Resocialization of the geriatric mental patient.

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Abstract
This paper reports 2 studies in which geriatric mental patients were offered opportunities to confront and deal with meaningful life crises in a hospital milieu emphasizing the creation of normal life roles. In the first study, newly admitted chronic brain syndrome patients showed improved self-concept, more goal directedness and socialization, more aggressiveness, and small but significant improvements in mental status. In the second study, preliminary results showed that long-term chronic schizophrenic patients became involved immediately in the treatment programs, were more able to deal with conceptual tasks and practical problems of daily living, and showed some symptomatic improvement. Both studies found true socialization limited by the unavailability of suitable placement settings outside the hospital.