Health, housing and much more recently, assistive technology, are key determinants of elderly independence in British Columbia. This thesis discusses these three determinants in some detail, and also stresses their interrelationship with each other. Throughout the entire thesis, the elderly's preference to age-in-place (Blackie, 1986; Wheeler, 1982) is stressed. In the issue of health, the current community-based health care delivery system of the British Columbia Ministry of Health's Continuing Care Division is compared and contrasted with a "counterpart" in the United States: the On Lok Health Services System in San Francisco, California. On Lok is discussed to highlight its effectiveness in delivering a community-based holistic health care system for a group of aging-in-place elderly in need of long term care with relatively low cost. In the issue of housing, the thesis investigates three avenues in which architects can apply their skills to maximize aging-in-place possibilities for our elderly in the context of British Columbia. Constraints by building codes, health care regulations, real estate market expectations and the aging characteristics of British Columbia's elderly are also highlighted to bring context to the discussion. In the issue of assistive technology, given the huge range of product development, the thesis focuses on one particularly interesting communication device - the Videophone. The Videophone is discussed to explore its potential impact for elderly independence, especially for the future.

The individualization and medicalization of the emotional distress of those given psychiatric diagnoses deny the social, political, and economic context in which the presenting behaviours arose and leads away from making changes to society. Some people who are psychiatrically labelled join in groups for solidarity in the face of being stigmatized. In these groups the members can resist the disempowerment and helplessness learned in the psychiatric system. With co-researchers from a self-help group this study gives expression to the usually silenced voices of psychiatrized people. Feminist and standpoint theories, co-cultural and living systems theories form a framework for this narrative study. A structural narrative method is used to analyze the stories, found in the transcripts of six individual interviews, told by the co-researchers about their experiences in psychiatric services and in the recovery process. The stories reveal how the ideology and practices of psychiatry use stigma, oppression and the creation of the identity of psychiatric patient for control and management. The stories also reveal the reality of hope for recovery through the support of peers and from the role models of those who have significantly recovered their mental health. Two focus group interviews were conducted with members of the self-help group where suggestions for programs were developed to address issues raised within the groups and in the individual interviews. The findings of the research will be reported to the self-help group who will use the study to back proposals for the funding of recovery-oriented programs. When social workers and other mental health professsionals recognize the importance of supporting the process of recovery, consumer/survivor-run programs will be acknowledged as effective and integral parts of any mental health system

Life-long learning for knowledge societies becomes fundamental for educational process. Motivation, expectations and contentment of people take a very important place in today’s learning. The most important objectives of today’s educational process are providing answers to current challenges and essential questions as well as helping to seize new opportunities for society and individuals. The objective of this research is to explore the motivation, motives and problems of life-long learning of residents in Visaginas town. The tasks of the research are following: • to explore residents’point of view towards life-long learning; • define the motives of adults which force them to start studying again; • analyze what conditions residents of Visaginas have; • define issues which impede more active involvement of adults into life-long learning; • provide with recommendations on how to nurture residents’point of view on life-long learning. The analysis was done in November, 2005 and took place in Visaginas National Language Center, in “Draugystes” secondary school (adult classes) as well as in other public institutions. During this research the residents of Visaginas town were asked to answer a question on how they perceive and value life-long learning and what is their point of view towards it. After the answers were figured out it could be concluded that the greatest part of residents think that life-long learning is obligatory (91,5 %). Only 9 % of residents perceive life-long... [to full text]

The actuality of the problem. The subject on educational dimensions of self-help of primary teachers in Utena region is topical in social, scientific theoretical and practical regard. As it is noted in the guideline of education of Lithuania, Lithuania like all the Europe is taking a step to the age of Knowledge full of new challenges. “The globalization, burst of information. The fast change, the solution of society – are the challenges, which raise a claim for the individual, society and the system that develops them” (Guideline of education. 2003–2012 m. project). The authoress does the survey of educational dimensions of self-development (methods, forms, motives, sources, means, levels and trends, role) of primary teachers of Utena region in this work trying to clear what are the dimensions of self-help of primary teachers in Utena region. 204 primary teachers participated in the survey. The survey was done in December 2005, in January – February 2006. The questionnaire was filled in all schools of Utena region, where are primary classes by the teachers who worked the last 5 years in primary forms. The most important methods of self-development of primary teachers of Utena region are the following: self-education, self-estimation and self-control. Many see these most important motives of self-help: sense of duty, search of purpose of life and improving the professional activity. As the most acceptable form of self-help... [to full text]

