Changes in elderly welfare hotel residents during a one-year period

After a one-year interval, a structured interview designed to assess the quality of life was again conducted with most of the tenants in a single-room occupancy hotel in New York City. Comparisons was made between the two sets of findings. During the year, a program had been in effect to provide social, psychiatric, recreational, medical and other services to all the tenants at the hotel. Of the original 181 interviewees, 100 completed the second interview. Statistically significant changes occurred in 9 of the 35 variables assessed for the one-year period. There was significant improvement in the self-care index, but some negative mood changes were also found. The subgroup of identified alcholics showed the most positive improvements of any of the subgroups.