Goal negotiation with older people in three day care settings

Drawing on a wider study of effectiveness in three models of day care, this paper explores the process and outcome of goal negotiation with older peop le in a day hospital, an outreach service and a day centre. Using qualitati ve data from interviews with day care attenders and focus groups with servi ce providers, differing perspectives on goal setting and achievement are pr esented. It concludes with a brief discussion of this approach in the wider context of promoting older people's participation in decision-making in da y care settings, where the espoused emphasis is on maintaining and maximisi ng personal autonomy and independent living.