Emotional and social effects of a controlled intervention study in a day-care unit for elderly patients

The present study deals with social, behavioural, and emotional aspects of the life of elderly handicapped people in a day-care unit. It was hypothesized that passivity and lack of possibility to influence treatment may inhibit progress in therapy. 65 patients were randomly allocated to experimental and control groups. The programme was devised in collaboration with the patients in order to ameliorate the passivity factor in treatment (by means of improved personal control and social activation). The programme was evaluated in a controlled study over 24 weeks with checkups before as well as after 6 and 12 weeks of therapy, and finally 12 weeks after the end of the programme. There were no changes in psychosomatic complaint scores or in any health/socioeconomic factor. However, there was a significant improvement in perceived health and life satisfaction. The results indicate that significant improvement in subjective well-being, lasting for at least three months after the end of day-care treatment, may be a consequence of the new intervention programme.