Gerontology Commons^™

The Spiritual Dimension Of Aging And Forgiveness, Darlene Faye Olson

Master of Arts Theses

No abstract provided.

Can Social Workers Recognize Depression In The Elderly?, Teresa Ramon, Monica Maria Wettengel

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to explore whether social workers can recognize depression in the elderly. The elderly who are experiencing depression usually do not seek treatment from mental health professionals. Instead they go to primary care personnel in medical settings. Yet, social workers are employed in medical settings and are part of the primary care personnel. But, often the medical and/or mental health communities' lack of recognition of late life depression results from the attitude that old age is innately a downward spiral into limitations, weakness, helplessness, and burdensome existence.

Evaluation Of Verbal Behavior In Older Adults, Amy Gross

Dissertations

Older adults make up a large and increasing portion of the population (U.S. apply those assessments to the evaluation of verbal behavior in older adults with and without dementia. The research addressed two questions. First, in what way do verbal behavior problems differ between older adults with and without dementia? Second, does language deteriorate in a pattern compatible with Skinner's analysis of functionally independent verbal operants? Thirty-one participants were categorized into Control (n=15) and Dementia (n=16) Groups based on their score on the Dementia Rating Scale-2. Verbal behavior assessments were administered to participants on two occasions, separated by one week. …

Motivation For Paticipation In The Senior Peer Counseling Program, Stephanie Auld Kleppe

Theses Digitization Project

This study looked at the Senior Peer Counseling Program to see what motivated these seniors to volunteer. Much research has been done on voluteering and the older adult population, much of it showing the benefits of volunteering on the health and well-being of the seniors that volunteer. The San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health's Agewise program has has a Senior Peer Counseling Program in effect since 1987 and increased it through MHSA (Mental Health Services Act) funding in 2007.

The Impact Of The In Home Support Services Program Reformation On Its Recipients, Jamie Michelle Neal

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the reformation of the In Home Support Services (IHSS) program. This study is significant because the IHSS program keeps many elderly citizens out of assisted living facilities. Surveys were sent to the San Bernardino County IHSS social workers to determine how the program reformation has affected their clients.

The Relationship Of Financial Performance, Quality Indicators, And The Role Of Nurse Executives In Virginia Nursing Homes, Jeany V. Murphy

Health Services Research Dissertations

Problem statement. The dynamic nature of the healthcare industry has triggered changes in nurse executive functions. The job has expanded into entrepreneurial roles to be able to provide the most cost effective services while maintaining good quality outcomes for the residents. The new responsibility requires a different set of knowledge and competencies that is usually achieved through advanced education. It is not known whether nurse executives in long term care in Virginia possess the skills to influence both the financial and quality outcomes of the facility.

Methods. This descriptive research study examined the relationship of the nurse executives' technical, human, …

A Functional Analysis Of Elderspeak Use By Certified Nursing Assistants In Caregiving Situations, Nathaniel Joseph Lombardi

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of the current study was to assess the function of Elderspeak (i.e., a patronizing style of speech used with older adults) use by Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA's) in caregiving situations, with the intention of identifying factors or variables related to its use. This was done using a questionnaire intended to ascertain CNA's general evaluations of the likelihood and appropriateness of Elderspeak use in a variety of different contexts. The questionnaire included a total of 36 items that identified positive and negative factors pertaining to residents and caregivers. Consistent with existing models and previous research, it was hypothesized that …

Dying Today: Perspectives Of The Modern Hospice Worker, Nicholas Jay Mac Murray

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

From a sociological standpoint, death is relatively difficult to research. While some individuals may describe near-death experiences, the actual act of death cannot be fully known to the living. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the nature of death and dying in the United States today. This research examines the perspective of modern hospice workers. These individuals work near death on a regular basis and therefore have a privileged understanding of what death is like in US society today. Data consist of ten in-depth interviews with hospice/ palliative-care workers in the Midwestern United States. Respondents were …

Different Patterns Among Caregivers In Their Utilization Of Formal Services And The Influence On Caregiver Burden And Health, Jeehoon Kim

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study examined how older adults and their primary family caregivers utilized formal services; and how formal service utilizations were associated with the caregiver's burden and health status. Conceptually, the caregiver's stress/appraisal model was modified by adopting a relation between formal and informal care from health economics or policy.

The Relationship Of Race And Social Integration On The Health Status Of Older Adults In An Urban City, Thomas T. Jordan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Durkheim argues that an individual is more vulnerable to self-destruction the more s/he is detached from the collective. This dissertation will explore the relative impact of social integration on older adults who have transitioned into their new roles in the social structure in relationship to their physical (obesity) and psychological (stress) health status. Additionally, the dissertation examines how social integration varies in its impact from one racial group to another, and how such variations influence the health status of the older adults who are members of these groups.

This dissertation employs data from the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and …