Masters Theses

Tim McBride

Date of Award

8-1981

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major Professor

Martha Peters

Committee Members

June Gorski, Ken Krick

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to depict recreational services in Tennessee Skilled Nursing Homes, especially in regard to services provided for the terminally ill residents.

Activity Coordinators from sixty-one Skilled Nursing Homes in Tennessee were used in a census survey as the selected population. This population was chosen because the Activity Coordinators conduct the recreation programs and an assumption was made that there would be a higher proportion of terminal residents at Skilled Nursing Homes, than in other homes for the aged, since there is extensive medical supervision in them. The investigator designed a survey instrument containing three sections which sought information regarding the overall recreation program, services for the terminally ill, and the persons who conduct the program.

Thirty-one of the sixty-one Activity Coordinators responded to the questionnaire. Results showed that a varied selection of recreational activities were available to the residents, although few were designed specifically for the terminal residents. The respondents felt that their services could benefit the terminally ill in the remaining time they have, as well as help make dying an easier process to accept. Group interaction was encouraged between the terminal and non-terminal residents, and also among the terminal residents themselves. The responses were slightly in favor of allowing the resident to be alone instead of participating when he or she chose to be that way.

The average resident population of the thirty-one nursing homes in this study was 152.

Persons who conduct the recreation programs are most frequently called Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. The average length of time these persons had been employed by their agencies was three and one-third years. Educational attainment of these respondents ranged from a high school diploma to a doctoral degree, with a high school diploma being most representative. Only six had a college major in recreation. However, 63 percent had attended either Death Education courses or workshops concerning dying patients.

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