• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2011

Purpose: This study propose basic materials to prepare the mentally disabled for rehabilitation nursing mediating plans, by comparing the degree of self-care of the chronically mentally disabled residing in community mental health centers between those who participate in daytime rehabilitation programs and those who do not as well as the degree of perceived burden of the two groups' families. Method: The subjects of the study were 51 chronically mentally disabled men, who participated in daytime rehabilitation programs in three mental health centers in Gyeonggi-do and their families, and 53 in-house chronically mentally disabled men, who did not participate and their families. The measuring instrument for self-care consisted of ten spheres (65 questions and 5 points a standard). To quantify the feeling of burden of families, the measuring equipment developed by Montgomery et al. was used. Results: The degree of self-care of chronically mentally disabled men participating in rehabilitation programs in community mental health centers were higher than that of men not participating, and there was a significant difference between them. Families in the group not participating in rehabilitation programs had higher score than those in the group participating, but there was no significant difference. Conclusion: The participation of the chronically mentally disabled in rehabilitation programs influenced improvement of self-care and also lessened a feeling of burden of families somewhat.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.36
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• pp.1-20
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• 1998

This study was conducted to find out the effects of visiting companion dog program on people with chronic mental disability. Visiting companion dog program was carried out for one hour every week for about three months between January and March of 1997 for chronic schizophrenic patients with severe negative symptoms and evaluated by the treatment team as those who are incapable of participating in any other program aside from medication. In order to measure the effects of the program PANSS: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was conducted by two trained evaluators. The results showed that there was a statistically significant decrease in scores of negative symtoms and general psypathological symtoms. Moreover, scaling scores reported by the nurses and occupational therapist also reveal that the patients show positive changes such as improvement in conversational interaction and facial expressions. Such results evidence that companion animals can have positive emotional and mental influence on people with chronic mental disability. Furthermore the fact that the visiting companion dog program became a program that the chronically mentally disabled who could not participate in any other program can easily participate and enjoy is a meaningful finding in and of itself.