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…

Analysis of published studies of deaf mentally ill inpatients indicates a greater overall prevalence of mental illness in the deaf population than in the general population. Characteristic symptoms leading to hospitalization of deaf people tend to be different from those of hearing patients. For both hearing and deaf patients, dual diagnosis…

Examination of self-restraint in 99 adults with severe/profound mental retardation who exhibited self-injury found that 46% exhibited self-restraint. A higher occurrence of compulsive behaviors was found for subjects who engaged in self-injury and self-restraint. When self-restraint was prevented, subjects responded negatively. Results support a…

As in studies of self-control, a tit-for-tat contingency in an iterated prisoner's dilemma game creates a conflict between maximization of local and global reinforcement. The present experiments examine this conflict in a multiplayer prisoner's dilemma game. Versus tit for tat, cooperation corresponds to self-control; defection, always immediately…

Long term care in a nursing home prior to enrollment in PACE remain at high risk of readmission, despite the availability of comprehensive services. This study determined overall risk and predictors of long-term nursing home admission within the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Design and Methods: Data PACE records for 4,646…