The purpose of the present investigation was to gather data on the performance of nonpatient elderly subjects on the Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test. The Comprehensive System (Exner, 1985, 1986) was used for administering, scoring, and interpreting the Rorschach because it is a research-based form with demonstrated reliability and validity and it has become the most widely used approach to the Rorschach in the past 13 years. However, the norms were based upon an adult sample, ages 18 to 64. Therefore, the present study addressed the following problems: What are the normative data for the Rorschach of a nonpatient group of elderly? How do these normative data of the elderly compare with the normative data for younger adults?Method The study used 60 men and women, ages 65 to 94, all active, nonpatient volunteers with no psychiatric history. They lived independently of any institutional supervision or care.Results Means of Rorschach variables for elderly subjects were compared with the means for a younger adult population. The elderly had significantly lower means for R, P, W, D, S, DQ+, DQ v/+, FQo, M, Ma, Mp, a (active), FC, CF, Wgt Sum C, FC'+C'F+C', FY+YF+Y, Sum Shading, (2), FD, Zd, EA, D score, ADJ D, Blends, Col-Sh B1, X+%, F+%, Pure H, ALL H Cont, DV, DR, INCOM, SUM6 SP SC, and SUM 6 SP SC.The aged subjects produced significantly higher means for the following indices: Dd, FQ-, M-, FM, C+Cn, Lambda, Z-%, S-Constell, SCZI, DEPRI, PER, and PSV.The older adults performed neither significantly higher or lower for these variables: DQo, DQv, FQ+, FQu, m, p (passive), FT+TF+T, FV+VF+V, Fr + rF, F, Zf, es, 3r+(2)/R, FABCOM, ALOG, CONTAM, AG, CONFAB, CP, and MOR.These results indicate that the elderly in this study give responses which are less embellished, complex, synthesized, and conventional and to have percepts that are of poorer quality and are more distorted than those of younger adults.The following nine percentages for the elderly group were significantly higher than for the younger adult group with whom they were compared: M - WSUM C = +1.5 to -1.5, D SCORE < 0, ADJ D SCORE < 0, Zd SCORE < -3.0, X+% < .70, F+% < .70, X-% > .15, Afr < .55, and Pure H < 2.These percentages show that the aged had no preferred problem-solving style, had more stressors than skills to cope with them, are somewhat negligent and less accurate in processing information, avoid emotion, and have less interest in the social environment. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Relatively few studies have considered how changes in health are associated with changes in cognition in aging populations. Even fewer have investigated the similarities and differences of the health-cognition link evidenced across independent longitudinal studies of aging that differ in country and birth cohort. The main objective of the current research is to evaluate aging-related cognitive change in the context of physical health conditions and to compare patterns and synthesize results across several longitudinal studies of aging. This cross-study evaluation is based on data from three longitudinal studies of aging: 1) the OCTO-Twin Study, a longitudinal investigation of same-sex twin pairs drawn from the population-based Swedish Twin Registry (N = 702; 67% female; mean age is 83.5), 2) the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a study of middle-aged and older adults in the U.S. (N = 21,364; 57% female; mean age is 65.8), and 3) the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), a study of middle-aged and older adults in the U.K. (N = 11,397; 54% female; mean age is 65.3). Data were analyzed using latent growth curve (LGC) analysis to evaluate 1) the impact of diagnosed health conditions and 2) the additive impact of comorbidity on level and rate of change in distinct cognitive outcomes. Our findings indicate that particular health conditions significantly impact initial status and rate of change in cognition, but do so differently across longitudinal studies of aging. The argument is made that the inclusion of health in our predictive models is essential as we try to parse out the effects of pathological aging vs. normative age-related change in cognition. The results of this study show the importance of replication in longitudinal research and for contrasting patterns of effects across independent studies in order to build a cumulative basis for further understanding of the dynamics among aging, health, and cognition in populations that differ in cohort, culture, and country. / Graduate

Background: With the growth in elderly populations worldwide, there is a pressing need to characterize the changes in cognition and brain function across the adult lifespan. The evolution of cognitive abilities is no longer considered to reflect a universal, cumulative process of decline. Rather, significant inter- and intra-individual differences exist in cognitive trajectories, with the maintenance of functions ultimately determined by multi-dimensional biological and psychological processes. The current study examined the relationship between intra-individual variability, cognitive plasticity, and long-term cognitive function in older adults. Methods: Data were analyzed from Project Mental Inconsistency in Normals & Dementia (MIND), a 6-year longitudinal burst design study, integrating micro-weekly assessments (reaction time (RT) tasks), with macro-annual evaluations (cognitive outcome measures). Participants included 304 community-dwelling adults, ranging in age from 64 to 92 years (M = 74.02, SD = 5.95). Hierarchical multiple regression models were developed to examine long-term cognitive function, along with multilevel modeling (HLM) techniques for the analysis of specific predictors of longitudinal rates of cognitive change. Results: Baseline intraindividual variability (ISD) emerged as a robust and highly sensitive predictor, with increased variability associated with decreased long-term cognitive performance. Complex baseline cognitive plasticity (1-Back 4-Choice RT Task) uniquely predicted subsequent cognitive function for measures of processing speed, fluid reasoning, episodic memory, and crystallized verbal ability. Multilevel models revealed chronological age to be a significant predictor across cognitive domains, while intraindividual variability selectively predicted rates of change for performance on measures of episodic memory and crystallized verbal ability. Conclusion: These findings underscore the potential utility of intraindividual variability and cognitive plasticity as dynamic predictors of longitudinal change in older adults. / Graduate

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-86). / ix, various pagination, bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (MHlthSc(OccTh))--University of South Australia, 1999

Thesis (MGeront) -- University of South Australia, 1994.

Registered nurses in residential aged care work with older people who have complex care needs. Besides providing direct care, these nurses have a wide range of responsibilities which include supervising staff and attending to the smooth running of the care facility. This grounded theory study using dimensional analysis was aimed at answering the question: How do registered nurses organise their work? Indepth interviews were conducted with 10 registered nurses who worked in a range of positions in aged care facilities. Theoretical sampling and constant comparative analysis was used to guide both ongoing data collectiona and data analysis. Categories were examined for their relationships and dimensions to arrive at a substantive grounded theory which I have named 'shifting focus'. Individual and institutional philosophies of care were core elements in the registered nurses' focus of work. There was a relationship between staffing adequacy, individual and institutional philosophies of care, and the focus of registered nurse work. These relationships created conditions where the registered nurse would focus on ensuring the delivery of individualised resident care or focus on getting through the routine of care. The relationship between staffing adequacy, philosophies of care and the registered nurses' focus of work remained consistent when staffing adequacy changed. In instances of decreased staffing adequacy, the participants' focus shifted to either maintaining individualised care or focusing on safety. When the registered nurse aimed to change the philosophy of care, an increase in staffing adequacy enabled some aspects of cultural change to commence. The relationships between residents, family and staff were significant contrasting elements within an individualised philosophy of care, and an institutional philosophy of care. In the former, relationships were valued and developed. In the latter, they were benevolent, functional or conflicted. The significance of this study is that it reveals how registered nurses and management personnel in aged care facilities, can create conditions where the relationships between residents, their families and staff, are valued and developed to result in positive care outcomes. It is recommended that future research be conducted to examine the resources required to maintain an individualised approach to the nursing care of residents in aged care facilities.

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on March 26, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio State University. / Bibliography: leaves 66-69. Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center