The impact of validation group therapy on nursing home residents with dementia

This study examined the effectiveness of validation group therapy for reducing problem behaviors, use of physical restraints and use of psychotropic medications, and for increasing positive social interactions and psychosocial well-being in nursing home residents with dementia. In four skilled-care nursing homes, 88 residents with dementia were randomly assigned to a group receiving validation therapy (VT) a social contact (SC) group, or a usual care (UC) control group, and were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year The nursing staff reported that VT participants showed less physically and verbally aggressive behavior and were nor as depressed ar residents in the SC or UC group. VT was not effective, however; in reducing the use of physical restraints or the use of psychotropic medications, and it war less effective than SC or UC in reducing physically nonaggressive problem behaviors.