Examined 269 functionally impaired elderly persons residing on 53 Israeli kibbutzim and their primary caregivers regarding long-term care planning. The rate of institutional risk was found to be no greater between those who were cared for primarily through formal or informal means. Lack of informal caregivers emerged as an important factor for…

The study of effects of haloperidol drug therapy with 20 institutionalized mentally retarded persons found clinical changes confined to a slight reduction in stereotypic behavior and an increase in gross motor activity under the high dose condition. Subjects with high initial levels of stereotypy showed the best response to the drug. (Author/DB)

Studied prior planning for and problems associated with evacuation of 1,860 nursing home patients in Pinellas County, Florida, due to Hurricane Elena in 1985 through questionnaires administered to nursing home administrators and public documents. Found most serious problems to be transporting patients to shelters in timely fashion, delayed passage…

Psychotropic drug use in a large Massachusetts public facility for mentally retarded adults was reduced to and maintained at approximately 20 percent over an eight-year period during which a monitoring and evaluation procedure (including interdisciplinary team review, identification of target behaviors, and concurrent alternative forms of…

Two responses to Hollander (EC 220 057) and the author's counter-response note similarities between "mercy killing" of people with mental retardation and deliberate abortion of the unborn, misuse of the history of eugenics, and a defense of the author's historical scholarship. (DB)

Individuals (n=199) with mental retardation referred for behavioral and psychiatric crisis intervention services were studied to determine attributes differentiating physically aggressive behavior from other behavioral problems. Aggression was predicted by gender, level of mental retardation, and history of previous institutional placement; the…

Examination of 1,273 individuals with mental retardation in a Virginia residential institution revealed that 15.55% also had psychiatric disorders. Males had a higher prevalence than females; individuals with mild retardation had higher rates than those with other levels of retardation. Prevalence rates are provided for specific disorders by level…

Examined drug use patterns among incarcerated African-American juvenile delinquents (n=248). Found that 90 percent of participants had used some illicit mood altering substance, between 30 percent and 46 percent reported daily use, and average age at initial use was approximately 12 years. Alcohol use tended to precede by about five months use of…

Assessed impact of relocation on health and well-being of 196 nursing home residents who relocated to new facility. Relocated residents participated in program to enhance sense of control and predictability over move. Analyses of medical records, nurses' ratings, and interviews strongly suggest that move had no negative effect on residents as…

Describes political and social action group of cognitively intact nursing home residents, organized in response to residents' desire to work on social issues and coordinated by recreational therapist who expected participation to maximize residents' autonomy and sense of control. Benefits mentioned by participants included opportunity to…

Nursing home social workers (n=152) and administrators (n=231) rated relative importance of resident and family psychosocial needs and frequency of function performed or expected to be performed by social workers. Both groups rated as very important needs of support during transition to nursing home, help in dealing with loss, and help with…

Analysis of data for 3,266 individuals from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey found that residents of state institutions were more severely retarded and more often multiple disabled than were residents of other types of residential facilities. Relatively more persons with severe impairments resided in state facilities in states where…

Examined effect of locked behavioral/cognitive treatment setting on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Jesness Inventory scores of conduct disordered adolescent inpatients. Pre- and posttest scores for 30 male and 20 female patients showed statistically significant changes on both inventories. Males responded to treatment more…

The investigation of mortality rates of institutionalized persons with mental retardation over two time periods (1974-79 and 1980-85) found a significant improvement in mortality between the two time periods. Causes of death were related to severity of retardation. Consistent differences by race or gender were not indicated. (Author/DB)

An instrument measuring ratings of sources of job stress and satisfaction resulting from characteristics of residents and work conditions was completed by 136 direct-care staff members in 4 regional state mental retardation facilities. Differences by facility were noted. The instrument offers some unique information appropriate for studies of job…