Reestablishing self-feeding in a nursing home resident

An attempt was made to teach an elderly person to reacquire and maintain self-feeding skills. A single-subject ABAB reversal strategy, including assessment for generalization, was planned as experimental design. The treatment procedure consisted of a continuous, immediate reinforcement program contingent on self-feeding responses. Fast and stable control of self-feeding was obtained. A drop in feeding behavior resulted when the patient returned to base-line procedures. The patient died before the second treatment procedure could be carried out. The study found, however, that nursing home staff could facilitate healthy behavior through better use of behavioral management skills.