This essay applies a narrative perspective to the topic of "resilience." On various fronts (physical, social, biographical), aging itself, it argues, pushes us past a perception of aging as intrinsically tragic and toward a more ironic stance instead, one marked by increased acceptance of uncertainty and ambiguity. Moreover, intentional engagement…

Since the early 1980s, service providers and area agencies on aging, that is, the aging network, have developed a number of strengths as they built a community-based long-term-care system in most states. Many area agencies and providers now have the capacity to assess the needs of older persons, identify appropriate services, and administer…

Reviews the present status of geriatrics in academic medicine and suggests that an understanding of academic medicine is needed in order to secure the institutionalization of geriatric medicine. Offers some predictions on the future of geriatric medicine. (JAC)

Claims that, despite apparent decline in productivity in final years of life, seven considerations suggest a far more favorable outlook: role of extrinsic influences; contingency on career age; impact of individual differences in creative potential; interdisciplinary variation in age curves; absence of age decrement on…

There are at least 14 advantages of aging. Advantages to society of older persons include their lower criminal activity; greater political participation; increasing voluntary organization participation; work abilities; and visual perception abilities. Advantages for the individual include less criminal victimization; fewer accidents; social…

Discusses the Compression of Morbidity hypothesis, which maintains that the age of onset of significant disability may be moved upward by postponement of chronic illness. Objections to the thesis are examined, a series of qualitative and quantitative confusions are discussed, and predictions for the future offered. (Author/JAC)

Claims elder abuse is not clearly defined, affects relatively small numbers of older persons, is an under-funded area of social service and has weak political support. Recommends a broad-based service strategy for older persons. (Author/ABL)

Questions whether gerontologists are creating myth about families by emphasizing individual autonomy as independence without family interdependence and by advocating advance directives. Argues that another antifamily trend is developing despite empirical evidence showing that elderly persons prefer family to represent them in surrogate decision…

Current policies concerning income in old age are framed in terms of important Social Security and private pension developments. Criticisms of the "new Social Security" are viewed in the context of major problems associated with the options, especially private pensions. (Author)

To successfully practice geriatrics, one must keep up-to-date with rapidly evolving knowledge, recognize heterogeneity among older people, seek answers through longitudinal studies, and accept no symptoms nor loss of function as being simply old age. Functional loss must be the focus and thus rehabilitation is essential to good geriatric care.…

Notes that research on aging mind has moved from simple growth versus decline view to conception of joint consideration of potential and limits. Sees this development illustrated by research on two categories of cognitive functioning: the cognitive mechanics (comparable to fluid intelligence) and cognitive pragmatics (comparable to crystallized…

Uses concept of equivalent retirement ages to explain old age dependency ratio. Asserts that a future larger, able aging population could continue to work, compensating for the smaller, younger labor force. Economic growth as the foundation of economic security is emphasized as a means of lessening cost of caring for society's dependents.…

Asserts that the idea that retirement increases risk of illness and death persists because of the availability of vivid anecdotes, a tendency to interpret big events as major causes of illness, cultural celebration of work, theoretical perspectives in gerontology fostering expectations that retirement is disruptive, and misinterpretation of…

Considers informed consent standard inadequate for insuring autonomy in long term care. Argues for complex standard of "negotiated consent." Illuminates philosophical argument by qualitative data from interviews with physicians, nurses, and social workers in nursing homes, which demonstrated continuum of interventions ranging from…

Discusses critical factors complicating efforts to assure quality of in-home care for people with chronic disabilities: client and provider characteristics, fiscal restraints, inadequate regulation, lack of quality assurance methods, and lack of coherent social policy for long-term care. Identifies three areas of policy to be addressed if efforts…