Magistro darbe „„Dainų dainelės“ ir pedagogų vaidmuo formuojant teigiamą vaikų požiūrį į muzikinę saviugdą“ nagrinėjama vaikų ir moksleivių televizijos festivalio-konkurso „Dainų dainelė“ įtaka vaikų ugdymui. Pedagoginė problema aktuali tuo, kad analogų neturintis per 30 metų gyvuojantis festivalis-konkursas tapo tikru fenomenu ir puikiu postūmiu reikštis jauniems dainininkams tiek ansambliuose, tiek solo. Pasirodymas „Dainų dainelėje“ dažnai tampa pirmuoju, tačiau anaiptol ne paskutiniu viešu pasirodymu. Tyrimo objektas – vaikų muzikinė saviugda dalyvaujant „Dainų dainelėje“. Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti „Dainų dainelės“ ir pedagogų įtaką vaikų muzikinei saviugdai. Reikšminiai žodžiai: muzikinė saviugda, pedagoginė įtaka, dainininkų ugdymas. Darbe apžvelgiama „Dainų dainelės“ istorija, renginio kaita, pedagoginės ugdymo subtilybės – ugdytojo autoriteto svarba, scenos baimės apraiškos, balso higienos ypatybės. Juk rengimasis „Dainų dainelei“ gali skatinti ne tik mokinį, bet ir jo ugdytoją, kadangi šis turi tapti tikru, pilnaverčiu autoritetu. Šiuo aspektu labai daug lemia ne tik pedagogo gebėjimas komunikuoti, bet ir jo profesinis pasirengimas, uždegantis tikėjimas savo veikla, atraktyvi dėstymo metodika, didinanti pedagoginę įtaką. Siekiant sužinoti „Dainų dainelės“ dalyvių nuomonę apie šį festivalį-konkursą, buvo apklausti 50 dalyvių. Empirinis tyrimas atskleidė, jog daugeliui dalyvių festivalis-konkursas „Dainų dainelė“ teikia teigiamas emocijas, žadina atsakomybės jausmą... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Influence of children’s and schoolchildren’s festival “Dainu dainele” examined in Master‘s final scientific work “The role of “Dainu dainele“ and educationalists formative positive opinion of infants to musical self-help“. Pedagogical problem is relevant because festival – contest exist more than 30 years, it haven‘t any analogues in Lithuania and it became sure phenomenon and perfect push of young vocalists convey both in companys and in solo. The Appearance in „Dainu dainele“ often become the first but not the last public appearance. The investigative subject of Master‘s final scientific work is musical self-help of infants when they involve in “Dainu dainele”. The investigative purpose of Master‘s final scientific work is to find the role of “Dainu dainele“ and educationalists to musical self-help of infants. Significant words: a musical self-help, the role of educationalists, education of singers. The history of „Dainu dainele“, alternation of event, refinement of educationalists education, importance of educationalist, manifestatons of scene‘s fear, internal of voice‘s hygiene are reviewed in Master‘s final scientific work. After all arrangement to “Dainu dainele” can motivate not only schoolchildren but also his educator because he must to become real and full – fledged standing. Instance very much determine educationalist not only ability to comunicate but also his professional readiness, inspirational belief in his work, methodology of enunciation that enhance... [to full text]

