A confiding spousal relationship and/or a confidant outside the marital relationship may affect an individual's ability to cope with various stressful events occurring during the adult years. Initial interviews of adults (N=2299) were conducted in 1972; a follow-up study was conducted in 1976 with 1106 adults. The findings confirmed the…

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…

Although studies of social contact and mutual aid between the elderly and their children suggest impressive potentials for family supports, much less is known of this potential in a situation of illness and dependency. The family's potential at that stage when the older person's health deteriorates to the point that some external support is…

Numerous studies report that depression is the most common psychiatric disorder of the elderly. According to the behavioral view, depression results from inadequate, ineffective or insufficient positive reinforcement. In contrast, the cognitive position sees depression as a result of negative thinking about oneself, one's experience, and the…

The behavioral view that depression results from inadequate, ineffective and/or insufficient reinforcers was explored. Since the depressed person does not act in a manner open to positive reinforcement by others, he suffers ongoing and deepening depression. The task of the therapist is to improve behavior, especially social skills, so that the…

North America and Europe are being transformed into a society of elders primarily due to improvements in medical technology and the reduction in the birth rate. Traditional life constructs are no longer valid. The futurist must begin to explore new systems which provide a viable synergistic relationship among education, work, and leisure.…

The rationale for psychosocial micro and macro interventions for the prevention and treatment of depression in aging women is conceptually based upon empirical research. The investigator's person-environment incongruence model of depression, applied to a study of 50 depressed and 50 non-depressed white women for the purpose of exploring possible…

There have been several major theories proposed to account for the development of stereotypes of old people. The literature on stereotyping of the elderly is reviewed, with an emphasis on the attitudes of various health workers, especially physicians and psychiatrists. The theories and supporting data of the classical psychoanalytic theory,…

The impact of print and electronic media orientations upon the public affairs knowledge of older persons was investigated through interviews with 59 participants in a foster grandparents program, 68 participants in a retired senior volunteer program, and 23 members of a retired teachers association. Analysis of results indicated a clear pattern in…

This report reviews the progress of the California Community Colleges in carrying out the intent of a recent Assembly Resolution which specified that fee structures, admission policies, and financial aid policies and programs at institutions of public postsecondary education shall not discriminate against part-time students and students choosing…

In the absence of data, pharmacotherapy with benzodiazepines has become the mainstay of anxiety management in the elderly population. However, the use of benzodiazepines in the elderly has many problems. Elderly persons are more sensitive to anti-anxiety medications and are subject to a variety of increased risks, including cognitive impairment,…

A longitudinal study focused on a weekly writing workshop for a group of active older adults ranging in age from 67-91. The core group consisted of 14 elders. The research that explored elders' literacy confirmed the importance of its social nature and its grounding in specific cultural and historical contexts; varying perceptions and uses of…

This report presents model regulations to establish a program of adult protective services, which would facilitate the identification of high risk adults, and warrant delivery of life-sustaining services. The report reviews the personal and environmental circumstances which lead to jeopardy, including deinstitutionalization of the disabled,…