Recruited families of residents of dementia unit of nursing home to lead programs and activities. Found family volunteers complemented staff efforts to provide a varied and enriched environment for the residents and volunteers felt the experience was an extension of their continuing involvement. (Author/ABL)

Describes a group counseling experience using a modified remotivation and structured reminiscence format with 6 elderly female nursing home residents (ages 85-99). Concludes that, because of its interpersonal-interactive nature, group counseling may be most beneficial therapeutic modality for the elderly. (Author/NB)

Nursing home programs committed to providing quality care need to investigate innovative ways to meet today's budget challenges. The purpose of this article is to describe a creative collaboration between a nonprofit nursing home facility and a suburban university. Through service-learning, undergraduate students planned and implemented…

As part of the adult education program of Mountain View-Los Altos (California) High School District, elderly patients at skilled nursing care facilities take classes in poetry. The poetry classes are therapeutic in nature, satisfying a real need for these very ill elderly people to express their frustrations, hopes, fears, and joys. All of the…

Describes program of short-term rehabilitation care provided to elderly patients through collaboration between hospital and nursing home. Discusses program planning and implementation experiences, patient satisfaction, and rehabilitation outcomes. Notes that program, although successful, was discontinued due to financial and interorganizational…

Describes an exchange program between a cooperative nursery school and a nursing home in which children were paired with nursing home residents. Discusses selecting and preparing child and adult participants, planning and supervising group and class activities, and teaching children about death and illness. (CB)

Describes the accomplishments of elderly Jews residing at the Toronto Baycrest Centre, a multilevel geriatric facility, who formed a memoir activity group which eventually led to publication of their memoirs. The value of the activity for the group and for other groups of older persons in general is discussed. (JAC)

Describes the development of a statewide strategy to improve resident outcomes in nursing facilities, and presents some evaluative data from this strategy. Results reveal that the partnership has resulted in state agency staff having information from analyses about resident needs. Suggests that other states should consider building partnerships…

Describes Wanderer's Lounge, program developed by one nursing home to provide activities to benefit Alzheimer's victims and at the same time provide respite for more alert residents and staff on their units. The program and its benefits are discussed. (Author)

Presents innovative method of using research findings to improve quality of life in long-term care institution. Describes impact of action research in developing service. Examines program implementation in terms of how groups of residents, staff, and families worked to enhance their social environment by strengthening supportive relationships,…

Describes specific comprehensive program implemented in intermediate care facility/skilled nursing facility that reduced problematic wandering by patients, increased patient freedom and safety, and increased staff skill and comfort in handling wandering behaviors. Describes program components, problem identification, prevention programs,…

Develops a perspective for studying conversational behavior in geriatric institutions. Considers why conversation is a theoretically significant focus for communications researchers concerned with the aged and presents data from ethnographic studies of two nursing facilities. Data highlight the importance of conversational behavior for…

Describes an educational program that contributed to a 90% reduction in the use of physical restraints in nursing homes over a two-year period. Program consists of a workshop, telephone and on-site consultations, regional meetings, and other support materials. Surveys suggest that the project can be easily adapted by care providers. (RJM)

Describes political and social action group of cognitively intact nursing home residents, organized in response to residents' desire to work on social issues and coordinated by recreational therapist who expected participation to maximize residents' autonomy and sense of control. Benefits mentioned by participants included opportunity to…

This document describes a volunteer work project designed for nursing home and day-care center persons with minimal physical skills. Potential users of the project are cautioned to plan carefully for the host location where the project will be conducted, as the location must be easily accessible to older adults who may be handicapped and who may…