COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES IN ENHANCING FUNCTIONING AMONG ELDERLY RESIDENTS OF A NURSING HOME.
Contributors: DePaul University.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 193
Subjects: Psychology, Experimental.
Description: This study was designed to determine the effects of a Reality Orientation program and a behavioral intervention program. The specific behavior targeted by this study was self-feeding. Subjects were five elderly residents of a nursing home. A multiple baseline design across subjects was utilized with the dependent variables being the mental status of the subjects as measured by a Mental Status Questionnaire and the direct observations of self-feeding behavior. Results were analyzed using the "C" statistic. Following implementation of the Reality Orientation program subjects demonstrated significantly increased mental status. No generalization effects were found in the area of self-feeding behaviors. Following implementation of the behavioral intervention, subjects demonstrated significantly increased appropriate self-feeding behaviors. These increases were found to have generalized to the evening meal. During the maintenance phase it was determined that nurses' aids were capable of significantly supporting these improvements in the residents' behavior. These results suggested that a cognitive program, Reality Orientation, influenced cognitive awareness, whereas, the behavioral intervention influenced behavior. Implications from the present study suggest that both cognitive and behavioral approaches may be utilized simultaneously for the benefit of the elderly.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-01, Section: B, page: 0334.

Thesis (PH.D.)--DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, 1984.

School code: 0937.