[Activating ergotherapy--a method for increasing cognitive performance in geriatric patients]

A study was performed in two groups of multimorbid longterm geriatric inpatients (n = 22 in each group). This compared the effects of re-activating occupational therapy (= study-group) on cognitive functions, subjective well-being, affectivity and social integration. The control group was monitored with a normal program of functional rehabilitation. The assessment of psychometric variables after 12 weeks and after 24 weeks of treatment revealed a significant (p < 0.01) improvement in cognitive functioning and subjective well-being in the study group. These results demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of re-activating occupational therapy in the treatment of cognitive impairment of geriatric patients, which is often aggravated by hospitalization.