Conclusions were that: (1) meanings of mental health constructs cluster differently depending on the analysis; (2) happiness may be considered the most apposite representative of the mental health constructs employed by gerontologists; and (3) contemporary models of happiness favor neither the expansionist nor contractionist positions as a means…

Claims it is appropriate for the aging and developmental disabilities networks to explore the intersections of their operations with respect to their methods of administration, advocacy, service systems, development, and policies. Discusses roles of State and Area Agencies on Aging. (Author/ABL)

Describes the demographic trends and health risk factors of the growing elderly population, especially poor minorities. Suggests rethinking traditional hospital and nursing home roles in health care delivery to the elderly, expanding research concerns, reworking access to Medicaid, and ensuring health care to minorities. (CJS)

A study compared the attitudes of a group of about 60 elderly rest home residents and about 120 members of two different clubs for older adults in New Zealand. The five 1-hour discussions that were held with the adults indicated a consistent difference between the opinions expressed by the rest home clients and those of the club members, all of…

Divorce can have traumatic financial and emotional effects on midlife and older women who have fulfilled cultural expectations by becoming homemakers or accepting low-level, dead-end employment because the husband had the "real" career. This "gray paper" therefore addresses the adverse legal consequences of the rise of no-fault…

This report describes the University of Southern California's (USC) gerontology career preparation project, which was funded for the following training activities in mental health and aging: (1) traineeships for graduate students in USC's doctoral track in clinical psychology and aging and in the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology master's track…

This Technical Committee Report provides an overview and historical sketch of research in aging and proposes a need for new knowledge. An examination of key issues notes the difficulty in assigning priority to research topics, and identifies emerging issues of public concern including: (1) physical health (alcohol and drugs, falls and accidents,…

This third and last volume of the final report of the 1981 White House Conference on Aging presents the results of a post-conference survey of delegates and observers conducted to gain insight about participants' views of Conference recommendations. Part I of the volume presents a detailed description of the methodology of the survey (coding and…

Policy suggestions of the Washington State Commission on Mexican American Affairs for 1984 and 1985 are outlined in this two-year comprehensive plan. First, facts about the commission's membership, budget and purposes (as well as general data on the Hispanic population of Washington) are presented. Next, seven issue statements are provided, each…

This document, one in a series developed to provide technical assistance to 22 Long-Term Care Gerontology Centers, consists of two general sections. The first section is devoted to policy issues and themes related to long-term care delivery, including manpower and staffing patterns, coordination, regulation and quality control, teamwork, and…

This guide is designed for individuals working in community mental health centers or other mental health programs concerned with needs and problems of the elderly. Section One examines the mental health needs of the elderly, and identifies major community social support programs that help the elderly with social and economic needs. Section Two…

These three papers describe a cooperative outreach program designed to counsel older rural residents about available community services through use of a door-to-door information effort. The packaging and delivery of the training conference for the outreach workers involved in the outreach project are described in the paper highlighting the work of…

The development of alternatives to institutionally based long-term care requires the creation of greater interdependence among community based agencies and the provision of appropriate interdependence as the foundation for coordinated service delivery. Theoretical models of interorganizational interdependence are examined and assessed for their…

With increasing emphasis on treating the whole person, on the maintenance of an individual's former life style, and on patients' rights, long-term care personnel need to become aware that many nursing home residents experience needs related to their sexuality. A model two-day workshop is presented wlth a focus on the following topics: (1) a broad…

Describes the Neighborhood Family (NF), which is based on the premise that older persons can create a self-managed social support network. Arising from community organization of low-income elderly, the model combines a kin-like supportive community, a multipurpose service and activities center, minimal staff, and indigenous decision- making.…