Reality Orientation and Dementia: A Controlled Trial of Two Approaches

Classroom Reality Orientation was investigated with a sample of dements drawn from a psychogeriatric hospital and an old people's home. Treatment effects were examined on a range of cognitive and behavioural measures, and compared with the effects of a specific behaviourally directed orientation training in the ward. Class RO improved cognitive functioning but not behaviour, irrespective of degree of dementia. Highly significant behavioural change was demonstrated for ward behaviour orientation training and this technique is not only cheaper but has potential in managing dements.