ABSTRACT
As is true of the general population, older adults receive physical rehabilitation for deficits resulting from injury or disease. During the rehabilitation process, however, cognitive status and psychological well-being may be neglected and thus deteriorate during prolonged hospitalization. A group psychotherapy intervention utilizing insight and reminiscence was developed to offset the negative effects of institutionalization and to maintain or promote those qualities of survivorship (functional independence, self-determination and self-reliance) necessary for the geriatric patient’s adjustment upon discharge to the community. Older adults were selected from those patients currently awaiting discharge from a rehabilitation hospital. All participants were pre- and post-tested by independent examiners with the Community Competence Scale. The findings suggest that this time-limited group intervention is important in the promotion of functional independence and further suggest that this approach can be modified to maximize the functioning of less competent, older adults.
