Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes special study report entitled: Art and garden in health care design. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 84-96.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes special study report entitled : Art and garden in health care design. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

The basic theoretical basis: According to demographic development the average and maximum lifespan prolongs. Therefore global population spends a bigger part of adulthood in their old age. This phenomenon is irreversible and brings significant changes into global geriatric nursing and we need to take note of the care that is provided to old patients. The seniors form an irreplaceable and a more and more considerable part of population, they create a varied group with individual needs, priorities and demands in sickness as in health. It is the very polymorbidity of senior patients which is often the reason for a long-term hospitalization. Nowadays, for these purposes more and more beds are built in long-term care facilities (LTCF) which are officially defined as specialized medical institutions which provide care to patients whose health states cannot be substantially improved by any medical treatment as they worsen without a continuous care. The life quality of seniors and the quality of the provided care in these facilities are the main long-term care level indicators. The goals of the thesis: 1) Ascertain the life quality of seniors hospitalized in long-term care institutions. The research questions: 1) How does the hospitalization of seniors in LTCF influence their subjectively perceived quality of life? 2) In which areas do seniors hospitalized in LTCF feel the difference of life quality in LTCF and at home? 3) How are the patients in LTCF satisfied with the quality of health care? 4) Within the rise of seniors' life quality in LTCF, in which areas should the nurse improve the provided care? Methods employed: For the empirical part of the thesis the qualitative analysis of gathered data method was used. The data accumulation was implemented by semi-structured interviews with clients-patients hospitalized in LTCF. The instructions for the interviews were adopted from a QOL Research Unit life quality model of the university in Toronto. This model emphasizes the individual's relations towards the surroundings and the possibilities of maintaining and improving skills. It is divided into 3 categories - existence, togetherness and adaptability. Interview transcriptions create a part of the thesis on an enclosed CD. For illustrative purposes, the results of the research were transformed into mind maps using the XMind software. There are also annotations with respondents' quotations concerning individual map as a part of the thesis. The results: The analysis of in-depth interview gathered information brought several factors which are highly subjective and have a logical level of individuality. The results concerning the research of the seniors' life quality dimensions are more or less in agreement with the basic division found in professional literature. However, they bring a further view on these dimensions and introduce subjective opinions, wishes and evaluation of seniors who found themselves in unknown environment of LTCF. The positive influence of nurses, which often impact the satisfaction of seniors in a medical institution, proved its importance. However, it was the area of communication skills of medical staff which was mentioned as lacking or insufficient. Also the fields of free time activities, seniors' adaptation in LTCF and social isolation were found to be neglected. Conclusion: The long-term care becomes, thanks to demographic development, the most rapidly evolving kind of health care. The emphasis on life quality of hospitalized seniors, as their biggest consumers, should be a matter of course for every medical and social facility. The contribution of the thesis is in detailed mapping of the issue of life quality in LTCF, warning against lack in health care and the neglected fields of life quality.

No description available.

This study examined the influence of three predictor variables on perceptions of assisted living: psychological well-being, functional status, and coping strategies. A multiple regression analysis was used to examine the influence of these factors on perceptions of the transition to assisted living.

Little is known regarding registered nurse (RN) information management practice in long-term care (LTC) settings. This study identifies LTC RNs’ information management practice and needs, which are important for designing and implementing health information technology (HIT) in LTC settings. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study combines direct observations and semi-structured interviews, conducted at Alberta’s LTC facilities between May 2014 and August 2015. The constant comparative method of joint coding was used for data analysis. Results: Nine RNs from six nursing homes participated in the study. Based on the RNs’ existing information management system requirements, a graphic information flow model was constructed. Conclusion: This baseline study identified key components of LTC RNs’ information management system. The information flow model may assist HIT developers with future design and development of HIT solutions for LTCs, serve as a communication tool between RNs and developers to refine requirements and support further LTC HIT research. / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The problem of this study is to compare prior health care experience with satisfactory adjustment in a long-term care facility. Both quantity and quality of prior experience in a health care facility are examined in terms of the significance to successful relocation. Demographic data and perceived control of health are examined in relation to significance of the findings.

The purpose of this study was to assess the level of privacy among the elderly living in long-term nursing and communal facilities. The data was collected through a probability sampling at the Veterans Home of California in Barstow.