Elderly Mentally Ill People and Quality of Life: Who Wants Activities?

Purposeful activity, accepted as an important constituent of quality living by many people, has not been well researched in relation to elderly mentally Ill people. In a 43-bed nursing home in the north west of England, a small study explored initial patient, relative and staff reactions to a newly introduced part-time activity programme. The results highlighted the importance of a flexible programme of activities, coordinated by an appointed person and providing mental stimulation for the residents. The willingness of staff to become further involved as the programme expands suggests that additional staff training and specific time allocation would be needed.