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| Effects of various procedures on engagement in activities and escaped maintained behaviors in older adults. |
| Monday, May 25, 2009 |
| 9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
| North 132 BC |
| Area: DEV/DDA; Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| Chair: Diana J. Walker (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology) |
| Discussant: John P. Smagner (University of Chicago) |
| Abstract: The growth of the older adult population is growing in national and international awareness. This population growth comes with increasing needs for behavioral support for seniors and their caregivers to enjoy old age. These presentations will address the benefits of engagement in activities on the maintenance of mental and physical health as well as its effective on the reduction of escape-maintained behaviors of adults and older adults. Procedures to increase engagement in activities will be evaluated and discussed. |
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| The effects of contingent prompts and praise on older adults' engagement in leisurely activities. |
| VINH DANG (Cornerstone Services, Inc.) |
| Abstract: Engagement in daily activities has been found by many studies as having the benefits of reducing the risk of developing dementia. This issue becomes increasing socially significant as the aging of America continues. Engelman, Altus, & Mathews (1999) reported the positive effects of staff's contingent use of prompt and praise on the engagement in daily activities by five older adults with dementia in an assisted living facility. The procedures were replicated in a vocational day program with six older adults with diagnoses of mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The procedure involved staff checking in with each participant once every 15 minutes, providing suggestions of leisurely activities to engage in if participants are not engaged, and praising participants who are engaged. The data show increased engagement in leisurely activities with four participants and unclear effect for two participants. Staff and participants’ responses show the procedure to have social validity and can be utilized in applied settings. The social significance, results of the study, suggestions for future research, along with techniques of observation for time-sampling recording will be discussed. |
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| Effects of a lottery on independent engagement in leisure activities by adults with developmental disabilities |
| TRISTA ROBINSON (Seguin Services) |
| Abstract: The present study introduced a lottery system in a residential facility for adults with developmental disabilities. Entries into the lottery were contingent upon appropriate participation in leisure activities. All 5 participants exhibited low levels of activity participation during baseline. The introduction of a weekly lottery drawing for $20.00 increased independent engagement over baseline for 4 of 5 participants. Independent engagement returned to near baseline levels upon withdrawal of the lottery. Reintroduction of the weekly drawing again increased levels of independent engagement, but not at levels observed during the first intervention phase. Advantages, disadvantages, and suggestions for future research are discussed. |
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| The effects of activity choice on escape-maintained problem behavior. |
| ERIKA M WINSTON (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology) |
| Abstract: Although many have acknowledged the importance of the availability of choice (Davis, Young, Cherry, Dahman, & Rehfeldt, 2004; Parsons & Reid, 1990; Reid, Parsons, & Green, 1998), persons with developmental disabilities all too frequently are not given the opportunity to make choices in their daily lives (Parsons, Reid, Reynolds, & Bumgarner, 1990; Reid, Green, & Parsons, 2003). Allowing adults with developmental disabilities to make choices throughout the day can help improve quality of life for those individuals while minimally increasing the demands placed on staff. The present study will measure the effects of choice between two activities on the problem behavior of adults with developmental disabilities attending day program at a moderately sized residential facility. Data is to be collected and effects, implications, social validity, and suggestions for future research will be discussed. Ability for additional facilities to implement the procedures as well as advantages and disadvantages will also be discussed. |
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