Determinants of interpersonal support and self-direction in group residential facilities
Article Abstract:
The acceptability of a group residential facility to an elderly person often depends on its social climate, that is, how a facility encourages certain qualities, such as friendliness and independence. These aspects of social climate are related to quality of care and the health and well-being of the residents. Facilities that encourage interpersonal support and self-direction are associated with improved quality of care and higher levels of resident functioning. However, efforts to create a supportive environment may sometimes be at odds with attempts to encourage independence. To evaluate the determinants of social climate in group residential facilities, this study evaluated elders' and staffs' perceptions of the social climate at 244 facilities, ranging from nursing homes to congregate apartments. Four dimensions of social climate were examined: cohesion and conflict, which reflect supportiveness of interpersonal relationships; and independence and resident influence, which reflect the extent of self-direction. The determinants of supportive and self-directed social climates included physical features of the facility, policies and services, aggregate staff characteristics, and aggregate resident characteristics. Both residents and staff perceived more conflict and less independence in facilities that provided a higher level of care. Facilities with more physical facilities, especially comfort and staff facilities, were perceived by both residents and staff as encouraging more interpersonal support and self-direction. Policies that provided more resident autonomy were similarly perceived. Staff members felt that a lower proportion of middle-aged staff was associated with reduced conflict and reduced resident influence. Residents felt that a high staff-resident ratio negatively affected residents' independence and influence. Facilities whose residents were more socially independent were perceived by residents and staff as providing more self-direction and interpersonal support. Residents perceived larger facilities as being associated with more conflict, which may be related to decreased personal contact and increased heterogeneity of residents. The study suggests specific ways to increase interpersonal support and independence in group residential facilities for the elderly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1990
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A typology of social climates in group residential facilities for older people
Article Abstract:
Social climate is recognized as important in residential facilities for the aged because of the relationship between features of social climate and quality of life and health. If one thinks of an environment as having a personality of its own, it can be said that some are friendlier than others, some are more independence-oriented, and some are better organized. The Sheltered Care Environmental Scale is a subscale of the Multiphasic Environmental Assessment Procedure and is one way to measure a facility's personality. Determinants of type of climate include level of care, ownership (e.g., nonprofit versus for profit), facility size, and the characteristics of the residents. In a study of 235 facilities for the residential care of the aged (including nursing homes and congregate apartments) the Multiphasic Environmental Assessment Procedure was used to assess residents' and staff members' perceptions of each facility's social climate. Six types of social climate were identified, based upon level of care, ownership, facility size, and resident characteristics. The types were: supportive and self-directed; supportive and well-organized; open conflict; suppressed conflict; emergent-positive; and unresponsive. Residents of facilities with social climates that encouraged interpersonal support, personal growth, and organization were better adapted. These facilities had social climates labelled as supportive and self-directed, and supportive and well-organized. These social climates promoted constructive interaction among residents and less reliance on facility services. It is suggested that interventions to improve social climate in residential facilities be facility-specific with respect to the current social climate, thus improving the quality of life of the residents. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
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Support and interpersonal stress in the social networks of married daughterscaring for parents with dementia
Article Abstract:
Differences between individuals as a source of social support and interpersonal stress were assessed in 95 married daughters, and 1,195 members of their social networks, caring for parents with dementia. Siblings and friends were found to be primary sources of support but siblings also were identified as the most important source of stress. Individuals with previous experience of caring for an elderly relative were more likely to sources of support than of stress.
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1993
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