Psychiatric hospital developed empirically conceived group reminiscence program to evoke use of communication skills by geriatric residents. Goals were to tap into memories of period before patients' onset of dysfunctional mental illness and to prompt positive feelings during guided discussions, thereby allowing for more frequent, appropriate…

The study found that, in a representative sample of large-city newspapers, three issues were most frequently featured in coverage of persons with disabilities. They were: (1) budget, expenditures, or taxes, (2) housing or normalization, and (3) treatment in institutions. (Author/DB)

Presents some sociohistorical concepts about suicide as framework for considering contemporary attitudes among elderly. Includes verbatim report of group therapy session in long-term care facility in which residents openly discuss their feelings about suicide of fellow resident a day earlier. Illustrates importance of emotional outlet, such as…

Discusses the Swedish experience in which the official old-age care policy has been to substitute home care for institutional care. Found some substitution of the two forms of long-term care which took place from 1965-75, but thereafter the use of long-term care institutions and home care remained stable or contracted. (Author/ABL)

Describes Wanderer's Lounge, program developed by one nursing home to provide activities to benefit Alzheimer's victims and at the same time provide respite for more alert residents and staff on their units. The program and its benefits are discussed. (Author)

The article examines current opinions toward euthanasia of persons with mental retardation in light of the history of public and professional attitudes. It also discusses the rejection of euthanasia on moral and religious grounds, and notes the use of lifelong incarceration, based on eugenics principles, to accomplish similar ends. (DB)

Studied homeless mentally ill patients who had been released into the community. Discusses mentally ill clients' rights to self-determination versus immediate survival needs and the potential mental restoration that could be provided through commitment to a psychiatric hospital. Presents two case studies. (Author/ABL)

Evaluated special unit for care of patients with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. Results showed in the unit, in which reduced stimulation was emphasized, patient weight loss was curtailed, patient agitation was diminished, restraint use was reduced, and wandering was no longer a concern. Found family members to be satisfied with care.…

Explored environmental factors related to suicide in 463 long-term care facilities. Staff turnover, size, auspices, and per diem cost related to suicidal behavior and deaths from suicide. More suicides occurred in larger facilities and facilities with higher staff turnover. Religious or "other" facilities experienced more suicidal deaths than…

Examined effects of social support dimensions on risk institutionalization. Specific aspects of social support (having spouse or adult child caregiver) or having caregiving relationship of at least three years' duration moderated impact of one type of stress on risk of entering nursing home. Networks that included paid provider modestly offset…

A British Columbia survey of 45 intermediate care residents and 45 nurses found significant differences between residents' and staff perceptions of the importance of activities and residents' level of choice. Staff members' erroneous assumptions may result in procedures that restrict residents' choice of activities. (SK)

Used data from 441 new nursing home residents to examine physical restraint use in high and low restraint use homes. Predictors of restraint use during first month and first year were inability to transfer and combination of severe activities of daily living impairment and cognitive impairment. Other predictors: wandering, inability to dress,…

Finds that senior staff at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, DC, were consistently positive in their evaluation of bibliotherapy as a modality. Discusses the kinds of patients that benefit the most and the least from bibliotherapy. (RS)

Presents case of 29-year-old white male veteran, whose case illustrates need for coordination of inpatient and outpatient services for chronically suicidal patients to reduce risk during transition. Includes comments on case from Phillip Kleespies, Sarah Marshall, Teri Pokrajac, and Richard Amodio and from Mark Goldblatt. (NB)

This study found no significant difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigens or antibodies between 180 noninstitutionalized subjects (ages 1-29) with Down's syndrome and 155 subjects without Down's syndrome. This finding contrasts with previous findings with institutionalized Down's syndrome subjects. (Author/DB)