Asked 97 elderly hospitalized patients about preferences for treatments under hypothetical levels of future cognitive functioning: 66 percent more likely to want treatment if expected to be cognitively intact than when future condition involved impaired cognition; 36 percent no treatment in at least 75 percent of conditions, and 16 percent…

Examined whether physical restraints are related to decreased social behavior among nursing home residents. Data collected from 112 nursing home residents suggest that low social performance puts resident at risk of being restrained, but more frequently use of restraint hampers resident's performance of social behavior. (Author/NB)

Nursing homes in Illinois Quality Incentive Program receive separate bonus payment per Medicaid day for achieving each of six quality standards. Of 809 participating homes (1985-88), over 90 percent of eligible facilities chose to participate annually. Success in achieving bonus payments in multiple standards increased over time, with 27 percent…

Purpose: This study aims to develop ah in-depth understanding of the issues important to primary care physicians in providing care to cognitively impaired elders. Design and Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 primary care physicians. Text coded as "cognitive impairment" was retrieved and analyzed by use of grounded theory analysis…

This paper analyzes the decisions and experiences of 52 academics from four universities who agreed to retire early because of increased annulities or substantial lump-sum severance payments. Only one respondent was dissatisfied with his decision to retire early; 73 percent were very satisfied. (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,…

Argues that despite the problems associated with measuring and interpreting old people's appraisals of their housing situation, these subjective indicators provide necessary insights for effective planning and program evaluation. (Author/BL)

Describes the process of implementing the New York State Long-Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) during its initial three years of operation. Sponsors of similar programs should be aware of the need for program flexibility and the length of time required for start-up and implementation. (JAC)

Assesses overall quality of life of caregivers, using a path model in which burden was conceptualized as distinct from well-being. Findings revealed that perceived social support is strongly related to well-being but unrelated to burden, reinforcing the conceptual distinctiveness of the two concepts. Suggests that quality of life of caregivers…

Nursing home social workers (n=152) and administrators (n=231) rated relative importance of resident and family psychosocial needs and frequency of function performed or expected to be performed by social workers. Both groups rated as very important needs of support during transition to nursing home, help in dealing with loss, and help with…

Purpose: This brief report takes a look at the preliminary estimates of the number and proportion of migrants over the age of 60 who moved to and from states between 1995 and 2000 and compares these estimates with those who made the same kind of move one decade earlier. Design and Methods: The 2000 census 1-in-100 public-use microdata sample,…

Purpose: We developed and tested theoretically derived procedures to observe physical environments experienced by nursing home residents at three nested levels: their rooms, the nursing unit, and the overall facility. Illustrating with selected descriptive results, in this article we discuss the development of the approach. Design and Methods: On…

Elderly wives caring for disabled husbands have special needs and problems. Through interviews it was discovered that morale scores of disabled husbands and their wives were associated; although morale was generally low, it was possible to dichotomize the wives into high and low morale groups. (Author)

This research sought to ascertain predictors of well-being and survival among "elite" residents in long-term care facilities. Analysis showed that primary predictors of morale, life satisfaction, satisfaction with treatment, and survival were residents' subjective perceptions of the facility and their preference about living in it or elsewhere.…

Challenges the pessimistic conclusions of recent studies of longevity and health among the elderly which claim positive trends in prolongation of life have not been matched by extension of healthy life. Examines conceptual issues related to measurement and dynamics of mortality-disability. Uses data from the 1986 Longitudinal Study of Aging to…