Date of Award

1999

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Art

First Advisor

Marilyn Patterson

Second Advisor

Lynn Mark

Third Advisor

Betty LeMasters

Abstract

Thanks to improved drugs, diet and medical treatment, America's population is living longer than ever. While this is certainly a good occurrence, there are problems arising from it. Experts are seeing that many of these elderly people have a variety of mental illnesses. These illnesses have either been with the individual since youth, are the result of a deteriorating mind. State hospitals and other mental health facilities are unable to provide continuous, long-term care for the large number of elderly affected with these unfortunate illnesses.

This thesis will address this complex, ever-growing, issue in three parts by identifying and defining some of the most common forms of mental illness found in the elderly, a review of how nursing homes are accommodating mentally ill residents and by examining four case studies that illustrate the care and interventions used in the treatment of mental illness of the aging population.

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