An Evaluation of a Therapeutic Health Program for the Black Elderly

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a therapeutic health program which was offered in 1988 to the black elderly living in subsidized high-rise apartments in Nashville. The pre-program data (of 1987) indicated distinct differences in that the elderly living in the high-rises had significantly more medical problems, higher levels of depression, and smaller social support networks than those living in their own single dwelling homes. The therapeutic program included various modules such as cognitive and grief therapy, reminiscence therapy, social skills and remotivation therapy. Analyses of pre-post measures of selected variables showed that the program was effective in improving the health status of the participants. As compared to a non-treatment control group, the elderly in the experimental group showed significant improvements in depression, social network, and a sense of control over their lives. A discussion of these findings is provided.