Date of Award
4-20-1998
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Department
Social Work
Abstract
Dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) is a progressive, terminal disease marked by the loss of cognitive function. Due to cognitive impairments, residents with dementia exhibit behaviors that indicate disordered person in environment transactions. Due to the resulting disordered transactions, residents with dementia living in long-term care settings offen experience diminished opportunity to choose.
This paper is a comparative/descriptive study based on nursing assistant responses from an anonymous questionnaire in two long-term care facilities. Autonomy is defined by Callopy (1988) as freedom, independence and choice.
The results indicate that the residents at each respective facility seem to experience autonomy in different areas, but that overall the level achieved is fairly consistent between the two. Both homes restrict autonomy, but it seems to be overshadowed by the enforcement of safety.
Identifier
SC 11.MSW.1998.Jensen.MM
Recommended Citation
Jensen, Michelle Mari, "Exploring the Differences in Autonomy for Residents with Alzheimer's Disease Between Those Living in a Special Care Unit and Those in a Residential Group Home: A Comparative Study" (1998). Theses and Graduate Projects. 136.
https://idun.augsburg.edu/etd/136