Citation

Born DG, Thompson CD. Activ. Adapt. Aging 1999; 24(1): 41-53.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J016v24n01_05

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Participation in discussion of current events by clients in adult day programs, and in activity programs in nursing homes, provides practice for clients in talking about topics of interest to people in the more general community. However, many clients who seem capable of contributing to news discussions do not participate in these exchanges. Four adult day program clients with long histories of nonparticipation in news discussions served as participants. After establishing baseline levels of participation, a three part intervention was introduced. First, immediately prior to the news session a brief, personal discussion with a targeted client occurred as a form of “priming.” Second, after the news session started, a targeted client was “prompted” for discussion by asking that client a few direct questions about a news story. Third, statements by targeted clients to prompted comments were generously (socially) reinforced by the news director. Although overall levels of discussion by these clients remained low, each client subsequently engaged in at least limited “unprompted” discussion.