The objective of this study was to explore what adolescent grandchildren have learned from having a grandparent who suffers dementia and what coping strategies they might recommend for other adolescents in similar situations. We also present information on background factors influencing lessons learned and coping strategies. Adolescent…

Examined the power of seven demographic variables (sex, age, employment status, length of work experience, education, type of institution, and occupational level) to predict nursing-home staff empathy in interactions with residents. Results indicated only the variables in combination and work experience alone were significant. (Author/BL)

Although many elderly people live for years in nursing homes, death certificates routinely obliterate nursing home residence. Data from records of 1 proprietary nursing home showed that of 128 residents, from 45 percent to 66 percent could be classified as permanent residents, depending on definition. Death certificates for those 128 residents…

This study demonstrates that the actual percentage of persons dying in nursing homes and extended care facilities far exceeds the commonly held five percent. (Author)

Caregivers (n=158) from Swedish nursing home rated severely demented person as painful, apathetic, suffering, weak, afraid, sad, cold, dark, rough, and ugly. Four years later, comparable group of 93 caregivers answered revised questionnaire. Results were nearly identical to first administration. (Author/NB)

Older persons (N = 159) were surveyed for their impressions of and experiences with elderspeak from friends, same-age family members, younger family members, familiar service workers, and unfamiliar service workers. Two dimensions, "warmth" and "superiority," emerged in the judgments of elderspeak from all five speaker types. Respondents perceived…

Investigated contention that differences in styles of reminiscence of older persons could be explained by their levels of ego development in women (n=75) residing in long-term care facilities. Found women with affirming styles of reminiscence had higher levels of ego development than women with negating and despairing styles. (Author/ABL)

This paper is concerned with the spoken communication of chronically ill and aging residents of long-term care institutions. Spoken communication is a vital component of social interaction and psychological well-being underlying such concepts as isolation, integration, and adjustment; it is a fertile area for investigation and analysis. (Author)

Statistics on place of death, validated against longitudinal evidence on entrance into nursing homes, shows the "final" rate of institutionalization to have risen in Sweden between 1938 and 1975. Issues concerning who is institutionalized and why appear more important than precise measurement of rates of institutionalization. (Author/NB)

Describes the accomplishments of elderly Jews residing at the Toronto Baycrest Centre, a multilevel geriatric facility, who formed a memoir activity group which eventually led to publication of their memoirs. The value of the activity for the group and for other groups of older persons in general is discussed. (JAC)

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…

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…

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)

Fifty-two nursing home residents received either a life review or a friendly visit and took part in repeated testings to determine lasting effects of the life review. Results showed a trend toward continued and by year three significant improvement over time in those who received the life review on measures of depression, life satisfaction, and…

Studied 79 nursing home residents who were expected to return to community. Only 16 percent of subjects did not return to community: two chose to remain in nursing home, four had no willing family caregivers, and two quickly deteriorated. Results did not support notion of iatrogenesis. (Author/NB)