The effects of two psychosocial treatments, Reality Orientation and Sheltered Workshops, were evaluated against an assessment-only control. Program effects were assessed before and after treatment using three variables: the Life Satisfaction Index-A, nurses' ratings, and behavior observations. Sheltered Workshops may be more beneficial for this…

Behavioral observations were conducted on aged mentally impaired females in an institutional environment on a weekly basis for a two-year period. Half the subjects remained stable in the level of their behavioral functioning. Stable subjects evidenced less serious medical conditions, had better comprehension of their situations and were more…

In this exploratory study, 94 elderly persons, in seven senior service centers and one nursing home, were interviewed to identify and ascertain the meaning of cherished possessions in later years. Lack of cherished possessions was associated with low life satisfaction scores, a suggested indicator of poor adjustment to old age. (Author)

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.…

Implementation of "24-hour" and classroom Reality Orientation procedures resulted in improved orientation to environment and behavioral functioning for confused and disoriented residents of an institution for the elderly. This study used a pretest-posttest control group design with 12 residents in the experimental group and 13 residents…

Reality Orientation (RO) Therapy, a recently developed mode of treatment for use with geriatric patients was discussed. A controlled study was conducted comparing the effects of RO with those of traditional hospital care. The results indicated that RO is a promising technique for use with a chronic geriatric patient population. (Author)

Pearson Product Momen correlation coefficients were computed for seven frequently used measures of life satisfaction, adjustment, and morale. Data were collected from 259 subjects over the age of 60 representing three clusters: institutionalized older people, those with limited ambulation, and "community" aged. Intercorrelations indicate…

This research sought to ascertain predictors of well-being and survival among "elite" residents in long-term care facilities. Analysis showed that primary predictors of morale, life satisfaction, satisfaction with treatment, and survival were residents' subjective perceptions of the facility and their preference about living in it or elsewhere.…

Behavior modification's technology has been shown to be effective for a variety of the aging's problems. The present study documented the value of behavior modification as treatment for social isolation in three nursing home residents; as employed, the procedure was compatible with practical constraints ordinarily present in geriatric…

The need for preadmission counselling among 45 female applicants to homes for the aged was assessed by examining applicant morale, expectations about the institutions, amount of contact with the facilities, and status on the waiting list. (Author)

This study investigates the effects of age, level of education, and institutionalization on the development of logical thinking. Seven Piagetian tasks, encompassing three levels of difficulty, were administered to 34 persons 68 years of age or older. A significant positive relationship was found between success on tasks and educational level.…

Caretakers of 100 Foster Family Care (FFC) homes were interviewed to assess demographic characteristics, relationship with sponsoring agency, family-nature of the home, and community recation. Although some programmatic difficulties emerged, residents appear well integrated and caretakers report much personal satisfaction. (Author)

A study to determine quality of life and care in 20 Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities in the Metro Denver Area revealed care was better than anticipated. Assessments were made on 158 residents regarding problems, functioning level, and appropriateness of level of care based on information from residents, staff, and medical records. (Author)

The Wickens "release from proactive inhibition" task involves presenting several trigrams of one type for several trials and then shifting to another type. College students, elderly community residents, and elderly rest-home residents were compared on the Wickens task. College students were superior in over-all memory. (Author)

This paper explores the relationship between alienation and perceived type of freedom in homes for the aged. Homes for the aged were found to have the highest scores on alienation and conditional freedom when compared to other types of residential organizations. (Author)