Depression is regarded as the most prevalent mental health disorder in the elderly. Reminiscence, a normative and universal process which can facilitate the resolution, integration, and reorganization of past conflicts can have positive or negative effects on depression. One environment where the elderly are particularly at risk for the negative…

Nursing home patients suffering from dementia had a desire for placement in a setting where their special needs could be addressed. This resulted in the creation of special nursing home units designed to meet patient needs. Recent reports have provided evidence that nursing home residents suffering from dementia who receive care on these special…

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…

In order to provide regular read-aloud programs in nursing homes, to mentally stimulate and enrich the institutionalized elderly, and to improve access to library materials and services a project, proposed by the Seattle Public Library, provided training for volunteers in read-aloud techniques, sensitivity to nursing home residents, and meeting…

This report examines issues concerned with the use of aversive behavior modification techniques in actual treatment practices at one intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded. The review of these practices reveals how, once the philosophy of using aversives takes hold at a program (to deal with seemingly intractable behaviors), its…

The Community Aging Program is a demonstration outpatient, mental health program designed to study and treat elderly individuals. The individual's skills relevant to living independently are assessed and those individuals with deficits enter an appropriate treatment program. Two of the treatment programs or modules help the individual adjust to…

Preliminary findings are presented from a study of the performance of 99 institutionalized retarded children on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS), a revised form of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS). No significant sex or race differences were revealed on test performances. Mental age was found to correlate with VABS scores with…

Eleven papers from a June, 1984, seminar on siblings of mentally retarded and developmentally disabled persons are presented. The following papers are included: "An Adult Sibling Network: A Sharing of Experiences" (B. Cohen); "Siblings as Change Agents for Their Brothers and Sisters: Opportunity or Problem?" (G. Wolpert); "Adult Siblings: The…

Forty-nine institutionalized mentally retarded Ss (11- to 26-years-old) were tested to determine the interactions of an auditory ability factor and a personality variable (Level of aspiration) in the prediction of performance on nine Spache Diagnostic Reading Scales. (LC)

Adoption of the helper principle whereby persons receiving therapy also act as therapeutic agents for others is reported to have been effective in a residence for emotionally distrubed and delinquent boys (8- to 18-year old). (GW)

The role of the professional nurse in asseviating or minimizing the separation anxiety and traumatic impact on families during temporary placement of a retarded child in a residential facility is seen in two case studies of girls 3 and 12 years of age. (Author/MC)

Designed for state administrative officials, the report examines legal issues involved in treatment and deinstitutionalization of mentally ill and mentally retarded persons. A historical account reviews definitions and available services for the two populations. Implications of significant court decisions are analyzed for cases involving right to…

Critiqued is a 1973 published research report of the Denton State School Study which evaluated the effectiveness of the Doman-Delacato treatment method with mildly and moderately institutionalized retardates. (CL)