STAFF STRESS AND TREATMENT OF CLIENTS IN ALZHEIMERS CARE - A COMPARISON OF MEDICAL AND NONMEDICAL DAY-CARE PROGRAMS

This field research in day care centers for persons with dementing illnesses identifies work-related stress for the staff, and staff-client interactions associated with work-related stress, in two day care programs which differ in their underlying program structure: one is a medical program (day health care), the other non-medical (social day care). The two day care centers are compared in regard to three dimensions of work-related stress: high demands, low control, and perceived lack of social support. The two programs also are compared in regard to staff treatment of clients. Less staff stress was found in the medical (day health care) program. However, the medical model includes typifications, props, and conversational scripts which result in lower expectations and greater infantilization of clients in the day health care program. © 1990.