management of Mental and Physical Impairment in NonSpecialist Residential Homes for the Elderly. Research Report No. 4, University Hospital of South Manchester Psychogeriatric Unit-Research Section.Google Scholar
Feier, C. D. & Leight, G. (1981) A communication-cognitive program for elderly nursing home residents. The Gerontologist, 21, 408416.Google Scholar
Folsom, J. (1968) Reality orientation for the elderly mental patient. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 1, 291307.Google Scholar
Gilleard, C. J., Willmott, M. & Vaddadi, K. S. (1981) Self-report measures of mood and morale in elderly depressives. British Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 230235.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greene, J. G., Nicol, R. & Jamieson, H. (1979) Reality orientation with psychogeriatric patients. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 17, 615618.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hanley, I. G. (1982) A Manual for the Modification of Confused Behaviour. Lothian Regional Council Department of Social Work.Google Scholar
Hanley, I. G., Mcguire, R. J. & Boyd, W. D. (1981) Reality orientation and dementia: a controlled trial of two approaches. British Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 1014.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harris, C. S. & Ivory, P. B. C. B. (1976) An outcome evaluation of reality orientation therapy with geriatric patients in a state mental hospital. Gerontologist 16, 496503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Help The Aged (1981) Recall (audio-cassettes + slides) Help the Aged Education Department, 218 Upper Street, London Nl.Google Scholar
Hennessey, M. J. (1978) Music and music therapy groups. In Working with the Elderly: Group Process and Techniques (ed. Burnside, I. M.). North Scituate, Massachusetts: Duxbury Press.Google Scholar
Holden, U. & Sinebruchow, A. (1978) Reality orientation therapy: a study investigating the value of this therapy in the rehabilitation of elderly people. Age and Ageing, 7, 8390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holden, U. P. & Woods, R. T. (1982) Reality Orientation: Psychological Approaches to the ‘Confused’ Elderly. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Jeffery, D. (1981) Evaluation of Formal Reality Orientation Therapy at a Geriatric Hospital. South West Regional Health Authority Research Progress Report, Psychology Department, Moorhaven Hospital, Ivybridge, Devon.Google Scholar
Jeffery, D. (1982) Individual Reality Orientation with Psychogeriatric Patients attending a Day Hospital. South West Regional Health Authority Research Report, Psychology Department, Moorhaven Hospital, Ivybridge, Devon.Google Scholar
Kay, D. W. K., Beamish, P. & Roth, M. (1964) Old age mental disorder in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Part I-a study of prevalence. British Journal of Psychiatry, 110, 146158.Google Scholar
Kay, D. W. K., Bergman, K., Foster, E. M., Mckechnie, A. A. & Roth, M. (1970) Mental illness and hospital usage in the elderly: a random sample follow-up. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 11, 2635.Google Scholar
Lesser, J., Lazarus, L. W. Frankel, R. & Havasy, S. (1981) Reminiscence group therapy with psychotic geriatric in-patients. The Gerontologist, 21, 291296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merchant, M. & Saxby, P. (1981) Reality orientation-A way forward. Nursing Times, 12 August 1981, 14421445.Google Scholar
Miller, E. (1977) The management of dementia: a review of some possibilities. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 46, 7783.Google Scholar
Norris, A. D. (1986) Reminiscence with Elderly People. London: Winslow.Google Scholar
Norris, A. D. & Abu El Eileh, M. T. R. (1982) Reminiscence groups. Nursing Times, 11 August 1982, 13681369.Google Scholar
Pattie, A. H. & Gilleard, C. T. (1979) Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly (C.A.P.E.). Sevenoaks: Hodder & Stoughton.Google Scholar
Powell-Proctor, L. & Miller, E. (1982) Reality orientation: A critical appraisal. British Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 457463.Google Scholar
Reitz, A. L. & Hawkins, R. P. (1982) Increasing the attendance of nursing home residents at group recreation activities. Behaviour Therapy, 13, 283290.Google Scholar
Stearns, (1977) Old Age in European Society. New York: Holmes & Meier.Google Scholar
Taulbee, L. R. (1978) Reality orientation: A therapeutic group activity for elderly persons. In Working with the Elderly: Group Process and Techniques (ed. Burnside, I. M.). North Scituate, Massachusetts: Duxbury Press.Google Scholar
Taulbee, L. R. & Folsom, J. C. (1966) Reality orientation for geriatric patients. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 17, 133135.Google Scholar
Thomas, W. C. (1981) The expectation gap and the stereotype of the stereotype: Images of old people. The Gerontologist, 21, 402407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woods, R. T. (1979) Reality orientation and staff attention: a controlled study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 502507.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zepelin, H., Wolffe, C. S. & Kleinplatz, F. (1981) Evaluation of a year-long reality orientation program. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 7077.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.