Purpose: This study examined medical students' interest in geriatrics: Are knowledge, positive attitudes, and prior experience with older adults associated with an interest in geriatric medicine? Design and Methods: Entering University of Michigan medical students completed three surveys: the Revised Facts on Aging Quiz, the University of…

In an effort to learn more about the cumulative nature of psychological gerontology, an analysis was undertaken of professionally published articles dealing with psychological and related processes and listed in Shock's Current Publications in Gerontology and Geriatrics. Findings indicated a remarkable amount of noncomparable data. (Author)

Experiential learning has proved a useful tool in adding meaning to an undergraduate course in the problems of aging and delivery of long-term care. Sensory deprivation and institutionalization commonly experienced by the elderly can be simulated. The response to this educational process increased the students' understanding of sensory…

To enhance mutual understanding between the social work and nursing professions and to improve the care of the aged an interdisciplinary approach to teaching was instituted. Students exposed to the interdisciplinary approach not only learned to work well with each other but exhibited improved perceptions of the aged. (Author)

Describes a program of socialization therapy instituted for day-care geriatric participants identified as socially disengaged from both family and social roles, available through the geriatric center. Over a period of several months both individual role changes and changes in the group patterns of communication and interaction were observed.…

Reviews a set of five studies reevaluating the "myth of relocation trauma" and supporting a no effect conclusion. Fallacies and sources of unreliability are discussed and general issues of relocation research are raised. The second article is a response to the first and defends the assertions made. (JAC)

Ohio's initiative in geriatric education shows that the federal government need not be the initiator in charting new directions. Diversity of medical education and practice can be an asset. The Ohio model provides a replicable means of transition and holds great promise for other states. (Author)

Availability of nursing home beds was a strong predictor of institutional care. Higher rates of community care occurred where there were greater expenditures for protective, legal, chore, day care and social/recreation services and, in which there were more older persons in poverty and fewer women working. (Author)

Discusses changes in the profile of older Americans and public policy regarding older Americans. Asserts that traditional age-based health and social service policies have increasingly moved in the direction of functional means testing, through the use of activities-of-daily-living scales and similar mechanisms. Also notes renewed pressure in…

Family physicians may lack discriminatory ability to differentiate normal aging form disease states. To assess such ability, 53 aging-related indicators or symptoms were presented to 65 physicians in 3 family practice residency programs. Respondents classified each symptom as normal aging or disease. On average, residents classified 73.4% of…

Two major themes have been especially important in behavioral research in gerontology in the last decade--life-span studies and studies of aging and social integration. The decade to come should see increasing emphasis on longitudinal and cohort studies and on the development of cross-national or comparative research. (Author)

Draws on two studies of the impaired elderly (N=332) to address the potential impact of public payments to persons providing in-home care for the impaired elderly. Findings suggest family members are heavily involved in support for the elderly and institutionalization is most often the result of nonfinancial factors. (Author/JAC)

Assessed long-term effects of a seminar on aging for first-year medical students (N=19) prior to medical school graduation. Compared to controls (N=28), seminar students held more favorable attitudes toward the elderly and perceived contacts with elderly patients in a more complex manner, suggesting lasting effects. (Author/JAC)

Describes the development of a mobile geriatric outreach team. The importance of thorough, interdisciplinary assessment and the offering of active, brief psychotherapy are stressed. Community education programs and consultations to the aging network reach the senior community and other referral sources. Preliminary program evaluation data are…

Residents in a home for the aged taught German to students who received college credit. Results suggest that geriatric residents can assume active roles and engage in profound interpersonal relationships until death. Students derived many of the same benefits in addition to improving language skills. (Author)