Positive Education for Elderly Persons: Correct Eating Through Reinforcement

Abstract

A positive continuous reinforcement procedure was implemented for six geriatric patients with severely low rates of correct eating. The reversal-type experimental design used, in which each subject was his/her own control, made a small sample appropriate. Average correct eating increased from 12% of meals eaten correctly at the beginning of the study to 84% of meals eaten correctly at the end of the study. The technique can be readily employed in professional practice, and research is suggested for further professional applications.