Describes a hospital-based multidisciplinary team designed to assess and respond to cases of suspected abuse or neglect of elders from both institutional and community settings. Presence of the team has increased the hospital staff's awareness of elder abuse and neglect, as well as their willingness to refer suspected cases for further assessment.…

An intensive fire safety training program for profoundly mentally retarded institutionalized persons resulted in a significant decrease in mean evacuation time and gradual substitution of verbal for physical prompts. (CL)

Effects of scheduled activities versus scheduled activities and supervision on staff-mentally retarded residents' interactions were investigated. Results showed that a supervision package added to scheduled activities produces a statistically significant decrease in the time that ward staff spent on custodial care as well as off-task and an…

Psychologists in a large institution for mentally retarded persons present their observations from a week of serving as direct care staff. They report on the effectiveness of such procedures as reducing the noise level, alleviating crowding, structuring activities, and persisting in correcting resident behavior. (CL)

The author uses the construct of social traps and fences--problems of short-term versus long-term gains and self-interest versus common good--to conceptualize the situation presently existing in many retardation institutions. (Author/IM)

In order to test the practicality of non-zero sum games for analyzing children's social behavior, the classic Prisoners' Dilemna Game performance were compared for institutionalized and home-reared boys. (DP)

Evaluates and analyzes detention procedures and describes facilities required to end current deficiencies. (JF)

Tabulated data suggests the marginality of vocational functioning, as well as the low economic status associated with hospitalization. Study does not attempt pre and post hospital vocational comparisons. (CJ)

Three groups of severely retarded and three groups of mildly retarded individuals responded to a series of five 10-trial oddity problems under nonreward conditions. Results suggest that oddity is a stimulus characteristic to which an approach response is made, independent of its concurrent association with reward, and that stimulus value of oddity…

Implications are reviewed of the brief submitted to the Supreme Court by 21 state attorneys general advocating a return to the warehouse care model for the retarded. The brief's incorrect premises are analyzed, and future implications of decisions in the Youngberg v Romeo case are noted. (Author/CL)