Reviews some of dangers inherent in oversimplifying nature of suicide for public education purposes, then outlines model of elderly suicide derived from community-based psychological autopsy study. Hypothesizes that elderly persons who die by suicide have lifelong character fault that remains invisible until aging life-changes force issue into the…

Proposes strategies for development of participatory processes and systems that take into account reality of daily life in barrio for Chicano elderly. Recommends statistical data should be enriched by qualitative information for decision-making purposes: calm rationality of people discussing the problems of others should be balanced by fire of…

Identified six types of very long-term marriages: stable/positive, stable/neutral, stable/negative, curvilinear, continuous decline, and continuous increase. Case records of 17 marriages lasting between 50 and 69 years revealed that nearly 75 percent of the marriages showed either curvilinear or stable/positive patterns. Found no continuous…

Introduces the faith development paradigm of James Fowler, describing six stages of faith development: intuitive-projective faith, mythic-literal faith, synthetic-conventional faith, individuating-reflective faith, conjunctive faith, and universalizing faith. Reviews one research project in which Fowler's paradigm was applied to older adults.…

Presents four "best practice models" that address problems faced by community agencies working with elder abuse cases: multidisciplinary case consultation team; senior advocate volunteer program; victim support group; and master's of social work degree specialization in adult protective services. Sees their relatively low cost, flexibility, and…

Proposes a consultative model for use by professionals who work with older adults, recognizing the rapidly increasing number of aging individuals in the United States and the difficulties encountered by these people. Proposes an example of content for possible inclusion in the consultative process for use in decision making. (Author/ABL)

The authors discuss the contributions made by millions of older volunteers in the United States. They focus on the federal senior volunteer programs, (1) the retired senior volunteer program, (2) the foster grandparent program, and (3) the senior companion program. These model programs have been successfully replicated in other countries. (CH)

Examined theoretical and methodological difficulties of defining, coding, and analyzing data on older volunteers using findings from Minnesota Senior Study, a survey of needs and resources of elderly. Proposes new conceptual model for classifying volunteer roles, based on whether voluntary service is "formal" or "informal,"…

This document provides a theory on successful aging and describes a workshop method devised to inspire middle-aged and older adults to meet and embrace the challenge of growing older. A five-stage model is proposed, based on the assumptions that aging adults need not be victims of the various scenarios of aging that exist in American culture and…

Discusses literature on the physician-elderly patient-companion triad and proposes conceptual framework and methodological approach for understanding the companion's presence during the geriatric visit. Suggests agenda for both clinical and social science research. (Author)

Proposes a model to help explain genesis of psychiatric symptoms in late life. Model (which is illustrated by case studies) suggests psychotherapeutic strategies and helps define methods of assessing therapeutic outcomes; it emphasizes importance of losses, premorbid adjustment, and mediating factors in determining whether stresses result in…

Describes a home equity conversion counseling model in partnership with private sector resources as a possible solution for older Americans who find themselves "house rich but cash poor." Discusses obstacles to widespread acceptance of this concept and future policy implications. (Author/NB)

Questions whether defeat of propositions to establish paid Martin Luther King holiday in Arizona was example of racism among primarily White senior adult voters of the state. Proposes three models to account for general pattern of election-related behavior and for vote itself: proactive racist; pragmatic self-interest; and fortress mentality.…

A humanistically-oriented dynamic approach for the treatment of depression in older persons is presented. A multi-level therapeutic model of treatment is discussed in detail. Included are initiation of the therapeutic relationship, specific tools for problem-solving, relationship building, and insight, termination, transference, and…

Classical models of the grieving process include Freud's concept of withdrawal of ties to the love object called decathexis, and Lindemann's emancipation from the bondage to the deceased involving adjusting to the loss in one's environment and the ability to form new relationships. Most of the models and explanations of the grieving process over…