We investigated the relationship among gender of resident, staff social interaction, and agitation in 46 (31 male and 15 female) nursing home residents with clinically significant agitation. Direct observations were conducted of resident behaviors and environmental contextual events using a computer-assisted, real-time observational system. The system recored frequency, duration, and temporal sequencing of events. Results show that female residents displayed almost three times the amount of agitation as male residents (35% vs. 13% of total observation time, respectively), although men in the study were more likely to receive psychoactive drugs for their agitation. Staff spent similar amounts of time verbally interacting and touching male and female residents. Sequential analyses were conducted to examine the likelihood of staff verbal and touch interactions both preceding and following resident agitation using Bakeman and Quera's (1995) SDIS-GSEQ program. Results suggest that staff touch and verbal interaction elicit agitation in a significant proportion of residents. Once agitation occurs, staff were likely to respond by interacting verbally, but not physically, with the resident.

This study describes the physical and emotional health of grandparents raising grandchildren and the extent to which the health of this at-risk population is affected further by the caregiving role. A sample of 17 grandparents who are primary caregivers to their grandchildren and reside within a three-state metropolitan area were interviewed in their homes during a 1-year period. Data were collected on physical and mental health status and health problems, level of health, level of stress, economic difficulties, and family and supports. Qualitative data analyses using a panel of experts and NUD*IST, and quantitative methods were used. Results showed wide variation in physical and mental health status; however, most participants tended to score high on parental stress-particularly in the child domain. Disruption of social activities, financial problems, and alterations in family relationships were of significant concern.

Long Term Care (LTC)facilities in the United States are being faced with an ever-increasing number of residents with dementing illness. It has been estimated that over threefourths of all residents living in LTC have some type of dementia, Alzheimer's disease being the most prevalent. Nursing staff caringfor Alzheimer residents often do not have any special training in dementia. Compounded by burnout from staff shortages and low pay, working with Alzheimer residents is a real challenge. Too often health care workers do not feel that Alzheimer residents (in the late stages) are capable of learning or maintaining functional abilities (such as weight bearing to stand, transferringfrom bed to chair, or chair to toilet) through regular exercise programs. It is clear that functional abilities are a part of the human instinct. By retaining these abilities, a person with Alzheimer's disease can stillfeel a sense of worth. This experimental study measured the effects of regular exercise on muscle strength andfunctional abilities in the Alzheimer resident. A group of severely demented chairbound residents were introduced to a regular exercise program that was designed by a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, a Head Nurse on a dementia unit, and by the primary investigator Two groups of residents participated in the study. The hypothesis that a regular exercise program can increase muscle strength in senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT) was supported by a significant level of. 05 (p=.05). A regular exercise program to determine iffunctional ability

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