Reality Orientation for the Institutionalized Aged: Does it Help?

The Role of Education and Health Care Delivery Structure in Quality of Nursing Care for Mentally Ill Patients in Nursing Homes

“…The energy and dedication of several of the nurses in the study was impressive as they set about to create and provide mental health services almost entirely on their own. Reality orientation (Schwenk, 1979), for example, was universally in use by nurses and the use of remotivation techniques (Birkett and Boltuch, 1973) were widespread. These are mental health services that nurses provide entirely on their own initiative as they go about their rounds, and they did it because it was, as several put it, at least something they could do.…”

Reality Orientation Thirty Years Later: Are We Still Confused?

“…Both the authors who are in suppo rt of RO (Baines, Saxby & Ehlert, 1987;Holden & Woods, 1982) and those who are critical of its therapeutic efficacy (Bu rton, 1982; Campos, 1984;Carrol & Grey, 1981;Gropper-Katz, 1987;Hussian, 1984;Leng, 1982;Powell-Proctor & Miller, 1982;Schwenk, 1979;Wisoscki, 1984;Zarit, Zarit & Reever 1981) concur on this general conclusion. A comprehensive review of the RO research literature reveals that classroom RO can effect, moderate but short duration, gains in verbal orientation.…”

Behavioral Approaches to Gerontology

“…In a review of these programs, Schwenck (1979) concluded that the evidence on the efficacy of reality orientation is equivocal. Of the six studies without severe methodological problems, three found positive results on tests of orientation, and three studies reported no differences in orientation between reality orientation participants and controls.…”