| Abstrakt: |
Patterns of friendship among intellectually intact nursing home patients were studied via questionnaires inquiring about relationships with other nursing home residents, staff, volunteers, and friends outside the institution. Findings demonstrated that two-thirds of the patient-respondents named residents as friends, two-thirds named staff, and one-half named volunteers. Qualities most admired related first to personality and second to common interests. The community within the long-term care institution formed the nucleus of the network of friendships, and increased interaction among residents, staff, and volunteers should be encouraged to compensate for the loss of virtually all pre-existing relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
