Depression is the single most widespread mental health problem facing the elderly, with pharmacotherapy the most frequent standard treatment modality for these patients. A psycho-therapeutic alternative to pharmacotherapy is Life Enhancement Counseling, a counseling approach matching therapeutic techniques to client characteristics and providing…

Cognitive change in the elderly can be due to several etiological factors which are empirically difficult to separate and clinically problematic to differentiate. Normal aging is accompanied by behavioral slowing. The slowing down of psycho-motor processes results in a lowered intelligence quotient, but cannot be taken as unequivocal evidence for…

This report addresses the issue of community utilization of resources for the elderly population. A strategy for channeling resources is presented, including: (1) design of a comprehensive aging services administration and delivery plan based on needs assessment data and a service resource inventory; (2) development of a service agencies network…

Low rates of service to older persons in community mental health programs were investigated in 20 California county government sponsored programs. County administrative officers, mental health advisory board members, directors, clinic supervisors, and clinical staff were surveyed through a mailed questionniare. Levels of awareness of problems of…

Information on the preliminary impacts of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) Amendments of 1978 on approximately 1900 private firms was obtained through mail and telephone surveys during Winter 1979. Findings from the study indicate that employers do not expect the ADEA amendments to have a significant impact on the retirement…

With traditional enrollments declining, unless community colleges adapt to an increasing nontraditional population they may find themselves out of business. The 1977-1982 California Community College Five Year Plan indicates that nontraditional students, now the majority of community college enrollments, are often physically, economically,…

In 1995, there were 107 universities of the third age (U3As) in Australia (up from 104 in 1994) and Australian membership in U3A groups totaled 26,346 (compared to 20,788 in 1994). U3A membership in New Zealand was also up. In view of the increasing popularity of U3As in Australasia and the success of U3A networks in a number of countries…

This paper describes work aimed at catering the content of World Wide Web (WWW) pages to the needs of different users, including elderly people and users with vision and motor impairments. An overview is provided of the AVANTI system, a European WWW-based tourist information system that adapts Web pages to each user's individual needs before…

Specific strategies for incorporating information relevant to the effects of racism and ageism in our society into the curricula of social work programs are described. Participant observer roles, development of a resource book, information networks, health, mental health, and housing service areas are discussed. (MLW)

Summarizes the conduct and results of the Seattle Longitudinal Study, an investigation that has assessed mental abilities in more than 5,000 adults and has followed some for as long as 35 years. Integrative findings are presented on age changes, cohort differences, factor structure, individual differences, and interventions. (SLD)

An interesting area of adult development is "gender shift": the transition from the traditional life patterns or ways of making meaning that are associated with stereotypically male or female roles. One may experience the wish to fulfill those parts of one's personality often associated with feminine or masculine constructs not yet explored.…

This paper describes a multimedia workshop at Worcester State College (Massachusetts) organized by computer science students to give their older classmates the opportunity to gain "hands on" experience with multimedia computers. A questionnaire on the effectiveness of multimedia systems was completed by 35 older students, whose average…

A multi-dimensional training program is being implemented in Pennsylvania to improve the quality of early childhood and child care programs. Training opportunities are provided for early childhood program and day care center staff, group and family home day care providers, and unregulated child care providers. The overall training plan is designed…

Older learners are often led into adult education by a quest for self-development and the wish to make meaning of the human experience. Adult educators should explore and appreciate the process of human development in the last stage. In old age there can be a merging of the knowledge of the body (life's stories) and of the spirit (developmental…

Research on helping behavior has focused on help to elderly individuals rather than help by elderly individuals. To investigate the determinants and consequences of helping by older adults, 117 adults, from five Detroit senior citizen residences, with a mean age of 75.6 (67 percent female) completed a personal/demographic questionnaire, including…