Friends in passing: social interaction at an adult day care center.
This study explores the social interactions and friendships that exist among cognitively impaired adult day care participants. A five month participant observation of an adult day care center was conducted, involving fifty-three clients ranging in age from sixty-six to ninety-three. Findings indicate that the clients engage in a variety of social interactions and friendships, enabling them to maintain a sense of self as well as to adjust to the norms of the group. Specific areas to be discussed are: general socializing, enduring friendships, helping relationships and client integration. A descriptive approach such as this provides the opportunity to examine the complexity of social interactions, including the positive relationships available to the cognitively impaired elderly.
Long Beach Community Hospital, California, USA.
B
B
Williams
P
P
Roberts
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001601:Bereavement; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D012951:Socialization; D014705:Verbal Behavior