["Geri-Aktiv"--the activation of nursing home residents]

Although being active is a central element of successful aging, we know little about activities which elderly people carry out in institutional environments. The first study's aim was to describe the importance of activation for the residents (n=255) and their nurses (n=171) using quantitative methods. To immerse into the subject we carried out qualitative interviews (n=61) to ascertain how an activation according to the needs of old people can be reached. With the background of activation and motivation theories and first results, a model was developed focusing on need-oriented activation. Considering the impairments in old age, offers for individual activation and attendance can be derived from this model.