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Theses/Dissertations

Older adults

Discipline
Institution
Publication Year
Publication

Articles 31 - 39 of 39

Full-Text Articles in Social Work

Older Adults And The Long-Term Care Crisis: Increasing Capacity For Commuty Independence Through Social Workers And Supportive Caregivers, Emily Kay Snyder May 2014

Older Adults And The Long-Term Care Crisis: Increasing Capacity For Commuty Independence Through Social Workers And Supportive Caregivers, Emily Kay Snyder

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The present study explores how social workers can collaborate with older adults and their family caregivers in transitional care facilities to increase older adults’ ability to live independently in the community versus receive institutionalized care. The data was gathered through five interview sessions with licensed social workers in transitional care units serving geriatric populations. Findings suggest that involved family caregivers who demonstrate knowledge of an older adult’s medical condition play an integral role in the older adult’s treatment plan and continued success in the community by facilitating communication with the treatment team and providing necessary supportive cares in the community. …


Older Adults In Long-Term Care: Fostering Hope Amidst Loss, Sarah J. Olsen May 2013

Older Adults In Long-Term Care: Fostering Hope Amidst Loss, Sarah J. Olsen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There are an increasing number of older adults who are facing major life transitions and significant losses as they age. Finding a sense of hope among the losses and changes these older adults face is one way they can maintain a quality of life or as some researchers have termed it – successfully age. Social workers are often the front line workers with these older adults and therefore can play an integral role in fostering a sense of hope. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand social workers’ perspectives on their role in fostering a sense of hope …


Motivations, Skills And Rewards: Social Workers’ Perspectives On Practice With Older Adults, Rachel L. Gilmore Apr 2013

Motivations, Skills And Rewards: Social Workers’ Perspectives On Practice With Older Adults, Rachel L. Gilmore

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study explored social workers’ views about their motivations, skills and rewards in work with older adults and how to increase social workers’ interest in working with older adults. Seven masters level social workers who work with older adults and are members of an association of social workers who work with older adults in the community, participated in interviews about their practice. The participants emphasized the importance of empathy, listening and having knowledge about community resources as essential to competent work with older adults. The participants shared stories about how they developed an interest in working with older adults that …


Snap Use Among Older Adults, Jennifer R. Geiger Jan 2013

Snap Use Among Older Adults, Jennifer R. Geiger

LSU Master's Theses

Older adults participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at much lower rates than the general population. Possible explanations for this disparity include stigma, lack of information, and lack of transportation. However, past research focusing on SNAP use among older adults is limited and utilizes age cohorts in their analyses that may not accurately reflect actual age differences in SNAP participation. This study explored four different models of age categorizations as they relate to SNAP participation rates among older adults over 55. Using a sample of 10,116 from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the research used …


A Perspective Of Aging From The Prose Of Age Specific Birthday Cards, Lori Halbur May 2012

A Perspective Of Aging From The Prose Of Age Specific Birthday Cards, Lori Halbur

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

With a growing number of older people in the United States, it is important for social workers to acknowledge that ageism exists in our society and continue to research, study and understand the influences that contribute to it. Media outlets are one source that has been found to have an influence on people’s perceptions about older adults. A qualitative study was carried out to determine if the messages in age specific greeting cards that are produced specifically for individuals age 60 and older portray more positive or negative perceptions about aging or older individuals. The non-probability, convenience sample for this …


Nursing Home Caregivers' Attitudes Regarding Sexual Behavior Of Nursing Home Residents: A Cross Sectional Survey, Teresa Madsen May 2012

Nursing Home Caregivers' Attitudes Regarding Sexual Behavior Of Nursing Home Residents: A Cross Sectional Survey, Teresa Madsen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Sexual needs do not disappear as a person ages. It is possible for older adults to maintain their desired level of sexual activity if the environment is accepting and accommodating for the adults’ needs. Those who are institutionalized in nursing homes often have fewer opportunities to meet their needs than those who are not. The purpose of this project was to explore nursing home caregivers’ attitudes toward sexual behavior in their residents and thus assist in identifying areas for further education and educational programming that will allow residents to lead full and happy lives and meet the needs of the …


Social Workers’ Ideas On Health Promotion Among Older Adults, Kaylee Olson Apr 2012

Social Workers’ Ideas On Health Promotion Among Older Adults, Kaylee Olson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore the role and experience of social workers who provide services to older adults in the community. With the unprecedented demographic shift and multitude of challenges, problems and barriers traditionally associated with aging, a paradigm shift from a problem-based focus to one that emphasizes health promotion is gaining visibility. This shift in focus is relevant for social workers who work with older adults in a variety of social service settings. Eight licensed social workers working in community-based agencies were interviewed to include social workers' voices with a focus on how they utilize the …


The Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Social Support, And Acculturation On The Mental And Physical Health Among Korean American Older Adults In Chicago Metropolitan Area, Shinyeol Kim Jan 2002

The Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Social Support, And Acculturation On The Mental And Physical Health Among Korean American Older Adults In Chicago Metropolitan Area, Shinyeol Kim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the way that Socioeconomic status (SES), social support, and acculturation may influence physical and mental health status of Korean American older adults. It was premised that SES, social support and acculturation are directly and/or indirectly related to the mental and physical health status of Korean American older adults manifested by respective symptoms. The following two objectives were established: 1) Explore the characteristics of Korean American older adults including socioeconomic status, acculturation level, social support, and physical and mental health status. 2) Assess direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic status, acculturation level, and …


Social Support And Depressive Symptoms Of Older Adults Residing In An Age Segregated Housing Complex, Erica M. Doyen Jul 2001

Social Support And Depressive Symptoms Of Older Adults Residing In An Age Segregated Housing Complex, Erica M. Doyen

Theses and Graduate Projects

Research regarding social supports and depression has been extensive with the older adult population except for areas of mid-stzed communities ranging between 25,000 to 75,000. This was an exploratory, cross-sectional study examining the social supports and depressive symptoms of older adults residing in an age segregated housing complex in a Midwest city with a population under 35,000. The participants (N:8), were residents of an age segregated public housing complex. Through the completion of a scheduled stzurdardized interview, the participants answered forty-two questions from the Duke Social Support Index and the Geriatric Depression Scale. The questions were based on current mood …