Four profoundly mentally retarded middle-aged female residents in a state institution Behavior Problems Program were trained through the use of an interdependent group-oriented contingency procedure to sit and later to work on prevocational tasks. (Author)

The authors propose the existence of a self-fulfilling cycle, in which negative stereotypes of aging create environments where the physical and psychological decline of aging develops and perpetuates the stereotypes. (Author/CT)

Ethical issues confront behavior therapists in a variety of ways, and must therefore be defined. Being objective means being willing to change the mind even if belief is reinforced by the verbal community. Similarly, acting in a morally correct way sometimes means acting contrary to reinforcing practices. (PJC)

Study examines background and performance characteristics of discharged mental hospital patients in an effort to predict readmissions. Results confirm complexity of the recidivism issue. Black, isolated males seem at greatest risk for readmission; Anglo females with family resources at least risk. (LAB)

Illustrates the implementation of a framework to guide evaluations of specialized living settings for older people by discussing (1) person-environment selection and allocation, and (2) the provision of opportunities for resident choice and control. (Author/GC)

High school students interacted with chronic nursing home patients in dyadic and group activities. The 15-week program selected for study was found to have a beneficial effect on ten patients. Patients reported increased social interaction, reduced daytime sleeping, increased mobility, and decreased voluntary confinement. (Author)

Forty retarded adults were the Ss of a study to evaluate the hypothesis that individuals who have been institutionalized for a greater percentage of their lifetime are more socially immature than those institutionalized for a smaller percentage. (CL)

One-hundred and fifty parents of persons residing in 11 Texas institutions for the retarded completed questionnaires in which they were asked to provide demographic data and to express their agreement or disagreement with 19 statements concerning deinstitutionalization. (Author/CL)

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)

The underlying goal of design proposals for local (public) authority homes for old people--minimizing residents' dependence on staff--is outlines, as are physical features of institutional accommodation held to counter fulfillment of the goal. How these issues and the related goal of independence have influenced design proposals is described.…

Presented in tabular form are the results of a questionnaire based on identified rights of institutionalized residents given to 24 severely retarded persons (7-46 years old) with multiply handicapping conditions. (IM)

Analysis of statewide (Oklahoma) survey data revealed that 22.5% of individuals with mental retardation who were served by the Oklahoma mental retardation system were receiving antipsychotic medication. Higher levels of medication use were found in institutional settings and Intermediate Care Facility settings. (Author/DB)

Massachusetts study finds that increases in district's special-education costs are not due to district policies and practices, but to three external factors: medical advances that have increased the survivability of children born with disabilities, the deinstitutionalization of special-needs children, and the higher percentage of children living…

Severely and profoundly mentally retarded institutionalized residents (N=74) who received lithium carbonate for behavior disorders were followed in a 10-year retrospective study. Thirty-one subjects demonstrated a sustained major reduction or elimination of behavioral symptoms. Lithium responders were likely to be older and to present symptoms of…