Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Occupational Therapists' Interests And Attitudes Toward Animal Assisted Therapy As A Treatment Modality, Lori Susan Buckley

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One hundred seventy-nine occupational therapists (OTs) responded to a survey regarding their interests and attitudes toward animal assisted therapy as a treatment modality. It was found that most of the practitioners would be interested in learning more about animal assisted therapy and most felt it is a valid treatment modality to be used by occupational therapists. Furthermore, the most common answer to the question "why would you not be interested in participating in an AAT program," was "I feel I don't know enough about it". It was also found that therapists' most commonly selected patient goals for AAT were in …

The Relationship Between Acculturation And The Effects Of Caregiving Of The Elderly Among Cuban-Americans, Georgia De Las Pozas

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to establish the perceived caregiving effects among thirty Cuban-born individuals caring for elderly relatives and the relationship of these effects with acculturation.

Most common difficulties were lack of private time, or social life, and decreased emotional and physical health. Satisfactions were mostly derived from fostering the elders' welfare. A strong positive relationship was found between caregivers' difficulties and stability of the caregiving dyad (r= - 0.642, p< .001). Caregivers involved in more unstable caregiver-care receiver dyads had more stress associated with caregiving difficulties. The acculturation factors of language, electronic media, and social relations, and the stability of the caregiving dyad accounted for 54 percent of the variation in caregivers' difficulties (p< .001) but only 21 percent of the variation of caregivers' satisfaction (p<.221).

These findings provided preliminary data of caregiving characteristics among Cuban-Americans and the importance of including acculturation in studies involving minorities.

The Effects Of Participation In An Arthritis Foundation Sponsored Aquacize Program On Health Status, Rose Ann Ruggiero Curboy

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study assessed the effects of participation in an Arthritis Foundation sponsored water exercise program on self-reported functioning and health status. Nine older community living women with various forms of arthritis took part in this pre to post-test design study, along with a comparison group of eleven older women also regularly engaged in differing forms of exercise. Both groups completed a standardized questionnaire, the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2, twice over an eight week period. Twelve scales and additional questions measured physical, social, and psychological aspects of daily functioning. Aquacize participants reported significant improvements in the Physical Component area …

Age-Related Differences In Self-Reported Health And Functional Abilities In The Elderly, Cynthia Garner Condon

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare age-related differences in self-reported health and self-reported functional abilities from 1971 individuals surveyed in the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Survey of Elders 60 years and Older in Dade County. The responses were divided into four age groups: (a) 60 to 64 years, (b) 65 to 74 years, (c) 75 to 84 years, and (d) 85 years and older and results compared.

The study found that self-reported health ratings were significantly different across the four age groups and exhibited a gradual decrease in favorable health ratings with age. For all ages, at least 60% …