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Reflections on Psychotherapy with Ageing People, Individually and in Groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. Joan G. Hunter
A. Joan G. Hunter*
Affiliation:
25 Eton Rise, Eton College Road, London NW3 2DF
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Extract

Over the last 10 years I have run 17 psychotherapy groups for aged people who were in hospitals, homes or in the community. The groups were all short, usually running for 12 weeks. The total number in these groups was 121 and their ages ranged from 68 to 100. The average size of each group was seven and there were never more than four men in any group and in 11 groups there were only women. The average attendance was 88% and 36 attended more than one group. One member suffered from motor neuron disease, two from Parkinson's disease and the common causes of infirmity of old age were widely represented. All members had been diagnosed as suffering from senile dementia in two groups. In every group at least one member was hard of hearing and a communicator was used over the hearing aid to facilitate hearing. One member was blind and the sufferer from motor neuron disease continued to attend after losing her speech.

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Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 154 , Issue 2 , February 1989 , pp. 250 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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