The Slomans: Albert, Josie, Shirley and Bert, 1942

A black and white snapshot of Albert and Josie Sloman, with Shirley and Bert Sloman. The date recorded on the back of the photograph is May 24, 1942, possibly the Victoria Day weekend. The location appears to be the Oakes Garden Theatre in Niagara Falls. This photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, of St. Catharines, whose ancestors include former Black slaves from the United States.

Roy and Shirley (Sloman) Johnson [n.d]

Roy and Shirley (Sloman) Johnson pose in this black and white photograph set in an unknown location. The Sloman - Bell ancestry includes former Black slaves from the United States who escaped to Canada.Roy Johnson is believed to be the man who donated the tank to the Lake St. Armoury in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Preoperative education and its influence on perception of recovery for clients awaiting total hip and total knee replacement surgery /

The puqjose of this study was to examine the manner in which an inviting approach to a preoperative teaching and learning educational experience influenced the perception and subsequent recovery of clients who were awaiting total hip and total knee replacement surgery. An in-depth review of the internal and external factors that shape client perceptions was undertaken in this study. In addition, this study also explored whether or not the Prehab Program was preparing clients physically, socially, and psychologically for surgery. Data for this qualitative case study research were collected through preoperative interviews with 4 participants awaiting total hip replacement surgery and 1 participant awaiting total knee replacement surgery. Four postoperative interviews were conducted with the participants who had received total hip replacement surgery. The occupational therapist and physical therapist who were the coleaders of the Prehab Program at the time of this study were also interviewed. The results of this study suggest that while individuals may receive similar educational experiences, their perceptions of the manner in which they benefited from these experiences varied. This is illustrated in the research findings, which concluded that while clients benefited physically from the inviting approach used during the practical teaching session, not all clients perceived the psychological benefits of this practice session, especially clients with preexisting high levels of anxiety. In addition to increasing the understanding of the internal as well as external factors that influence the perceptions of clients, this study has also served as an opportunity for reflection on practice for the Prehab therapists and other healthcare educators.

An exploration of intergenerational exchanges between grandparents and their older grandcildren

Changes within the family unit have resulted in changes in interactions between grandparents and older grandchildren. Existing research indicates that these relationships can result in positive outcomes. A relevant task for researchers is to continue to explore th~se intergenerational relationships. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the question: What functional patterns exist when grandparents interact with older grandchildren? Six grandparent-older grandchild pairs agreed to be involved. Kennedy's (1992) formulation of grandparent-older grandchild activity clusters was reviewed and revised. Activities were clustered related to socialization, companionship, support, entertainment, and education. Findings unique to this study indicate that shared activities were mutually chosen with consideration of activity tolerance, and were consistently evaluated as enjoyable. Partners were chosen because of a comfortable relationship established through frequent past and present interactions, and not because of family lineage preferences. Both grandparents and older grandchildren stated a desire to have a generation peer share activities with them. Exploration of dimension concepts for the "McMaster Model of Family Functioning" indicated that these relationships have potential to contribute to healthy family functioning. The implications for practice, theory development and further research are suggested.

The elderly : reminiscing, coping with loss, accepting death

This study investigated loss, death and dying, reminiscing, coping and the process of adaptation from the sUbjective perspective. A number of theories and models of death and dying were reviewed in the background literature search with the focus on reminiscing as a coping phenomenon. The format of the study was audio-taped interviews with ten sUbjects and the recording of their memories and reminiscing of life stories. The sUbjects were required to complete an initial questionnaire in a demographic data collection process. Two separate interviews consisted of a primary data collecting interview and a verification interview four to eight weeks later. An independent chart review completed the data collecting process. Data analysis was by the examination of the emerging themes in the subjects' personal narratives which revealed the sUb-categories of reminiscing, loss (including death and dying), acceptance, hope, love, despair and belief. Belief was shown to be the foundation and the base for living and reminiscing. Reminiscing was found to be a coping phenomenon, within the foundation of a belief system. Both living and reminiscing revealed the existence of a central belief or value with a great deal of importance attached to it. Whether the belief was of a spiritual nature, a value of marriage, tradition, a work ethic or belief in an abstract value such as fate,it gave support and control to the individuals' living and reminiscing process. That which caused despair or allowed acceptance indicated the sUbjects' basic belief and was identified in the story narrations. The findings were significant to health care in terms of education, increased dignity for the elderly and better understanding by society. The profiles represented an average age of 86.3 years with age showing no bearing on the life experiences associated with the emerging themes. Overwhelmingly, belief was shown to be the foundation in reminiscing. A Judeo-Christian cultural value base supported the belief in 90% of the sUbjects; however, different beliefs were clearly shown indicating that belief is central to all thinking beings, in everyday life and in reminiscing. Belief was not necessarily spiritual or a practised or verbalized religion. It was shown to be a way of understanding, a fundamental and single thread tying the individual's life and stories together. The benefits were the outcomes, in that knowledge of an individual's belief can optimize care planning for any age group, and/or setting. The strength of the study was the open question format and the feedback process of data verification. The unrestricted outcomes and non-specificity were significant in a world where dying is everybody's business.

Occupational therapist and client experiences of a mental health group

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the client and occupational therapist experiences of a mental health group. A secondary aim was to explore the extent to which this group seemed to have reflected a client-centred approach. The topic emerged from personal and professional issues related to the therapist as teacher and to inconsistencies in practice with the profession's client-centred philosophy. This philosophy, the study's frame of reference, was established in terms of themes related to the client-therapist relationship and to client values. Typical practice was illustrated through an extensive literature review. Structured didacticexperiential methods aiming toward skill development were predominant. The interpretive sciences and, to a lesser extent, the critical sciences directed the methodology. An ongoing support group at a community mental health clinic was selected as the focus of the study; the occupational therapist leader and three members became the key participants. A series of conversational interviews, the . core method of data collection, was supplemented by observation, document review, further interviews, and fieldnotes. Transcriptions of conversations were returned to participants for verification and for further reflection. Analysis primarily consisted of coding and organizing data according to emerging themes. The participants' experiences of group, presented as narrative stories within a group session vignette, were also returned to participants. There was a common understanding of the group's structure and the importance of having "air time" within the group; however, differences in perceptions of such things as the importance of the group in members' lives were noted. All members valued the therapeutic aspects of group, the role of group as weekly activity and, to a lesser extent, the learning that came from group. The researcher's perspective provided a critique of the group experience from a client-centred perspective. Some areas of consistency with client-centred practice were noted (e.g., therapist attitudes); however the group seemed to function far from a client-centred ideal. Members held little authority in a relationship dominated by the leaders, and leader agendas rather than member values controlled the session. Possible reasons for this discrepancy ranging from past health care encounters through to co-leader discord emerged. The actual and potential significance of this study was discussed according to many areas of implications: to OT practice, especially client-centred group practice, to theory development, to further areas of research and methodology considerations, to people involved in the group and to my personal growth and development.