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.
Williams
B
B
Long Beach Community Hospital, California, USA.
Roberts
P
P
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