Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Reality Orientation Classes in a Nursing Home Unit

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of a geriatric treatment program is determined largely by the extent to which it contributes to enhanced independent functioning. To examine the effectiveness of Reality Orientation (RO) classroom instruction, the verbal orientation and the everyday behavior of 22 residents in a Veterans Administration Nursing Home Care Unit were assessed before and after their participation in RO classes. The classes met five days a week for three months. Participants showed a significant increase in verbal orientation (as measured by the Reality Orientation Questionnaire) and a significant improvement in independent functioning (as measured by the Geriatic Resident Goals Scale). The results provide evidence of the effectiveness of RO as a treatment procedure for disoriented geriatric residents. 1979 The American Geriatrics Society