A research and intervention project to enhance cultural competence (CC) within nursing home staff is described, with particular emphasis on the qualitative findings generated during baseline assessments of 10 participating facilities. These findings, developed from an analysis of transcripts of 56 focus groups, suggest the importance of five CC…

A field study of residents' satisfaction or dissatisfaction with open-ward accomodations in a skilled-nursing facility revealed that 88 percent of the respondents preferred the open ward to any other type of room accomodation. Findings suggest that for residents with multiple functional disabilities, the open ward is a supportive environment.…

Purpose: Longitudinal research in dementia has acknowledged the importance of transitions during the course of family caregiving. However, long-term adaptation to institutionalization has received little attention. This study attempts to describe caregivers' adaptation (changes in stress, well-being, and psychosocial resources) to placement up to…

This paper explores the relationship between alienation and perceived type of freedom in homes for the aged. Homes for the aged were found to have the highest scores on alienation and conditional freedom when compared to other types of residential organizations. (Author)

The underlying goal of design proposals for local (public) authority homes for old people--minimizing residents' dependence on staff--is outlines, as are physical features of institutional accommodation held to counter fulfillment of the goal. How these issues and the related goal of independence have influenced design proposals is described.…

Families of nursing home residents often perceive the care provided by the nursing home staff to be inadequate or inappropriate. Consequently, conflicts and misunderstandings frequently arise between staff and family members. A study was conducted in two midwestern nursing homes which investigated the perceptions of family and staff about the care…

Since nursing home placement is frequently the last choice for families of elderly people who need long-term care, little literature exists which delineates a model for consumer decision making in the selection of a specific long-term care facility. Critical issues include the following: (1) who actually makes the selection; (2) what other…

Families care for their elderly even when the burden is enormous, suffer guilt when institutionalization becomes necessary, and maintain contact after institutionalization. Policies must be developed to reduce premature institutionalization, help families cope with the process when it becomes necessary, and provide institutional care to those…

The State of Virginia has had a statewide nursing home preadmission screening program since 1977 and has made efforts to ensure appropriate placement of individuals in long term care settings. In a major effort to divert certain individuals from institutionalization, a personal care option has been provided. Using data from the Preadmission…

Over the past two decades, the chronic mentally ill elderly have begun to receive care in residential health care facilities (RHCF) such as domiciliary care, intermediate care, and skilled nursing facilities. While there is justification for this increase, as the mentally ill elderly also present with significant physical illnesses, there are…

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)

Examines some of the difficulties encountered when elderly married couples apply for admission to an institution. (HMV)

The effectiveness of various procedures in maintaining attendance at activities of residents at a geriatric facility was examined. A special, intermittently programmed or delayed consequence for attendance was added to regularly scheduled activities. Attendance at activities with and without the consequence was compared. Later, antecedent events…

Interviews with a random sample of 1,598 persons aged 65 years and older in 1975 with followups in 1984 provide information about the distribution between community and institutional care of urban elderly in Cleveland (Ohio). Support factors that enable persons to remain in the community are identified. (SLD)

Terminology in the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale of DSM-IV often is irrelevant to the realities of nursing homes, assisted living centers, and similar facilities in which residents encounter stressors that are unique to their living environment and circumstances. As the mental health needs of long-term care residents are…