Kahneman and Tversky's (1979) Prospect theory was tested as a model of preferences for prolonging life under various hypothetical health statuses. A sample of 384 elderly people living in congregate housing (263 healthy, 131 frail) indicated how long (if at all) they would want to live under each of nine hypothetical health conditions (e.g.,…

Volunteers' reasons for interest in and skills they could employ as resident advocates in nursing facilities under the auspices of an ombudsman program were obtained from applications of 778 individuals. A unique feature of the research was that interests and skills were assessed prior to volunteer participation. In contrast to motivations for…

Gerontological research has emphasized family members' continued involvement in the lives of loved ones following institutionalization. However, many of these studies are cross-sectional in design and do not ascertain how family members' visits change over time. The present study utilized a growth curve analysis to examine preplacement and…

Background: There have been major changes in the provision and organization of services for people with intellectual disabilities in England over the last 30 years, particularly deinstitutionalization and the development of the mixed economy of care. The experiences of the people who participated in the Care in the Community Demonstration…

Professionals and paraprofessionals working in long term care facilities for institutionalized older people come from various educational backgrounds. To investigate the learning needs of long term care employees in gerontology, and to determine the validity of the Foundations for Gerontological Education Project as it relates to long term care…

Life satisfaction in the elderly has long been an area of considerable interest to gerontologists, and with good reason. As the numbers of elderly increase in our society, a better understanding of the process and determinants of successful adaption will be beneficial. Given the traditional self-reliant and independent lifestyles valued by the…

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…

The effects of the objective physical features of the treatment environment on the well-being of elderly have previously been studied. This type of research continues to contribute to standards of quality for nursing homes, congregate housing, and health-care facilities. However, the perceived qualities of the environment may also be a key element…

Despite persistent allegations of widespread abuse of nursing home residents, the topic has received only limited research attention. This study involved telephone interviews with a random sample of 577 nurses and nursing aides working in long-term care facilities. Subjects reported on actions they had observed other staff commit and on actions…

This paper describes a new model for teaching nursing homes, which places a strong emphasis on teamwork by combining the resources of a comprehensive retirement community and three universities to train faculty, students, and staff, and to generate research basic to geriatric care. The four organizations involved in the project (Southwestern Ohio…

This guide is designed to assist the nursing home staff, and in particular the activity director, in improving the physical, social and psychological care of residents in nursing homes. It contains lists and descriptions of ideas and procedures contributed by over 100 activity directors. The activities are seen as potentially able to help a…

An annotated bibliography to supplement the final report of the Nursing Home Trainer Program is presented. The 14 groups of references reflect a philosophy based on principles of adult education. For related document, see AC 014 304. (CK)

The benefits and deficits of housing alternatives must be viewed from the perspective of the elderly person's state of wellness. These factors are discussed and an evaluation is made of the five basic housing categories from which an older person may choose. (Author/RK)