AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF AGED RESIDENTS AND NURSING STAFF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNICATION OCCURRING WITHIN TWO PUBLIC NURSING HOME ENVIRONMENTS

• Main Author: SAMUELS, JESSICA R
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.1986
• Subjects: Aging; Gerontology; Health care; Health care management; Interpersonal communication; Nursing homes
• ISBN: 9798206244953

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the universality of claims made by Lubinski (1981, 1984) that the nursing home environment is impaired and hence affects the communication behavior of aged individuals. Lawton's (1982) ecological model of aging and DeVito's (1985) communication model were utilized as a conceptual framework for this investigation. The present investigation utilized two groups of subjects. Group I consisted of 28 aged residents--14 males and 14 females; and Group II consisted of 14 head/charge nurses. The subjects were selected from two public nursing homes. Each subject participated in individual interviews which were tape recorded and later transcribed and analyzed by the investigator. Data were collected through the use of a focused interview schedule, one for residents and one for staff, containing 30 open-ended questions. Five major areas were investigated: (1) participants in communicative interactions, (2) topics discussed in communicative interactions, (3) places in which communicative interactions occurred, (4) duration of communicative interactions, and (5) importance of communicative interactions in nursing home environments. Results were analyzed with respect to the perceptions of (1) residents and staff, (2) residents, (3) male and female residents, and (4) staff. The results of the investigation indicated significant differences in each of the five areas investigated. Gender was found to be a significant variable only as it related to the perceptions of male and female residents regarding the places where communicative interactions occurred within the nursing home. Universality was found as it related to the following: (1) staff's perceptions regarding residents' most frequent communication partner; (2) residents' and staff's perceptions that residents do not talk with their roommates; (3) residents' perceptions that the amount of time residents spend in communicative interactions is limited; and (4) staff's perceptions that communication among residents is important and meaningful. The investigation results suggest the need for direct observation of communicative interactions occurring within the nursing home environment in order to confirm perceptions of both residents and the nursing staff. Implications are provided for speech-language pathologists who are employed in nursing home environments to provide therapeutic services for communicatively impaired, aged residents.