REACTIVATING OCCUPATIONAL-THERAPY - A METHOD TO IMPROVE COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN GERIATRIC-PATIENTS

Tn this prospective treatment study, the effects of two different occu pational therapy strategies were compared in two samples of long-term geriatric inpatients (n = 22 in each group) with slight to moderate de mentia according to DSM-III-R. Psychometric ratings after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of treatment have demonstrated that the application of a rea ctivating occupational therapy programme in addition to functional reh abilitation is significantly more efficient than the application of fu nctional rehabilitation alone on levels of cognitive performance, psyc hosocial functioning, and the degree of contentedness with life. These results support the assumption that geriatric patients, if stimulated for a longer time, are able to mobilize latent resources of cognitive and psychosocial performance. Reactivating occupational therapy has a place in the treatment of long-term geriatric patients.