[Psychosocial guidance of nursing home personnel by group therapy. Basic considerations and initial experience]

Support groups for those professional caregivers who work in homes for the aged are seldom. Focussing on occupational stressors in this profession and the burnout research as a conceptual framework, a support group is introduced. To sustain the social competence and the coping skills of the caregivers are the basic aims of this group. Based on role taking and psychodrama as intervention techniques, outcomes from this group are discussed. Recommendations for future groups as a support system for caregivers in homes for the aged are derived.