published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand, describe, and make meaning of the experiences of early childhood educators of young foster care students. The researcher examined the experiences of teachers regarding the attachment behaviors of their foster care students. This study also sought to explore how early childhood teachers implement their curriculum and how they design their classroom environment to meet the needs of young foster care children. Data collection and analysis included 20 questionnaires and 20 face-to-face semistructured interviews. Data analysis consisted of a three step process. The first step began by reading interviews through a holistic approach. During this step, the researcher read the entire transcript as a whole before digging deeper. The second step in coding was a selective reading. In this step, the researcher read through each transcript by finding key words and/or phrases. The third step in the coding process was a detailed reading. The researcher read the text word-by-word. This step aided the researcher in finding those words that captured the phenomenon of the teachers. The researcher found three major overarching themes: social and emotional behaviors, triad relationship, and classroom accommodations. This study revealed three main themes: attachment-related behaviors of social and emotional development, teacher relationship strategies with student and caregiver, and classroom curricular and environmental adjustments. Within all three of these themes was an underlying theme of a teacher-as-mother perceived attachment from the teachers. The teacher-as-mother perceived attachment was embedded in the experiences of the teachers. It is recommended that this main theme be explored in future research. The experiences of the teachers were completely based on their experiences in this study. The way they intervened on behalf of their foster care students did not appear to relate to any professional development or training; it was entirely based on their experiences. It is recommended that the arena of early childhood would benefit immensely with a course, training, or professional development in learning about the foster care system and dealing with young children in foster care. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This study examined the effects of a group treatment of Self-Instructional Training (S.I.T.) with an institutionalized aged (65 or over) population. The purpose of the S.I.T. program was to increase the positive content of speech elicited in a structured social interaction. S.I.T., as developed for this study, followed Meichenbaum's three phase model. First was the educational phase, where the rationale and introduction were presented. Second was the rehearsal phase where therapeutic techniques were developed and modeled. Third was the application phase where newly acquired skills were practiced. Four groups (total N = 51) were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the no-treatment control group at each of two residential care facilities. The S.I.T. program emphasized substitution of negative self-statements with positive self-statements aimed at developing a more successful repertoire of social interaction skills. Results were analyzed by comparing tabulated positive minus negative self-statements elicited during tape recorded standard interviews. Statistical analysis showed significantly more positive response sets for the experimental subjects on four of the ten hypotheses that reflected the ten standard interview questions. The analysis of the combined responses from the entire interview showed significant differences favorinq a positive response pattern for the experimental subjects. These findings were interpreted to demonstrate the effectiveness of S.I.T. for increasing positive speech content in an institutionalized aged population. A case was made for increased use of S.I.T. programs as a therapeutic means of ameliorating a range of problems faced by the aged. / Graduation date: 1983

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Open University. / A book by the author, "Talking about care", based on her thesis, is also available.

Background Population ageing is a major public health concern globally as older people with disabilities or suffering from chronic diseases are expected to live longer. The demographic shift in Hong Kong is particularly pronounced and increasing resources on elderly healthcare will add substantially to the government’s financial burden. Research has shown the importance of better understanding the healthcare challenges posed by an ageing population in order to promote informed choice, align policy with need, and deliver effective, efficient and sustainable health services. Objectives This dissertation explores the circumstances and factors that influence a household’s decision to place an elderly person in a care home. It considers the decision-making process in the contexts of the interactions and negotiations that take place within and between household members; a key objective is to examine the extent to which the elderly are themselves participants in this decision-making process. Description of the sample The researcher interviewed a total of nine Hong Kong Chinese residents from two private nursing homes. They were between 63 and 92 years of age at the time of the interview and had been residing in a care home for an average of 2.5 years. Methods This is a qualitative research study in which primary data were gathered through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. The research focused on subjects with high-functional status. An inductive approach to thematic analysis was adopted. Results The majority of the subjects had been admitted to hospital as a result of an acute health incident. They were subsequently transferred to the care home directly from the hospital. The subjects drew a direct link between the health incident and their placement in the care home. It became apparent in the course of the interviews, however, that other contextual factors had played an important role in the decision-making process, determining how the subjects themselves retrospectively rationalized their relocations. Over the course of data analysis, family relations, assumed gender roles, perceptions of self-identity, and practical constraints were identified as themes that impacted upon the decision-making process in relation to placement decision within a household setting. The findings suggested the degree to which the broader context of the subjects’ past life experiences permeated the decision-making process. It also underscored the importance of the roles and responsibilities assumed by the elderly. Conclusion By examining how the elderly themselves discuss their experiences and justify their choices, the study sheds light on the cultural assumptions, conventions and traditions that shape how subjects perceive norms of behaviour, expectations and responsibilities. Future studies might extend the scope of research further to incorporate the views of household members, who are also potential caregivers. Given that the subjects were admitted to care homes after an acute health episode, which resulted in hospitalization, it would also be worth exploring alternative options in relation to the discharge arrangements for elderly persons. This study would also benefit from further research into the comprehensive long-term care system in Hong Kong, including the provision of services, long-term housing, healthcare choices, and the financing of long-term care. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Set within the context that the world’s population is ageing at an unprecedented rate, it is argued that care of the elderly, and their everyday lived experiences are poised to become prominent concerns. In the shadow of this, the ageing population poses a myriad of challenges not only for the elderly but also for policy makers who put in place systems for the provision of services within residential care homes. By virtue, given that communities of elderly consumers voices are often muted within many academic analyses of social policy and service provision this study illuminates and distils communities of elderly consumers understandings of residential care homes. Given the absence of suitable literature within the fields of marketing and interpretive consumer research, this study turns to the sociological and anthropological literature of Hall and Jefferson (1976) and Levi-Strauss (1966). In doing so, communities of elderly consumers within residential care homes can be theorised as a cultural community of ‘bricoleurs’ within a ‘cultural map of meaning’. Furthermore, viewed through this lens, such bricoleurs can be seen to understand their meaningful everyday lived experiences within, and through, the use of ‘bricolage’. Emanating from eight existential-phenomenological interviews, a rich picture emerges wherein bricoleurs understandings of residential care homes can be seen to be embedded not only within, but also through, such things as the body, leisure trips, noise disturbances, death, large items of furniture, small hand-sized objects, mobility aids, quality of care and social interaction. Moreover, in the light of the resultant interpretations common themes can be seen to emerge within communities of bricoleurs social and material understandings of residential care homes, namely the notion of cultures of dependency, trauma and comfort. This research contributes to marketing knowledge in that it argues that communities of ‘elderly bricoleurs’ within residential care homes can be seen to be held together by unique understandings of cultures of dependency, trauma and comfort. Furthermore, it is also argued that elderly bricoleurs address themselves to a relatively limited amount of bricolage that enables them to keep alive actual, desired, imagined and fictional community ties. Furthermore, the reality and efficacy of cultural communities of elderly bricoleurs seems to depend on their ability to address ‘whatever is to hand’ (Levi-Strauss, 1966) in order to construct and understand their cultural maps of meaning within residential care homes.

