Parents of adults with developmental disabilities: Age and reasons for reluctance to use another caregiver

Parents of individuals with developmental disabilities differ in their expressed reluctance to use another caregiver depending on their age. Older parents, more than younger parents, reported a reluctance to use another caregiver because of financial reasons and the unavailability of qualified caregivers. The results suggest that elderly parents may be willing to leave their developmentally disabled child with someone else but they require financial assistance and education regarding program quality and availability.Jean L. Engelhardt is a Research Associate of the Family and Child Studies Center, Department of Home Economics and Consumer Sciences, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Her current research is in the area of older parents of developmentally disabled children. Dr. Engelhardt received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Notre Dame.Dr. Lutzer is Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology and an Associate of the Family and Child Studies Center at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is currently involved in research on the older parents of developmentally disabled children.Timothy H. Brubaker is Professor and Director of the Family and Child Studies Center, Department of Home Economics and Consumer Sciences, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Dr. Brubaker holds a Ph.D. from Iowa State University and is currently conducting research on the older parents of developmentally disabled children.We express our gratitude to the Family Resource Services Program of the Butler County (Ohio) Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities for their help, and to the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust of Cincinnati for financial support during the writing of this article.     

A non-linear mixed-effects model to predict cumulative bole volume of standing trees

For purposes of forest inventory and eventual management of the forest resource, it is essential to be able to predict the cumulative bole volume to any stipulated point on the standing tree bole, while requiring measurements of tree size that can be made easily, quickly and accurately. Equations for this purpose are typically non-linear and are fitted to data garnered from a sample of felled trees. Because the cumulative bole volume of each tree is measured to numerous upper-bole locations, correlations between measurements within a tree are likely. A mixed-effects model is fitted to account for this within-subject (tree) correlation structure, while also portraying the sigmoidal shape of the cumulative bole volume profile.     

ICONOCLASM VERSUS INNOVATION: BUILDING A SCIENCE OF FAMILY THERAPY-COMMENTS ON MOON, DILLON, AND SPRENKLE

We dispute Moon, Dillon, and Sprenkle's (1990) claims regarding the unique advantages of qualitative methods and inherent limitations of traditional quantitative approaches for addressing the needs of family therapy research. We support the role of qualitative research as a generative phase in theory development and concur that exclusive allegiance to a standard set of research methods may limit our attention to important family therapy processes. However, we also assert the need to document generalizability of informal observations through controlled procedures using appropriate quantitative techniques. Both ethical and practical considerations demand that we document treatment efficacy based on a science of family therapy.     

Perception of Risk and Credibility at Toxic Sites

This study integrates previous research methodologies to compare the risk perceptions and responses to risk messages of agency personnel and neighbors of Superfund sites in Michigan. The integration attempted and the focus on risk messages are shaped by a critical review of the social amplification conceptual framework. The study involved all four agency groups and three groups of site neighbors actively involved in Superfund planning across the state. The first part of the study utilized the psychometric techniques of hazard rating and hazard profiles that had not previously been used in studies involving stakeholders. While agency personnel responded similarly to experts in previous studies, the responses of individuals in the neighbor groups reflected experience with toxic sites and were dissimilar to previous ratings by the general public. The second part of the study consisted of a hypothetical toxic site scenario that focused on specific risk messages at different times in the site history. Results indicate that the difference in perception of risk occurs after the first testing at a site, and that dramatic differences arise between agency and resident groups regarding the credibility of information sources and the need for independent testing. A general lack of trust in the Superfund program was demonstrated by all groups. The results indicate that problems of institutional credibility and program adequacy cannot be addressed by better risk communication.     

Bayesian Methods for Model Uncertainty Analysis with Application to Future Sea Level Rise

This paper addresses the use of data for identifying and characterizing uncertainties in model parameters and predictions. The Bayesian Monte Carlo method is formally presented and elaborated, and applied to the analysis of the uncertainty in a predictive model for global mean sea level change. The method uses observations of output variables, made with an assumed error structure, to determine a posterior distribution of model outputs. This is used to derive a posterior distribution for the model parameters. Results demonstrate the resolution of the uncertainty that is obtained as a result of the Bayesian analysis and also indicate the key contributors to the uncertainty in the sea level rise model. While the technique is illustrated with a simple, preliminary model, the analysis provides an iterative framework for model refinement. The methodology developed in this paper provides a mechanism for the incorporation of ongoing data collection and research in decision-making for problems involving uncertain environmental change.     

Promoting Transparency of Long-Term Environmental Decisions: The Hanford Decision Mapping System Pilot Project

Nuclear waste cleanup is a challenging and complex problem that requires both scientific analysis and dialogue among a variety of stakeholders. This article describes an effort to develop an online information system that supports this analytic-deliberative dialogue by integrating cleanup information for the Hanford Site, and making it more "transparent." A framework for understanding and evaluating transparency guided system development. Working directly with stakeholders, we identified information needs and developed new ways to organize and present the information so that it would be more transparent to interested parties, with the ultimate aim of fostering greater participation in decision dialogues and processes. The complexity of the information needed for dialogue suggested that several types of communication devices ("information structures") were warranted. Five information structures were developed for the pilot Decision Mapping System (http://nalu.geog.washington.edu/dms). Decision maps hyperlinked decision information to maps of Hanford. Background Information provided context in a narrative format. Decision Paths organized decision process information on a timeline and provided direct hyperlinks to online documentation. The Geographic Library hyperlinked decision documents to maps. Finally, a Discussion Forum allowed users to make comments and view remarks from others. Early lessons from this work suggest that transparency is integral to long-term management, a participatory design process contributed greatly to its perceived success, and better data integration to support decision making is needed. This work has broad implications for risk communicators and risk managers because it speaks to the design of information systems to support "analytic-deliberative" decision processes (i.e., those that rely upon both risk science and public dialogue).     

Elder abuse litigation and the duty to provide palliative care

Lawyers are targeting problems with under-treatment of pain for elderly and chronically ill patients. Learn some tactics for dealing with the legal issue.