Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2006. / Title from title screen. Leslie Taylor, committee chair; Elizabeth Burgess, Frank Whittington, Jaye Atkinson, committee members. Electronic text (75 p. : ill. (some col.)) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed July 30, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-66).

This study was designed to investigate influences on and content of communication between retirement housing providers and retirees who are their potential customers. This included communications: 1) prior to deciding on a retirement apartment, 2) the actual deciding process, and 3) postpurchase influences. Data gathered during the pre-decision stage indicated that the expectations of many seniors are influenced by various groups and individuals. The expectations formed are the basis for future communications with retirement communities. Second, the actual deciding process involved determining what "triggers" the seniors' decisions to begin shopping for retirement apartments. Third, the study focused on postpurchase influences which included communications with seniors who were apartment owners' or renters' regarding attitudes based on their experiences of living in retirement apartments. The research was conducted in two retirement communities, one was located in Florida and the other in Indiana. Information from the two retirement communities was compared and contrasted. The data indicate that each retirement community was unique in many ways. One important uniqueness was the values of the retirement community management organization. Seniors either found a particular retirement community attractive or unattractive based on how it fit their value systems. Seniors depend on person-to-person communication. Most tend to drawn conclusions about the retirement communities based on what they have learned about the retirement communities over a period of years. It was also learned that many seniors in the shopping process do a good amount of self-evaluation during the deciding process. Most seniors don't see clear differences between nursing homes and retirement communities which provide multiple levels of care when both are located on the same site. This makes the decision to move into a retirement apartment a more difficult one. Seniors miss many of the benefits of retirement apartment living because they wait until they are incapacitated in some way before moving into a retirement apartment. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in functional communication skills between elderly persons in nursing homes and those living independently in the community. Thirty non-institutionalized elderly subjects were given the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) screening tool. These scores were compared to WAB screening scores obtained from 20 institutionalized subjects. The difference between these scores was statistically significant. The institutionalized subjects' scores were also correlated with a Facilitators Evaluation of Communication Skills (FECS) inventory. Results showed a moderate correlation between the institutionalized subjects' WAB screening score and their FECS rating. The benefits of a screening tool for elderly populations are discussed.

The information technology that is available now has been developed for other populations, such as the general public, the business community, health care organizations, or the handicapped. However, much of it can be adapted to fit the needs, desires and capabilities of the elderly and computer technology can be much "friendlier" for the elderly in both a technological and a social sense. This study examines the elderly-computer technology interface. State-of -the-art computer input devices are evaluated and an ergonomic analysis is made about the interface. Finally, a new design concept is developed to solve the problems and complications arising from the aging process in terms of accessibility, safety, efficiency, ergonomic comfort of computer technology and to introduce a new and fairly unfamiliar technology to a population group. / Master of Science

The purpose of this randomized control trial (RCT) was to investigate the effects of a story-sharing intervention on older adults transitioning to long-term care (LTC). The specific aims were (1) to determine the effects of story sharing on the health transition outcomes of depression and well-being of adults transitioning to LTC; and (2) to determine if the sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, level of education (LOE), months living at LTC facility, choice to move, and health problem(s) that may have resulted in the move) predict depression and/or well-being. Story sharing was defined as the respectful space where one tells and listens to stories of others (Heliker, 2009) while being guided by another (the investigator). Meleis’ middlerange theory of transitions (MMRTT) (Meleis et al., 2000) was used as a guide to understand the transitioning process. A convenience sampling design was used to recruit 100 participants from 11 LTC facilities in Broward County, located in Southeast Florida. The sample included adults, age 65 years and older, who were transitioning to a LTC facility within the past two years. Participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 52), who received standard care, or to the intervention group (n = 41), who received story-sharing and standard care. The results indicated there was no significant greater improvement to suggest an Intervention and Time effect for depression and/or well-being. Overall, predictive ability of the sociodemographic variables for depression and well-being were not statistically significant. However, LOE (junior college) did account for a significant portion of unique variance for increased depression, and time, marital status, ethnicity, LOE, and choice to move did account for a significant proportion of unique variance for well-being. Months living in LTC (more months) and marital status (all but divorced) were significant for improved well-being while ethnicity (Hispanic), LOE (high school and junior college), and choice to move (no choice) were significant for reduced well-being. Similar studies using a larger sample size, including non-English speaking participants; lengthier storysharing sessions; and measuring for pain, health, and bereavement may offer additional insights to healthy transition outcomes for this population. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection