Group progress of community elderly as measured by tape recordings, group tempo and group evaluation

Community based geriatric outpatients (N:67) were involved in a 12-session group resocialization program conducted at a municipal hospital. Meetings were taped and records kept on all group interactions. Short-term behavioral changes in quality of group participation and evaluation of the group experience by the members are reported. Comparison is made between the two experimental groups led by a trained group leader who used group intervention techniques and two "talk" groups in which the leader played a non-intervention role. Results indicate that experimental group members showed changes toward more active problem-solving approaches over time and maintained a lively group tempo. "Talk" group members remained fixed at one level evidencing little change along with a depressed tempo during group sessions.