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Senior Outlook On Death And Dying: A Comparative Study Of Older Volunteers Serving Older Clients Versus Older Volunteers Serving Younger Clients, Charles O. Udstuen

Student Work

This thesis examines the attitudes toward death and dying held by volunteers in the Senior Companion Program as compared with those in the Foster Grandparent Program. These programs represent two distinct environments, since volunteers in the former program interact only with other senior citizens while those in the latter program interact with children. In recent years volunteerism has been studied extensively relative to the positive effects that volunteer activities have on those performing them. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of the particular surroundings in which the volunteers operate. The comparison of two groups of volunteers …

Being Alone: The Experience Of Elderly Homebound Females, Sharon Davis Burt Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Elderly women comprise one of the fastest growing segments of the population in the United States. This growth is due in large part to increasing longevity, and a woman's life expectancy has now reached 79 years. However, along with those added years comes an increase in morbidity and a greater likelihood of living alone. This study describes the life experience of a specific group of elderly women, those who are homebound and living alone. When elderly women are included in research, the same combination of descriptors used for the participants in this study has not been incorporated. Consequently, while much …

A Theoretical Perspective Of Factors That Relate To The Functional Independence Of Mature Adults, Richard N. Ashden Edd,Dc

Dissertations

Limitations of policy makers and health care providers understanding about living conditions in later adulthood continually constrains mature adults from doing more for themselves, and society. These circumstances move society to devalue mature adults. Less valued mature adults tend to become even more dependent, that is, increasingly less willing to care for themselves, and less able to contribute to the social good. As a result, a vicious cycle was created, and it caused mature adults to live lower quality lives, and become increasingly dependent on others. To empower mature adults in later life, this study does the preliminary work to …

Depression Or Suicide In The Elderly: A Guide For Caregivers, Betty Lou Browning

Theses

This project examines elements of depression and suicide in the elderly. An emphasis on accurate assessment for depression and potential suicide is an integral part of the project's focus. An overall theme evident in all references is how hopeless the elderly feel prior to thoughts, plans and actions to end their lives. Depression shows through signs of helplessness, passivity, detachment, physical debilitation, and despair. Biological, sociological, psychosocial and psychological factors associated with aging are discussed. The specific topics and teaching modules provide guidance with the hope that caregivers will begin to understand the devastating desperation that precedes elderly suicide attempts …

Awareness And Usage Of Alternative Medicine In The Elderly Black Population, Deborah Martin Burks

Theses

Alternative medicine covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches and therapies. When these therapies are used alone they are referred to as ' alternative'. When they are used with conventional therapies or other alternative therapies then they are referred to as complimentary.

Alternative medicine also embraces health beliefs and practices that fall outside of orthodox medicine. They offer the opportunity for an individual or case manager to explore alternative forms of healing when conventional treatment alone is not effective. Research has shown an increased interest in alternative medicine for the treatment of chronic illness.

The overall goal of this …

Health Care For The Elderly: A Hermeneutic Study Of The Role Of Culture And Tradition, H Lewis Long

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis