A Brief Life‐Graph Technique for Work with Geriatric Patients*

Abstract

Patients aged 60 or older from the practice of a private physician (n = 32) and from a geriatric outpatient clinic (n = 132) responded to a questionnaire designed to assess perceived present and future health, treatment expectations, and general future projection. Of interest was the extent to which present health, as measured by a brief life‐graph technique, might be predictive of perceptions in these other areas. Results from the two samples were consistent in suggesting that present health ratings were related to anticipated future health, general future projection, and certain treatment expectations. However, expectations of when benefits from treatment would begin, and of the probable duration of treatment, were not predicted in either sample. The life‐graph technique seems useful for practitioners' interactions with older patients and for understanding these patients' extended views of their health.