Relaxation revisited: An adaptation of a relaxation group geared toward geriatrics with behavior problems

Abstract

Stress reduction, relaxation groups, and alternative therapies are presently being used in a variety of settings.According to the New England Journal ofMedicine, 34 percent of Americans use some form of alternative therapy to improve their and feelings of well being.1 Alternative therapy groups are geared towards individu- als in the general public who site stress-related symp- toms such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, anxiety, inability to concentrate and physical tension.The Stress Institute at Roosevelt University in Chicago found that relaxation techniques invoke feelings such as mental calm, clarity, and disengagement.2The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged (HRCA) in Boston, Massachusetts, is a 725-bed long-term facility dedicated to the care of elders.The authors work on a unit at the HRCA designed specifically for residents with behavior problems.These problems may include wandering, restlessness, agitation or abusiveness.The behaviors may result from Alzheimer's disease (AD), multi-infarct dementia, psychiatric disorders or demen- tia of unknown origin.The residents are observed to have many of the same stress-related symptoms that the general population experiences.Common symptoms of stress include fatigue, irritability, poor concentration, feeling overwhelmed, change in appetite, and sleepless- ness.3'4For this reason, the authors decided to examine