"Disruptive" vocal behaviour is common in nursing homes, but presents significant management challenges. Non-pharmacological approaches have been found to be effective and preferable interventions in such situations. A case study is presented of an 85-year-old woman who displayed frequent screaming and calling out during personal care…

Analysis of 1980 census data reveals that elderly people (age 65 and over) living in Central and Southern Appalachia suffer more inferior life circumstances than the elderly population in the nation as a whole, falling well below national averages in terms of income, access to transportation, availability of telephones, and presence of resources…

The purpose of this investigation was to gain an understanding of the role that television plays in the daily lives of a number of elderly male individuals who are partially confined and socially restricted in a long care facility. An inductive, qualitative study was conducted over a three-month period in western Canada in order to obtain an…

A descriptive analysis of the problems of the elderly at the San Carlos Indian Reservation regarding health, illness, social pathology, environment, health delivery systems, and felt needs was conducted. Interview questionnaires were used to obtain data from 59 elderly on the reservation and 21 in an off-reservation nursing home; 39 younger family…

Elderly mentally retarded persons living in community-based settings (N=39) were compared with those in nursing homes (N=59) with respect to medical status, behavior problems, and formal and informal supports. Among findings analyzed in discussion were that nursing home residents had fewer behavior and medical problems. (Author/JW)

In an effort to reduce social isolation, procedures which included modeling, behavioral rehearsal, feedback, and reinforcement were used to train four elderly nursing home residents in four conversational areas: expressing common courtesies; making positive self-disclosures; asking questions; and making interjections and acknowledgments. Results…

A study investigated whether the interactive behaviors of elderly individuals were significantly influenced by their environment. The key to the investigation was the notion that human interaction can function to aid elderly individuals as they adapt to aging. Subjects were individuals over 65 years of age living in one of three separate…

A national mental health continuing education program for personnel employed in long-term care facilities was developed by the National Institute of Mental Health's Continuing Education Branch. The immediate goal was to demonstrate linkage between mental health, continuing education, and long-term care resources to increase the knowledge and…

Trained 20 elderly and 20 adolescent volunteer counselors in empathic listening, and gave 20 volunteers information regarding the aging process. Counselors and nursing home residents met twice a week for five weeks. Nursing home residents who received a volunteer counselor improved significantly in level of depression, but neither mode of training…

These two volumes contain research papers and personal reflections developed as culminating projects by adult students involved in workplace literacy classes in nursing homes, hospitals, and home care agencies. The first volume contains 18 papers: "What You Need to Know about Cancer" (Grace Bopst); "What Nursing Assistants Need to Know about Heart…

Assessed effects of nursing home staff training in care for the dying on quality of life of 306 terminally ill patients in 5 pairs of matched nursing homes assigned randomly to trained and not trained staff groups. Patients in trained homes had less depression and greater satisfaction with care than patients in control homes at 1 and 3 months.…

Describes an eighth grade reading teacher's program which involved students visiting elderly adults in nursing homes. Argues that the experience provided the context for students to deal with responsibility in a realistic setting, and that the positive circumstances encouraged them to share their experiences in oral and written form. (RS)

Purpose: The identification of nursing home residents who can continue to participate in advance care planning about end-of-life care is a critical clinical and bioethical issue. This study uses high quality observational research to identify correlates of advance care planning in nursing homes, including objective measurement of capacity. Design…

This document provides the sixth annual report on the health status of the citizens of the United States. Submitted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the President and Congress in compliance with Section 308 of the Public Health Services Act, the report presents statistics concerning recent trends in the health care sector along…

This issue of Generations spotlights the rural elderly. The articles first cover a basic overview of the rural aged. Next is a range of policy issues related to rural service delivery followed by articles on research projects of concern to policy makers and service delivery personnel. Several fund raising and service programs are described.…