This study examined the effectiveness of a new skills training program designed to increase nurse aides' knowledge of behavior management. The training program, designed as five 90-minute group learning modules, was implemented in two Western Pennsylvania nursing homes over a 5-month period. Topics covered within the training program included…

Researchers have divided nursing home residents into long-stayers and short-stayers. While long-stayers rarely return home, they do not necessarily stay long in one institution. Instead, they may transfer from nursing home to nursing home. Although many studies have examined the impact of relocation on nursing home residents, few studies have…

The Family of the nursing home patient can be a powerful treatment resource when productive involvement is maximized. This research looked at the quantity and quality of resident-family interactions before and after placement. Results indicated continued involvement of families. However, quality of visits was a major problem for many families.…

Examined the relationship between the knowledge and attitudes of nursing home caretakers toward elderly sexuality, looking at certain sociodemographic and institutional factors. The more knowledge providers possessed, the more restrictive their attitudes toward elderly sexuality. Education, religiosity, position, nursing education, time in current…

Responsibilities of residents of long term care facilities are central to their autonomy and also set limits on their autonomy. It is important to assist residents to assume responsibilities and to express autonomy. Nursing home rules affecting residents need revision to accurately reflect resident responsibilities. Recognition of responsibilities…

Commissioned scholarly papers and undertook anthropologic observation to examine legal and ethical issues for patients, family, and caregivers during discharge planning. Proposed policy suggestions in which conflicting interests were recognized but in which patients' rights to autonomous decision making in discharge planning were strongly…

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,…

Compared effects of different visiting programs (people, people and pets, pets, no visit) on behaviors of nursing home residents. Found all three visiting programs increased behaviors of smiling and alertness in comparison to control conditions. Close proximity to person-alone visitor was associated with greatest number of positive resident…

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,…

Serving refreshments was shown to increase attendance and frequency of interaction in the activity area of a nursing home. Quantitative and qualitative changes in vocal behavior were evaluated. Rates of interaction more than doubled during treatment phases, but ineffective vocal behavior accounted for most of the increase. (Author/JW)

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…

Examined the use of public spaces in a nursing home by elderly residents by means of systematic observations. A cluster analysis disclosed several common behavior patterns related to residents' health status. The results support the thesis that, as an individual's health declines, behavior will become less diverse. (JAC)

Discusses sex differences in the relocation patterns of 37 institutionalized patients interviewed prior to and following relocation. Trends indicated that while males scored slightly higher levels of mental alertness, females appeared to be better suited to life in the institution. (JAC)

Projects utilization history of a synthetic cohort of nursing home admissions in 1976 by normalizing length of stay (LOS) specific discharge rates derived from life tables to an estimated 1.1 million persons. Results focus on the LOS distribution, discharge status, and total days of nursing home care used. (Author/JAC)

Discussion of Ralph Nader's Study Group Report on Nursing Homes.'' (SP)