Cognitive interventions for older adults: does approach matter?

A group training format was compared to one-to-one training in a cognitive intervention, Reasoning Exercises in Assisted Living (REAL), designed for elderly Assisted Living residents. Change scores on problem solving and functional outcomes were compared between participants in each group. In participants trained individually (n = 29), scores increased post-intervention on the Every Day Problems Test for Cognitively Challenged Elders (EPCCE; d = 3.10, p < 0.01) and the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS; d = 3.52, p < 0.001), at a cost of $132 per person. Participants (N = 4) in the group format REAL had mean score increases of 2.75 points on the EPCCE and 3.5 on the DAFS, at a cost of $25.60 per person. Additional testing is warranted to verify the group effects due to the limited size of the sample. Relative costs and effects of various training formats are important to consider when developing, testing, and disseminating interventions targeting older adults.