The economic and political factors maintaining the large numbers of residents with developmental disabilities in public institutions are reviewed from the perspective of Minnesota. Alternatives are presented to lessen the economical and political impact of institutional closures, in order to advance the process of deinstitutionalization.…

Describes a peer counseling program in a 300-bed long-term care facility which uses training materials specifically developed for older people. Shows how the peer counseling program functions and provides anecdotal comments from both participants and a staff member, along with an outline of the training components. (Author/ABL)

The study compared adapted leisure materials to standard leisure materials typically available in an institutional setting and evaluated their effects on profoundly retarded clients' (N=8) engagement, aberrant behaviors, staff interactions with clients, and client smiles. Among findings were higher staff interactions when standard leisure…

This commentary refutes use of segregation and institutionalization as a legitimate lifestyle strategy for individuals with mental retardation. It contends that advocates of this strategy have never justified its use with valid research and calls for integration that is carefully parsed into its various expressions, the highest form being valued…

Overaccommodation in communication with elders is frequently based on stereotyped expectations of frailty and dependence. In this study, volunteers read either a patronizing or neutral version of a conversation between a nursing home resident and a nurse. The main analyses indicated that negative nonverbal behaviors were rated more likely to occur…

An intervention in Australia to improve the nutrition of 69 underweight, institutionalized persons (mean age 27) with multiple disabilities including severe intellectual disability involved an enriched diet for a year with increased energy density. Results included increased weight, improved vitamin and mineral levels, and fewer infections.…

Reviews methods of treatment used with sex offenders, each based on the erroneous belief that sex offenders constitute a relatively homogeneous taxonomic class. Asserts that sex offenders are people with a sad personal history, in which their deviant sexual behavior represents an effort to banish the pain they experienced during their developing…

Examined relationship between parental attachment and eating disorder symptoms for 68 inpatient women with eating disorders and for 162 college women. College women described themselves as more securely attached to parents and reported lower levels of weight and dieting preoccupation, bulimic behavior, and feelings of ineffectiveness. (Author/NB)

Investigated self-reported psychosocial adjustment of young adults who received inpatient treatment for severe closed head injuries and were later discharged into the community. Findings from 47 former rehabilitation center patients revealed that 55 percent of subjects seemed to be mildly to severely depressed, based on self-reports. Participants'…

Studied newly admitted cohort (n=454) to eight nursing homes over first year of residence. Gathered data at admission, two months, and one year. Examined charts for preadmission and postdischarge information. At admission, 80 percent had mental illnesses. Found significant associations of mental morbidity, restraints, and psychotropic medication…

The validity of the subscales of the Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior in an institutional population was examined by correlating these scores with the Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, and programmatic measures. Results support previous research on Reiss total score validity, though…

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…