Addressed a need for enlargement of music when retirement home residents were deprived of a self-fulfillment opportunity from choir activities due to failing eyesight. A photographic process yielded the needed feasible large reproductions. Innovative application of this technique affords wide-ranging potential for positive benefit beyond music…

Conducted and evaluated a sexual psychoeducational intervention with older persons, adult family members of older persons, and staff members of nursing homes. Results indicated significant changes in attitudes toward and knowledge about sexuality and aging and sexual behavior. (Author)

Examines the interaction between caseworker, caretaker, and client in foster care placement of the elderly and offers suggestions for strengthening the worker's role. Interaction between caseworker, caretaker, and client needs strengthening. Caseworkers need a sound understanding of their own role and of the expectations held by agency, caretaker,…

Ward residents view their dwelling as less secure and feel less able to control social encounters than do single room residents. Single room residents express greater desires for isolation and disclosure restriction. Data are consistent with an adaptation model of privacy-sociability preference. (Author)

Describes the goals, development, operation, and outcomes of an intergenerational programmatic relationship between a private college and a congregate facility for older adults. Faculty and students report that partnership activities provide excellent opportunities for increasing the understanding of aging and older adults. Residents report…

Examined 331 adult children with parents in nursing homes. Predictors of depression were poor health, time pressures, viewing parent as demanding, and lack of involvement with instrumental activities of daily living tasks. Emotional effects specific to parent's situation were predicted by poor health, negative perceptions of nursing home staff,…

Describes application of the Choice Awareness system to a group experience for retirement and nursing home residents, which promoted residents' awareness of choices and enhanced their choice-making and socialization skills. Presents concepts and activities used and participant reactions to the activities. (Author/PVV)

Examined extent and nature of suicide, attempted suicide, and intentional life-threatening behavior in long-term care facilities and differences in patterns of suicidal behavior by gender, age, and race. Results from 463 facilities revealed sex differences in terms of method chosen, and age differences on type of suicidal behavior and likelihood…

Designed model program designed to increase social support for newly admitted nursing home residents through a structured program of peer counseling. Found residents (N=15) receiving peer counseling improved somewhat on measures of social conditioning; peer counselors (N=15) improved with regard to appearance and grooming. (Author/ABL)

Describes a project designed to alleviate the emotional isolation of elders concerned about the manner in which they will die, particularly fears about loss of control. A counselor engaged elders in dialogue exploring nonthreatening ways this could be done. Drama that includes dialogue with the audience was chosen, developed, and performed at…

Examined Medicaid spenddown among nursing home residents from 72 Wisconsin facilities. Found only small proportion of discharges had spent down to Medicaid eligibility, but this group's long stays contributed heavily to nursing home days. Estimated over 40 percent of those who spent down did so within six months, 58 percent within a year, and 76…

Conducted longitudinal study of 196 caregiver/care receiver dyads to determine variables predictive of caregiver decision to institutionalize dependent with dementia. Use of services, enjoyment of caregiving, caregiver burden and health, caregiver rating and reaction to care receiver behavior and memory problems, and presence of troublesome…

This study examined how depressed and nondepressed nursing home residents differed on measures of frequency of daily activity involvement and accompanying affect. Interviews indicated the groups differed significantly on frequency of activity involvement and affect. Depressed subjects spent large portions of time watching television. Nondepressed…

The impact of moving out of nursing homes into community-based settings was assessed by comparing the health, community functioning, and lifestyle satisfaction of 67 movers and 165 nonmovers. Movers showed benefits of improved health, community functioning, and increased life satisfaction. Age of the residents did not influence effects. (CR)

A cost-benefit analysis tool was developed with data from 58 health occupations programs in two-year colleges. Clinical experience was primarily conducted in hospitals. Few programs have been required to perform cost analysis. Programs depend on the willingness of health care facilities to provide clinical training. (SK)