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Biomedical subjects

K C Buckwalter

Publications and source records attributed to K C Buckwalter.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A nursing perspective on SCUs.

Much of what is in the literature regarding nursing of AD patients and their families is anecdotal, has not been validated by systematic research, and is atheoretical. The majority of nursing research in AD has focused on patient characteristics and problem behaviors or on the needs and experiences of family care givers rather than on characteristics of SCUs. Research should continue in these areas, along with testing nursing interventions to maintain the optimal cognitive, physical, social, and emotional function of residents with AD in institutional settings. Explanatory theories should be devised and tested to advance the development of nursing knowledge in the care of residents with AD and family care givers. Finally, more evaluation research is needed to test the cost effectiveness of SCU programs, including effects on residents with AD, family members, and staff care givers.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Alzheimer's special care units.

An overview of Alzheimer's special care units is provided, including the several models that have been used to guide their development. Philosophy and programming, physical and social environments, staff selection and training, admission and discharge criteria, family programming, and quality and cost features are described. Evaluation and research of special units and interventions for residents with Alzheimer's, their family members and staff caregivers are discussed.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1993

An administrator's dilemma: keeping the innovative mental health and aging programs alive after the grant funds end.

Too often innovative and successful mental health and aging programs terminate when external funding sources end. This article describes one such project that has survived and even flourished well beyond the grant period. The original program is set forth, and changes in both the type of services offered and in the clientele are reviewed. The rationale for deviations from the original model are highlighted. Expansion, contraction and reexpansion of the range of services offered, as well as factors that impeded and enhanced program survival, are noted. The critical role of administrative leadership, vision and support for geropsychiatric services and staff is emphasized.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Catastrophic reactions and other behaviors of Alzheimer's residents: special unit compared with traditional units.

Using a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design, the effects of a Special Care Unit (SCU) on the incidence of catastrophic reactions and other behaviors of nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were examined. Findings indicate significantly fewer catastrophic reactions and other selected behavior changes occurred during the posttest period for subjects in the experimental group compared with the subjects in the control group. Implications for psychiatric consultation/liaison nurses (PCLNs) working with this vulnerable population are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Psychogeriatric outreach to rural families: the Iowa and Virginia models.

Elderly residents of rural areas are at significant risk for mental health problems, yet have less access to mental health services. Thus, most mental health problems among rural elderly remain either undiagnosed or untreated. We describe two models of mental health outreach programs to rural elderly in Iowa and Virginia, serving demographically, culturally, and epidemiologically different populations in geographically and economically dissimilar regions. Programs are compared on the basis of initiation, community partnerships, target population, target region, clinical disciplines involved, coordinating discipline, referral sources, operational model, initial home assessment, care planning, sustainability, cost, patient demographics, and primary and secondary diagnosed. Outreach programs are argued to be effective models of delivering services to geographically and/or socially isolated elderly populations. The experiences of our programs, though limited to rural populations, may be of relevance to any outreach program attempting to serve elderly presenting with or at risk for mental health problems.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

A comparative study: guardianship petitions for adults and elder adults.

1. The appointment of a guardian is the result of a court proceeding that transfers to another an individual's authority to make personal decisions. 2. Gerontological nurses may be asked to assist clients and families in the resolution of problems concerning personal and health care treatment decisions. 3. This study showed that adults younger than 65 years old needed a guardian due to mental retardation, mental illness, or accidental injury. Adults over 65 years old needed a guardian because they had mental retardation, alcoholism, dementia, or other physical disabilities. 4. Immediate family members were most often the individuals to serve as guardians.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Mental healthcare for rural seniors. An outreach program in Cedar Rapids, IA, uses an integrated approach to break down barriers to care.

Several barriers prevent elderly persons, especially those living in rural areas, from receiving mental health services. The Abbe Center for Community Mental Health is breaking down some of these barriers in the Cedar Rapids, IA, area. The center's Elderly Outreach Project identifies and provides mental health services to the area's rural elderly. A multidisciplinary team (psychiatrist, nurse, and social worker) assesses and treats home-bound clients. Four major barriers prevent seniors from using traditional mental healthcare services: A lack of trained professionals. Because many professionals have not received training in geriatrics, those working with elderly clients should be encouraged to attend educational conferences to fill gaps in their knowledge. Organizational barriers. Transportation and cost may prohibit elderly persons from seeking mental healthcare. Facilities must revise policies detrimental to clients' well-being. Ageism. Many elderly persons have internalized negative and incorrect beliefs about what aging is or should be. Education about "normal" aging is essential. Stigma. The stigma of mental illness is particularly troublesome. Services such as in-home counseling allow clients to get the help they need while keeping their mental illness confidential. To eliminate the barriers to mental healthcare, increased financial resources are necessary to develop, implement, and maintain innovative programs that can reach frail, isolated, hard-to-find persons in need of mental health, medical, and social services.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Managing the care of patients with irreversible dementia during hospitalization for comorbidities.

Caring for the patient with AD hospitalized with comorbidities is a nursing challenge. By educating staff, using the PLST model, working with families, and implementing patient-focused care, positive outcomes are not only possible but probable. It is important for staff to work with caregivers in all aspects of care of the patient incorporating the patient's personal and medical historical knowledge into the care plan. Nursing facilities and families can provide a wealth of information, and communication before and after hospitalization maximizes positive outcomes for all concerned.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

Improving practice through research: the case of heparin vs. saline for peripheral intermittent infusion devices.

Peripheral intermittent infusion devices are commonly used to administer periodic doses of medications to adults and children. Research findings provide a strong base for changing practice to using saline instead of heparin to flush these devices in children over 28 days old and in adults. This research-based change in practice will enhance the quality of care that patients receive and decrease the costs of their care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Critical issues for the development of clinical nursing knowledge.

This article reviews the other articles in this issue that provide evidence of recent progress in clinical nursing research. The authors, guest editors of this issue, issue a call for further research to develop improvements in clinical nursing practice.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed1992

Researching and evaluating model geriatric mental health programs. Part III: Statistical analysis issues.

The third and final article in this three-part series on researching and evaluating geriatric mental health programs focuses on statistical analysis issues. Analysis of data from experimental and quasi-experimental studies is discussed involving inferential statistical techniques such as t test, analysis of variance, chi-square, and analysis of covariance, and interrupted time series techniques.

Aged↗