Changing Behaviour in a Residential Group Setting for Elderly People with Learning Difficulties

• Published in: The British journal of social work Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 629 - 642
• Main Author: CIGNO, KATY
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Oxford University Press 01-12-1993; OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; British Association of Social Workers
• Subjects: Aged; Behavior Problems; Challenging behaviour; Community care; Elderly; Females; Homes; Human aggression; Inpatient treatment; Intervention; Learning; Learning difficulties; Mentally ill elderly people; Older adults; Psychiatric hospitals; Quality of life; Residential care; Residential Institutions; Self esteem; Social skills; Social Work
• ISSN: 0045-3102; 1468-263X; 1468-263X
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a056013

SUMMARY Group living is not an easy situation for residents and staff. A client with a long history of institutionalized care and aggressive behaviour proves to be a challenge to care staff who attempt to improve the quality of her life and that of her fellow residents through a behavioural intervention aimed at reducing the number of disruptive incidents and increasing the use of social skills and activities for this client. The results indicate a lessening of incidents of ‘unreasonable behaviour’ and an increase in self-esteem. The appropriateness of this approach to elderly clients' problems is discussed.