Globėjų (rūpintojų) savipagalbos grupė yra grindžiama bendradarbiavimo ir dalijimosi patirtimi principu. Grupės nariai padeda vieni kitiems spręsti iškilusius sunkumus ne tik vaikų, bet ir asmeninius, patys gali sulaukti pagalbos iš grupės vadovų, pasimokyti vieni iš kitų.Atlikus tyrimą paaiškėjo, jog vaikai, globojami šeimose, turi galimybę mokytis savarankiškumo, formuoti įgūdžius, tačiau išlieka galimi sunkumai adaptacijos periodu, pasireiškia sunkiai suvaldoma vaikų agresija, skirtinga patirtis, kas nulemia pokyčius globėjų (rūpintojų) šeimose bei skirtingas socializacijos situacijas. Socialiniai darbuotojai ir globėjai (rūpintojai) savipagalbą traktuoja per panašių problemų sprendimą, norą padėti ne tik sau, bet ir kitiems. Socialinių darbuotojų nuomone, savipagalbos grupių kūrimas ir globėjams (rūpintojams) teikiama pagalba yra prasminga dėl tarpusavio santykių, gerosios patirties, problemų sprendimo mechanizmo. Globėjų (rūpintojų) nuomone, savipagalbos grupėse yra palaikomos jų kompetencijos, kas teigiamai veikia globėjo (rūpintojo) santykius su vaiku, padeda perprasti vaiko poreikius, padeda pagilinti žinias ir leidžia globėjui (rūpintojui) jaustis komandos dalimi globos (rūpybos) situacijoje. / Self-help groups in foster-parenting are based on collaboration and sharing of common experience. Group members help each other in solving not only child related but personal problems as well; they can attain help from the group leaders, and learn from each other. The research revealed that family- fostered children tend to be more independent, they are able to form certain skills. However, some difficulties during period of adaptation remain, including barely manageable aggression, differing life experiences that shape changes in foster families, and different paths of socialization. Social workers and foster parents understand self-help groups as a possibility to solve similar problems, helping oneself and each other. Social workers believe that self-help groups can offer significant improvement in relationships, problem solving, and exchange of good practices. Foster parents believe that in self-help groups they can enhance their competencies, which in turn can improve their relationships with a child, help understanding his/her needs, and enrich their knowledge, helping feel a part of the team in a foster- parenting situation.

A focus on care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS throughout the world has become a key discussion in the general HIV/AIDS discourse. This thesis provides an in-depth analysis of two HIV/AIDS support groups operating in areas south of Durban, South Africa. In particular, the thesis presents the readers with a description of the 1) purpose of HIV/AIDS support groups, 2) main participants involved in HIV/AIDS support groups, and 3) an overview of how the two HIV/AIDS support groups under study operate. The grounded theory approach of this study led to the emergence of two themes crucial to the understanding of the HIV/AIDS support groups under study, the existence of widespread conflict, and a system of "negotiated" reciprocity within each support group. The thesis uses the framework of Victor Turner's social drama, and the anthropological theories of reciprocity, in order to analyze these concepts. This thesis reveals that each support group operates within an environment, in which a discrepancy of expectations, obligations, and goals amongst the support group participants exists. Additionally, the support group members and the sponsoring organization of both support groups have varying perceptions of the support group, both in its ideal and actual form. Finally, the thesis reveals the way in which each support group oscillates between a state of stability and conflict, and how conflict and negotiation, in turn, become inherent within, and synonymous with, everyday organisation and operation of the support groups. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

