Elsie M. Pinkston

Home-based behavioral family treatment of the impaired elderly

This research was designed to examine the utility of training caregivers to effectively manage behavior problems of impaired elderly persons. Of primary interest was whether caregivers could be trained to use procedures, based on operant theory, to manage behavior problems of sufficient severity to threaten continued home care. Both the caregivers and the impaired individuals were targets of study: behavior change of the impaired individual was monitored and caregivers perceptions of burden and competence were measured pre- and postintervention. Data were analyzed on a case-by-case basis using single-subject designs. Improvement was observed in 76% of the targeted behaviors. Caregivers acknowledged improvements in their interactions with their relatives and reported that they were satisfied with their abilities to learn to change their relatives behavior.

Contributions of Parent Training to Child Welfare

Core parent training techniques are useful for developing new skills for parents who abuse or neglect their children. In our view parent training has had five primary functions: (1) to improve the quality of parent-child interaction, (2) to prevent further abuse and neglect by the parents, (3) increase community and family linkage, (4) allow parents to resume the care of their children, and (5) reduce the number of children who renter the system. Families who are considered high-risk frequently fit these criteria and techniques may be borrowed from the general parenting literature; its relevance to this population will always be considered.

TRAINING GERONTOLOGICAL PRACTITIONERS IN HOME‐BASED FAMILY INTERVENTIONS

Human service practitioners specializing with the elderly learned to maintain older persons at home using behavioral methods. A 15‐hour training curricula was taught in three formats: a continuing education institute; a 5‐week class followed by consultation sessions; and an inservice training program. Content included behavioral assessment, reinforcement based interventions, evaluation designs, and maintenance methods that improve self‐care, social contacts, and decrease negative behaviors. Findings revealed significantly improved knowledge of gerontological information, practice skills, and relevant behavioral principles. All three formats produced significant outcomes with no important differences between groups. Generally, participants described the training as relevant, effective, and applicable to their practice. The procedures were useful in teaching practitioners to develop satisfying alternatives to behavior problems, thereby improving family living conditions, and reducing unnecessary long‐term c...

Teaching the Use of Community Services to Elderly People and Their Families

An increasing array of home care, community-based and institutional services has accompanied the increasing numbers of elderly and disabled persons in general, as well as those with posthospitalization home care needs. The extent and availability of services are limited, however, and for those who cannot pay for their own support, eligibility requirements may limit service usage. Most home and community services for the elderly are initiated through federal programs, which often contain targeting or limiting factors. Local community programs may have limits as well. The service system frequently changes due to political and economic realities, and eligibility may change due to alterations in the recipient’s needs and status. The result is a complex and confusing network that is difficult to use. In fact, elders and their families may often require considerable assistance in securing and utilizing services to which they are entitled.