This service-learning project provided a venue for university students majoring in business administration to learn about the successful aging process while contributing to a positive quality of life for retirees living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). The project provided the retirees an opportunity to learn computer skills that…

Older persons are living longer and healthier and, thus, are capable of being more productive and less dependent. Despite this trend, young people persistently hold the age-old negative stereotypes about older persons. The goals of this study were to develop a valid, reliable measure of social values of older people and to assess its utility as…

To improve well-being of nursing home residents and ensure compliance with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, programs aimed at improving quality of life must strive to satisfy higher level needs of the elderly as identified in Maslow's hierarchy. (SK)

Imagining what one will be like as an older adult can be a difficult task at mid life, let alone during young adulthood. Yet, pondering senescence has positive benefits for young adults with respect to their future physical, financial and social well being. This article describes an exercise used with more than 300 introductory-level gerontology…

The purpose of this study was to identify needs, interests, and obstacles related to obtaining health education by means of a Web site for elderly people who do not use the Internet. A total of 34 participants were divided into five discussion groups, one of which was made up of blind people. An analysis of the semantic content of the…

Examined the relationship between several aspects of perceived life satisfaction and the extent to which one possesses attitudes and skills associated with self-direction in learning in older adults (N=64). Results suggest that self-directed learning and life satisfaction may be linked in a way that offers implications for improving quality of…

Based on a needs assessment survey (66 responses from 101 nursing home activity coordinators), a recreation manual and training program was developed and tested with 25 coordinators/recreation staff. The 14 who completed evaluations increased their understanding of such topics as depression; goals of nursing home recreation programs; motivation of…

Describes potential areas for service-learning research involving older adults. Provides methodological recommendations intended to address such issues as recruitment, retention, and randomization of participants; appropriateness of assessment tools; student training in research methods; and treatment of topics such as sexuality. (Contains 46…

Older women's economic, social, and personal resources are more vulnerable, which the predominantly leisure-oriented perspective of older adult education does not address. Education for older women should help foster social and political identity, develop economic equity, and negotiate later-life transitions. (SK)

A health promotion program that provided health information and training to Italian older adults received high ratings from participants for lecturer helpfulness, subjects, locations, and time. Most participants changed eating and social habits, attributing positive changes to personal conviction. Those who received training disseminated…

For many years gerontologists have discussed the consequences of advances that have lengthened lives but have been less successful at improving the quality of those lives. While this debate continues, the resulting demographic shift in the age profile of the United States threatens to overwhelm our ability to care for those who most need…

A needs assessment was conducted to explore the educational interests of 28 residents of a retirement community in the Niagara region of Ontario. Most were interested in education for leisure and personal development, specifically related to health maintenance and quality of life. (JOW)

A pilot evaluation is reported of a reminiscence program aimed at increasing personal meaning. Fifty-seven older persons completed both a sentence completion questionnaire measuring personal meaning and a depression scale administered before and after the program. In comparison to a group from a representative survey that was matched on life…

Participation in educational activities brings disadvantaged older adults relief from conditions that aggravate their situation, and is instrumental in preventing intellectual decline, increasing self-confidence and enhancing the quality of life. Increased participation occurs when programs involve instrumental learning and take place in community…

Ratings indicated that learning was of decreasing importance to older groups. However, a large proportion of all age groups reported that their needs were not being met in learning. Analyses of educational needs indicated that adult education programs were needed to improve quality of life. (Author/BEF)