A COMPUTER-BASED INTERVENTION FOR THE EDUCATION AND THERAPY OF INSTITUTIONALIZED OLDER ADULTS

Institutionalization often presents an unstimulating environment, in a ddition to requiring a surrender of autonomy. Research has shown that people quickly come to respond to the world in a limited and rigid fas hion when their choices and activities are limited. This decline is fr equently associated with a corresponding decline in psychological heal th and, consequently, an increase in depression. According to Seligman (1981), changing depressed individuals' environment for the better an d enhancing their sense of control should serve as an, antidepressive. Thus the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a psych oeducational model making use of computer interaction for the therapy, education, and recreation of a group of institutionalized older adult s. The results indicated that the computer interaction was an effectiv e tool for increasing these older adults' cognitive abilities and dail y living skills and decreasing their levels of depression.