Evaluates two respite programs which offer families temporary relief from caring for elderly relatives: an institutional program for those needing constant nursing attention, and a residential plan for those requiring housekeeping and companion services. Benefits for clients, family, and community appear to be indisputable. (Author/ABB)

Barbara Stone from Wilkes Community College (North Carolina) provides recommendations derived from a survey of old age care facility residents, administrators, educators, and community officials concerning deficiencies in their care unit program. Debbie L. Floyd describes Scott Community College's (Iowa) consumer model for credit options for human…

Identifies the components of a supportive community environment for older people. Examines alternative residential types, their impacts on the elderly, and the extent to which they provide the optimal functioning conditions of environmental "Challenge" and "support." (Author/MJL)

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…

Examines the relationship between resident characteristics and time participating in activities. For the 2,672 nursing home residents studied, measures of resource use, cognitive abilities, depression, sense of initiative/involvement, activity repertoire, location preferences, and gender were all found to be significant in explaining the amount of…

This Dutch study compares the behavior of staff (N=136) toward demented patients in residential homes with five expert recommendations for dealing with dementia. Results show that staff carried out the recommendations of encouraging activity, establishing effective communication, and not changing the patients' routine, but the staff tested and…

Describes a transition in a mature Special Care Unit for Alzheimer's patients, where patient mix had become too diverse for intended programming. Since the patients were unable to become involved in premove planning and preparation activities, preparation of staff substituted for the involvement of residents. Improved discharge policies maintain…

We provide descriptive statistics for data collected via the Residential Care Facilities Survey (RCFS), from long-term care (LTC) facilities operating in Ontario between 1996 and 2002. The LTC sector in Ontario is dominated by large, proprietary for-profit facilities. The proportion of residents receiving extended care has increased from 53 per…

Purpose: Residential care/assisted living describes diverse facilities providing non-nursing home care to a heterogeneous group of primarily elderly residents. This article derives typologies of assisted living based on theoretically and practically grounded evidence. Design and Methods: We obtained data from the Collaborative Studies of Long-Term…

A decrement toward lowered levels of cognitive functioning was noted in a study of aged residents of a dependent care facility when tested on a series of cognitive conservation tasks. (Author/KM)

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…

The Institutional Review Committee is an important social innovation promising the effective protection of the rights of elderly potential research subjects. However, unnecessary elaboration of informed consent procedures may risk excluding older persons from both primary and secondary benefits of the research process. (Author)

Geriatric ward patients (N=84) were randomly assigned to groups targeted for outplacement planning or inpatient care. During the following year, the mean Morale Inventory score of the outplacement sample improved while that of the inpatient group remained statis. Results argue for an increased emphasis on outplacement programs among geriatric…

Recounts the aftermath of Hurricane Gloria and necessity of frail individuals to be hospitalized for respite care due to loss of home services. Advances a new category of respite care which includes care for losses related to natural disasters. Describes characteristics of individuals requiring such care and specific reasons for their care.…