No description available.

This study investigated the effects of an intervention designed to reduce the wandering of an 80 year old female resident of a long term care facility. A behavioral analysis of natural contingencies which maintained behaviors incompatible with wandering was conducted and the data from this analysis used to develop an intervention. The intervention simulated a dining room table and coffee break which naturally maintained sitting. An ABAC design revealed that this intervention was functionally related to a reduction in the proportion of a twenty minute interval spent wandering. The discussion focuses on possible causes of wandering and future directions for establishing a behavioral technology to control wandering.

The purpose of this manual is to provide information for caregivers to enhance the understanding of the confused, institutionalized geriatric resident, and to identify, describe, and develop skill areas for implementing an effective plan of caregiver/resident interaction.The intended learner population for use of the manual is the institutional caregiver providing direct, daily care for the older facility resident. The manual is designed for either individual or small group training.ContentThe training manual is divided into five instructional units. Unit 1, "A Profile of the Confused, Geriatric Resident," provides a sketch of the physical and emotional considerations so much a part of the institutionalized geriatric population. Unit 2, "The Role of Attitudes in Caregiving for the Institutionalized Elderly," explores how attitudes toward the elderly resident are developed, and explains the use of stereotyping in the development of attitudes and through the care provided by the worker.The third unit, "Abandoning Old Roles, Assuming New Roles," focuses upon the various social roles forfeited or lost as a consequence of institutionalization of the older adult. In addition, functional and dysfunctional roles often assumed by the long-term care resident are presented as well. The final narrative unit, "Communication: Its Role and Practice in the Long-term Care Facility," outlines the function of communication skills in the resident/caregiver interaction and discusses ways of developing various communication techniques to support the therapeutic role of the institutional caregiver.The closing unit provides professional growth references for institutional caregivers. Materials include annotated bibliographical references, simulation and gaming materials, films, and videotapes.Design and ApplicationAs mentioned, the material in the manual is designed for either group or individual use. Each learner unit is prefaced with intended learner objectives. The various manual units conclude with unit material summaries and unit glossary. In addition, each narrative unit contains exercises or discussion guides to further promote and reinforce intended objectives for individual units.Those learners desiring additional resources for growth and development may utilize the annotated bibliographic and information unit, arranged by unit topics, to further individual pursuits.

This thesis draws together a series of publications that were based on research studies conducted between 1981 and 2011, covering care homes and alternative forms of housing with care. The majority of the studies were funded by the Department of Health or its predecessors, and were aimed at responding to policy issues, particularly for local authority grant funding. However, the funding provided the opportunity to collect information for broader purposes, and a central feature linking the studies was the collection, as far as possible, of consistent information about the characteristics of residents over time. The thesis includes 12 pieces of work, based on information collected in ten studies, and illustrates the changes in care home provision from 1981 onwards, and the potential role of alternative forms of housing with care. The aim of the thesis is to explore the following themes: the changing role of care homes and the development of the independent sector, particularly the private sector; factors associated with care home costs; changes in the relative role of residential and nursing homes, including changes in the characteristics of residents over time; changes in the quality of provision; the impact of care home closures; provision for self-funders and the expectations of residents; and the development of alternative forms of housing with care, and the degree to which specialised housing can provide an alternative to residential care. Care homes in the UK provide around 470,000 places and account for over half the expenditure on social care for older people in England. However, information about care facilities and residents is very limited. The papers presented here aimed to fill some of the gaps in understanding residential care and possible alternatives by making use of data collected in a unique series of related research studies conducted over a period of 30 years.