This study reports an experimentally designed evaluation of Reality Orientation. Twelve elderly residents were chosen for the experimental group and 13 residents were chosen for the no-treatment control group. Both classroom Reality Orientation and 24-hour Reality Orientation were introduced on the experimental floor. A pretest-posttest control group design was used with two instruments serving as the dependent measures: a 25 item structured interview measuring the amount of basic information the resident had concerning orientation to environment and a 30-item rating form completed by staff familar with the resident's daily functioning. T-test comparisons of means for dependent samples indicated a significant increase in orientation to environment on the structured interview and a nonsignificant increase in orientation on the rating form for the experimental group from pre-to posttest. The control group showed a nonsignificant decrease in orientation on both instruments. Comparison of means indicated a significant posttest difference on the structured interview and a nonsignificant difference on the rating form between the experimental and control group. Reality Orientation led to greater orientation and noticeable behavior change in residents and gave the largely subprofessional staff of this nursing home a productive method for interacting with residents. (Author)