[Group therapy in gerontopsychiatry, limits and possibilities].

The still insufficient accommodation given gerontopsychiatric patients and the resignation as regards therapy in most hospitals gave rise to systematic experiments over several years. This aimed at creating a therapeutic community by means of a psychagogic therapy for maintaining the mental and emotional alertness of patients in order to prevent loneliness. A description is given of problems which arose not only with patients but above all with the reeducation of nursing staff. Therapeutic activity in wards which have the character of a home reduces their "para-position" and makes work more attractive for all those involved.