Randomly assigned to 1 of 156 conditions, 256 adults evaluated either a patronizing or a neutral conversation between a nurse and an elderly nursing home resident. Nurses using patronizing styles were viewed as less respectful or nurturant and residents as less satisfied. Results held true for personal situation topics but not for resident…

Psychotropic drug use was monitored for 139 persons residing continuously over a 10-year period in an Intermediate Care Facility for mentally retarded persons. Results indicated an ongoing decrease in psychotropic drug use, with usage decreasing from 30-12 percent. Antipsychotic medication was discontinued for 73 percent of the clients over the 10…

The communicative performance of 10 institutionalized persons (ages 12 to 21) with mental retardation was examined. The residents were observed in a classroom and in a residential living area. Results indicated that, although the overall amount of interaction was low, residents initiated the majority of the interactions. (Author/DB)

Observation of 30 ward staff members responsible for 39 institutionalized mentally retarded residents over a 40-week period found that staff differentially distributed their activities depending on the type of contract they were employed under and the number of consecutive days they worked. Number of staff present was a major factor in determining…

Investigated expressed educational interests of residents (n=100) over the age of 60 who are living in an institutional setting. Found that 86 percent of subjects did not consider themselves too old to learn. Subjects were interested in topics designed to enhance enjoyment rather than those based on mastery of skills. (LLL)

This study evaluated facilitated communication with 12 people living in an institutional autism program. On trials when facilitators and participants saw different pictures, the only "correct" labels were for pictures shown to the facilitators and not shown to the participants. Results suggest that the facilitators were unknowingly…

This study of the choice behavior of 14 adults with severe disabilities in residential programs found that 24 staff members correctly predicted the individuals' choices 78% of the time, when compared to choices made by the individuals themselves. (Author/DB)

Seventeen institutionalized mentally retarded adolescents were compared with 29 noninstitutionalized mentally retarded adolescents. Results showed that institutionalization had no deleterious effects on self-image scores in cognitive, social, or physical abilities content areas. Institutionalized adolescents were no more dependent on external cues…

Conducted two-year mental health intervention with older adults in six residential care facilities. Findings showed little intervention impact but revealed that residents treated were generally socially marginal with weak ego skills, rather that significantly mentally ill. Suggests more intensive program that restructures facility's milieu to…

The study of 297 institutionalized adults with mental retardation found no symptom of Rett syndrome occurred more frequently in males than in females and no single cluster of symptoms appeared to differentiate males from females. Only females were found to meet the necessary criteria for diagnosis of Rett syndrome. (Author/DB)

The national survey of multiple facility types ascertained patterns of adjustment and interpersonal functioning associated with being older, having mental retardation, and living in an out-of-home residential setting. Noted is a tendency to transfer older persons with mental retardation from institutions into nursing homes which are often not…

The survey of hearing loss among residents (N=398) of a long-stay hospital for persons with mental handicap found 10 percent of those over 18 and 70 percent of those aged 70-79 had socially significant hearing loss. Possible reasons are offered for this higher prevalence in the mentally handicapped population and for poor utilization of hearing…

Examination of case records of 731 residents (age 40 and over) in British hospitals for persons with mental handicap found that 55 males and 62 females had sustained 1 or more fractures. The resident's age, physical and mental states, causes of fractures, and bones involved were studied, as were additional diseases, disorders, or drugs associated…

Of 806 institutionalized adults with mental retardation, 15.5 percent exhibited pica. Fifty-four percent of the pica group had serum zinc levels below normal range, whereas 7 percent of a control group had serum zinc levels below the normal range. After supplementation with chelated zinc, residents had significant reductions in pica. (Author/JDD)

Compared quality of life of terminal cancer patients (n=182) in two palliative care units with that of those in general hospital. Patients in specialized palliative care units were found to differ from those dying in hospital, showing less indirectly expressed anger but more positive feelings. They also reported more anxiety about death but less…