An activity program for cognitively impaired low-income inner city residents

This article describes the development and evaluation of an activity group for African-American cognitively impaired residents of a subsidized congregate housing unit who lived alone. Socially isolated residents became engaged in activities with other residents and began to recognize others in their environment. The activity group was the vehicle for interaction, general fitness, and socialization. The process for beginning such a group, gaining trust, and choosing activities is described. Some qualitative means of determining effectiveness in a sample of persons with cognitive loss is presented as well.