This study looks at the potential contribution of informal housing delivery in establishing enabling low-income housing standards in Kitwe, Zambia as a way of addressing the shortage of adequate and affordable housing for the urban poor. Informal housing delivery is increasingly being seen as the urban poors' response to the chronic shortage of housing in most cities in developing countries. Proponents of informal housing delivery have been alluding to the many positive impacts that informal housing has on the poor households since the 1960's. This aspect is slowly gaining acceptance in many housing policies in developing countries that are now opting to work with rather than forcefully relocated informal dwellers. The Zambia National Housing Policy set an ambitious list of objectives aimed at realising its goal of providing adequate and affordable housing to all income groups in the country, including the reform of housing standards which currently inhibit the incorporation of informal housing techniques and materials into conventional practices. However, there appears to be no framework within which this objective will be achieved. The study, therefore, investigated the positive attributes of informal housing delivery through a literature review of standards and general discourse and policies regarding traditional, informal and formal housing settlements. Through the literature review, a set of indicators was established to measure and analyse informal housing standards prevailing in Kamatipa, an informal settlement north of the city of Kitwe in Zambia and building regulations that substantially hinder the incorporation of these standards into conventional low-income housing standards. They study establishes a number of positive attributes of informal housing in Kamatipa and the regulations that they contravene under current standards. It concludes by making recommendations towards establishing guidelines for assimilating these positive elements in a reformed regulatory framework to achieve enabling low-income housing standards in the city and country. / Thesis (M.Housing)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Within the prefabrication industry, Kit homes have had a long history of success within the twentieth century. Kit homes are houses whose components are manufactured using a panelized or pre-cut prefabrication system, are numbered, packaged and shipped to the building site for erection. Among the different strategies in purchasing a manufactured house, buying a house as a kit has a great potential for self-help assembly. Since about one third of the cost of construction is labor costs, the author has investigated the option of self-help building using Kit homes, to eliminate the labor cost and thus further reduce the construction cost. / In order to study the Kit home potential and costs when bought from, and assembled by the manufacturer, four manufacturers of prefabricated homes who offer Kit homes were visited. In order to study the Kit home potential and costs when assembled by the buyer, the building process of a self-helper was researched and documented. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Bakalauro darbe analizuojami socioedukacinių poreikių tenkinimo, anoniminių alkoholikų (AA) savipagalbos grupėse ypatumai. Tyrimo tikslas - atskleisti socioedukacinių poreikių tenkinimo, anoniminių alkoholikų savipagalbos grupėse, ypatumus. Tyrimo uţdaviniai: taikant teorinę analizę ištirti socioedukacinių poreikių tenkinimo anoniminių alkoholikų savipagalbos grupėse ypatumus. Taikant interviu metodą, ištirti AA savipagalbos grupės narių socioedukacinius poreikius. Bei taikant turinio analizės metodą, nustatyti socioedukacinių poreikių tenkinimo ypatumus AA savipagalbos grupėse. Buvo atliekamas kokybinis tyrimas, siekiant išsiaiškinti anoniminių alkoholikų socioedukacinių poreikių tenkinimą AA grupėje, kokybinio tyrimo respondentais pasirinkti 5 AA grupės nariai. Tyrime dalyvavo 4 vyrai ir 1 moteris. Jų amţius nuo 40 iki 63 metų. Tyrime gautos tokios kategorijos: „Principai ir metodai, susiję su vertybiniu ugdymu, tarnavimu kitiems, bendravimu, išsisakymu, patirties dalinimusi, anonimiškumu, 12 ţingsnių programa, visuomenės informavimu“. „Bendrumo poreikis AA savipagalbos grupėje: socialinio tinklo kaita (prieš ir po dalyvavimo AA grupėje), bendruomenės poveikis bei santykiai ir bendri interesai grupėje“. „Saugumo poreikis ir pagalbos teikimas: socialinės, psichologinės ir fizinės sveikatos pokyčiai“. „Savigarbos, savo vertės jutimo poreikis: savęs vertinimas, savigarbos jausmas“. „Prieraišumo ir meilės poreikis AA grupėje arba po jos uţsiėmimų: intymūs santykiai, santykiai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The peculiarities of meeting the socioeducational requirements in self-help groups of anonymous alcoholics (AA) are analyzed in the final work of Bachelor. The object of research is to reveal the peculiarities of meeting the socioeducational requirements in self-help groups of AA. The goals of research are these: through theoretical analysis to explore the peculiarities of meeting the socioeducational requirements in self-help groups of AA; through the method of interview to investigate the socioeducational needs of AA in self-help groups; also through the method of content analysis to identify the peculiarities of meeting the socioeducational requirements in self-help groups of anonymous alcoholic. Qualitative research was carried out with the purpose to find out meeting the socioeducational requirements in self-help group of anonymous alcoholics. Five members from anonymous alcoholics` group were chosen to be the respondents of qualitative research. Four men and one woman participated in the research. Their age was from 40 to 63. These categories were received in the research: principles and methods related to the value training, serving others, communication, openness, sharing experiences, anonymity, 12 steps programme and informing society. The need of community in the self-help group of AA: “fluctuation of social network (before and after participation in anonymous alcoholics group, influence and relationships of community and common interests in the group”. “The need of... [to full text]