Organized activity and the adaptive status of nursing home residents.

This study examined one aspect of the hypothesis that the environment influences the adaptive status of elderly people. Specifically, it looked at the relationship between the amount of organized activities offered in three nursing homes and 44 residents' perceptions of their roles in the present and future and their future time perspective. No relationship was found between future time perspective and the amount of activity offered; however, positive relationships existed between present and future roles and the amount of activity. The study supports the premise that when activity is available, individuals are likely to form and maintain images of themselves as actively engaging with their environment.