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The effect of the presence of personal belongings on perceptions of the elderly in institutions was tested through color slides in two groups of medical students. The results, although not reaching statistical significance, showed that the elderly person surrounded by personal belongings was perceived in a less negative way than the same person in bare surroundings. The possible detrimental effects of bare surroundings in institutions treating the elderly is discussed.
Millard et al. (1981) studied this question.