Research on personality and aging has been limited by several factors, including nomethetic assumptions about traits; overreliance on morale scales as measures of adaptation; and the confounding of cohort, time of measurement and age effects. An idiographic approach, which focuses on traits that individuals subjectively feel as important, may help…

While research usually emphasizes the decrements of older persons, increases in human relations skills may be among the observable gains of aging. The present study, conducted in the Counseling Center of the Andrus Gerontology Center, evaluates the potential of using older volunteers as peer counselors. Subjects were 11 persons from a larger pool…

Two successive studies investigated teaching four memory training strategies and their effects on subjective memory complaints in the community- dwelling elderly. Evaluations revealed significant improvements in recall functioning among the memory training subjects. Results indicate concern about poor memory may reflect expectations about old age…

This paper highlights what the authors believe are the important issues and directions of change in the evaluation of mental health programs. The rationale for such evaluation is twofold. First, it provides a scientifically rigorous method of determining the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment or program, and secondly, these results can exercise…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the work of evening and night home care patrols in Swedish old-age care by examining how staff members view their work and the specific work content. Design and Methods: The authors developed two questionnaires: one that was to be answered jointly by the patrol teams, and one to be completed by…

Describes a practicum model for mental health counselor training in gerontology which includes academic preparation and clinical values, assessment skills, beginning counseling techniques, advanced counseling skills, and administrative competence. Presents supervision, the placement process, and procedural issues surrounding practica. (Author/ABB)