Cognitive therapy as a tool for caring for the elderly confused person.

With the increase in the numbers of elderly people, methods to improve the quality of life for this population has never been more relevant. As the primary carers for this group of people, nurses are likely to be faced with this task. Cognitive therapies such as reality orientation, validation, reminiscence and life review, can help to maintain or improve aspects of cognitive or behavioral functioning for the elderly confused. If this in turn can increase life satisfaction for those elderly suffering from dementia then cognitive therapies must be addressed as means to improve individual quality of life. Existing research offers contradictory evidence as to the practical application and usefulness of such therapies. More substantial research must be undertaken in the area, addressing nursing perspectives with regards to the implementation of cognitive therapies. The author maintains that the cognitive therapies discussed in this paper have great potential for use within care of the elderly and despite controversial research results, can help to maintain or improve the quality of life for the elderly confused.