John W. Gibson

Aging and developmental disabilities : service provider health-care training needs

The numbers of aging and older persons with developmental disabilities are rapidly growing. Knowledge based on new and ongoing research is fast beginning to accumulate. Efforts to provide training, both preservice and in‐service, are beginning to be implemented. This article (a) reports on existing health‐care training materials, (b) discusses service providers’ training needs in the area of developmental disabilities and aging, and (c) provides recommendations for future training and curriculum development. The investigation included a search of library and archival records for existing information on health, aging, and developmental disabilities; semistructured interviews with 20 “expert” providers of health care to developmentally disabled elderly individuals; and a survey of 245 service providers for their perceptions of providers’ training needs in the area of health care for older adults with developmental disabilities.

Service Providers' Knowledge and Misconceptions about Old Age: Comparison of Three Service Networks.

We report on knowledge about old age among social service providers from three service networks. Data are based on a survey of 245 respondents from Washington States developmental disabilities, aging, and generic service networks. Palmores Facts on Aging Quiz (FAQ; 1977, 1988) was used to measure the level of knowledge about old age. Key findings are as follows: (a) Overall, the respondents averaged 64% correct on the FAQ. (b) Developmental disabilities service providers scored lower than either aging service providers or generic service providers. (c) The content areas in which items were most often missed were the psychological aspects aging, the demographic trends of the aging population, and the socioeconomic status of the elderly. Implications of the results for training service providers are discussed.

A Service Program for Safe-Home Children

The authors describe an innovative program that provides services to women who have been battered and to their children. The program serves women and children in community-based safe homes for up to three months. Data are drawn from 49 families, including 81 children. The violence experienced by the families and the childrens observation of and reaction to violence are described.