Homeless and Mentally Ill: Meeting the Needs

This paper examines the characteristics of homeless mentally ill individuals in a midwest metropolitan area and describes the difficulties they encounter when trying to secure services that would help them change their situation. The study examines the role bureaucracy plays in the social problem of the homeless mentally ill. An ethnographic approach is used to study the question how is it that bureaucracy gets in its own way in attempting to meet the needs of the homeless mentally ill? Both demographic and observational data are provided in this study and the observational data indicate that certain aspects that are inherent to bureaucracy can create barriers to services for individuals who are in need of them

Some acoustic and articulatory correlates of phrasal stress in Spanish

All spoken languages show rhythmic patterns. Recent work with a number of different languages (English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and French) suggests that metrically (hierarchically) assigned stress levels of the utterance show strong correlations with the amount of jaw displacement, and corresponding F1 values. This paper examines some articulatory and acoustic correlates of Spanish rhythm; specifically, we ask if there is a correlation between phrasal stress values metrically assigned to each syllable and acoustic/articulatory values. We used video recordings of three Salvadoran Spanish speakers to measure maximum jaw displacement, mean F0, mean intensity, mean duration, and mid-vowel F1 for each vowel in two Spanish sentences. The results show strong correlations between stress and duration, and between stress and F1, but weak correlations between stress and both mean vowel intensity and maximum jaw displacement. We also found weak correlations between jaw displacement and both mean vowel intensity and F1

Evaluation of a Computer Course for Increased Computer Usage by Older Adults

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate an introductory computer course’s impact on older adult perceptions of comfort in using a computer and determine the potential ongoing impact of the course on their computer usage. In this non-experimental post intervention pilot study, 11 participants completed a computer course and then a researcher - developed paper questionnaire that measured computer use history, access, usage, and comfort level in using a computer. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical analysis program, with descriptive and comparative statistical tests conducted. No statistically significant reported pre-post differences were found, likely due to the small number of respondents, but most participants perceived their comfort level had increased with the course. It is inconclusive, however, as to whether this course increased participants’ time spent using a computer. Despite the small size of this pilot study, insight was gained into various challenges potentially impacting older adult computer usage. The number of free text comments provided on the survey tool by subjects indicates a more narrative qualitative approach may be appropriate for follow-up research.&nbsp

Moral Distress Experienced by Nurses in Relation to Organ Donation and Transplantation

With a shortage of organs for transplantation purposes, many ethical issues confront registered nurses, particularly those involved in making difficult allocation and rejection decisions and those who interact with people who are not successful in gaining a needed organ for survival. This is a theoretical paper aimed at justifying the need for research investigations on moral distress in relation to organ donation and transplantation. Given the caring nature of nurses and the widespread impact of the shortage of organs for transplantation purposes, moral distress is likely to be present and growing in both incidence and severity

A Qualitative Study of the Meaning for Older People of Living Alone at Home in Rural Ghana

Many people live alone in old age, often with significant health and other challenges. Living alone may contribute to social isolation, with this concept understood as loneliness that has negative influences on health and wellbeing. Alternatively, living alone could be salutogenic (or positive). An interpretive-descriptive study explored the meaning for older adults of living alone at home in rural Ghana, a developing African country. After purposive sampling, multi-day observations and repeated interviews of 10 individuals occurred until data saturation was achieved. Three themes emerged: (a) how they came to be living alone, (b) their variable ability to competently and comfortably live at home alone in old age, and (c) fears associated with living alone in old age. Most of the participants interviewed indicated that living alone was not a choice. Many difficulties with living alone were present, including fears about personal safety and the need to cope with health and income issues. As such, new considerations for old age social isolation were identified. With accelerating population aging, more older people will be living alone, making it essential for health and social policies to be designed in rural and urban areas of each country that address local cultural and economic realities.   &nbsp

Prospectus, October 23, 1996

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1996/1026/thumbnail.jp

Reshaping Maine Woods Destinations for Twenty-First-Century Tourists

Maine’s rim counties—here called the Maine Woods region—suffer from chronic economic and community distress, marked by declines in several resource-based industries, an ongoing youth exodus, and a rapidly aging population. Nonetheless, many encouraging new ventures are helping to revitalize the Maine Woods economy and communities, and tourism and recreation should play a central role in these efforts. This article focuses on initiatives launched through a partnership between the 16-member Maine Woods Consortium and the Maine Office of Tourism designed to reinvigorate Maine Woods’ recreation and hospitality offerings and to enrich amenities in the region’s gateway communities

Age-based Considerations in Educating Children About Organ Transplantation

This study sought undergraduate nursing student views on the best method for educating children of different ages about organ transplantation when they are candidates for the procedure. This was a cross-sectional survey of volunteers who completed a questionnaire. For children under age 6, the students indicated most often that the best method to teach them was “Parents talk to the child.” For children aged 6-11, two answers were commonly provided: “One-on-one teaching by a transplant nurse” and “Group classes of children own age by transplantation team.” For children aged 12-17, the most common answer was “One-on-one teaching by transplant nurse.” As such, the child’s age greatly influenced their answers, an understandable and expected finding. However, it is important to consider that chronically-ill children who have had frequent healthcare experiences are likely to have different learning needs and abilities as compared to well children their own age, and so research is needed now to determine if conventional views about the way to teach them (and particularly those under the age of 6) are correct

How is Death Hastening Done? A Review of Existing Sanctioned Death Hastening Decision-Making Processes and Practices

Death hastening is a controversial terminal care option that is currently carried out in only four countries and some US states, with Canada posed to allow it on June 6, 2016. This article focuses on how assisted suicide and euthanasia have been managed in the four countries and US states where it has been sanctioned and practiced. A systematic literature review and additional searches were employed to gain information on the methods, recipients, procedures, regulations, outcomes, and other information available on state-sanctioned death hastening. The findings reveal many different possible models and thus considerations required for planning in advance of death hastening actually occurring.  &nbsp