Using life histories to individualize nursing home staff attitudes toward residents.

This study assesses the impact of life histories on nursing home staff attitudes. Nurse's aides at two institutions answered questions about their experience and knowledge of aging, and rated nursing home residents on a semantic differential (attitude) scale. Aides received one of two versions of an anonymous resident's medical chart, identical except for the inclusion of a one-page life history. Controlling for individual differences such as prior work experience and knowledge about aging, staff reviewing the chart with the life history rated that resident as more instrumental, autonomous, and personally acceptable than staff who reviewed the chart without the life history.