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Community Health and Preventive Medicine

Health and Wellness

Developmental disability

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Direct Service Staff Turnover In Supported Living Arrangements: Preliminary Results And Observations, Steve Seninger Ph.D., Meg A. Traci Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute Jul 2002

Direct Service Staff Turnover In Supported Living Arrangements: Preliminary Results And Observations, Steve Seninger Ph.D., Meg A. Traci Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

High turnover rates mean that community providers of services to individuals with developmental disabilities may be replacing almost their entire direct service workforces each year. This instability imposes significant costs on each provider for recruiting, screening, and training replacement workers. It also adversely affects the quality of care provided to individuals served by community providers. Although the relationship requires further study, caregiver continuity appears to be an important factor in the health of an individual with developmental disabilities. The following observations are based on completed Corporation Questionnaires from seven Montana developmental disabilities service providers.


Nutrition And Disability, Kathleen Humphries, Meg Traci, Tom Seekins Ph.D., Joyce Brusin, University Of Montana Rural Institute Mar 2002

Nutrition And Disability, Kathleen Humphries, Meg Traci, Tom Seekins Ph.D., Joyce Brusin, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

A disability often can be complicated by additional medical, psychological, or environmental problems. Under an emerging framework of health promotion for persons with disabilities, these additional health problems are referred to as secondary conditions (Brandt & Pope, 1997; Marge, 1988; Pope & Tarlov, 1991). Until recently, it was common to conceptualize these ailments as symptomatic of the primary disability; however, it is now presumed that because these conditions can be prevented or managed, they are secondary conditions distinct from the primary disability. Although information on secondary conditions experienced by people with developmental disabilities is limited, the literature does contain descriptions …


Health Status Of Adult Montanans In Supported And Semi-Independent Living Arrangements, Meg A. Traci Ph.D., Sarah Geurts B.S., Tom Seekins Ph.D., Rebecca Burke M.S., Kathleen Humphries, Lisa Brennan M.L.S., University Of Montana Rural Institute Jun 2001

Health Status Of Adult Montanans In Supported And Semi-Independent Living Arrangements, Meg A. Traci Ph.D., Sarah Geurts B.S., Tom Seekins Ph.D., Rebecca Burke M.S., Kathleen Humphries, Lisa Brennan M.L.S., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

This study reports on the prevalence and severity of secondary conditions in adults with developmental disabilities living in 33 Montana counties. "Secondary conditions" are additional health problems acquired by an individual with a disability. Although the personal, social, and financial costs of these secondary conditions are extraordinarily high, they are frequently preventable. Ten of the top twelve secondary conditions reported by survey respondents involved issues that can be addressed by wellness activities or lifestyle management. In particular, survey ratings of “Communication,” “Weight,” and “Physical Fitness” problems suggest that these areas may contribute to other problems. Efforts to improve communication skills, …


Turnover Of Personal Assistants And The Incidence Of Injury Among Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Meg A. Traci Ph.D., Ann Szalda-Petree Ph.D., Steve Seninger Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute May 1999

Turnover Of Personal Assistants And The Incidence Of Injury Among Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Meg A. Traci Ph.D., Ann Szalda-Petree Ph.D., Steve Seninger Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Relatively little is known about the incidence and prevalence of injuries and other secondary conditions experienced by adults with developmental disabilities. Understanding the risk factors for secondary conditions and strategies for their prevention is important to people with disabilities, rehabilitation providers, and public health agencies. Many secondary condition prevention strategies require direct involvement of the individual with a disability. However, the nature of some disabling conditions requires help from an intermediary facilitator, frequently known as a “Personal Care Attendant” (PCA) or a “Personal Assistant” (PA).


Health And Wellness Among Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Ann Szalda-Petree Ph.D., Meg A. Traci Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute Oct 1998

Health And Wellness Among Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Ann Szalda-Petree Ph.D., Meg A. Traci Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

In 1988, the National Council on Disability published Toward Independence, which identified the prevention of secondary conditions and health promotion for people with disabilities as a major national goal. During the last ten years this goal has grown in importance, with U.S. service corporations and agencies, researchers, policy makers, and even private industry acknowledging its wisdow. An entire section of Healthy People 2010, the nation’s blueprint for promoting the health of the entire population, addresses disability and health. Previous editions in the series contained no explicit sections on disability. Now, disability has its own section, with 12 specific objectives and …