Purpose: We examine the psychometric properties of the Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale (PGMS) in an elderly Chinese population in Hong Kong. Design and Methods: The study consisted of two cohorts: (a) 759 participants aged 70 years and older living in the community who were recruited as part of a territory-wide health survey and interviewed in…

Purpose: The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) has been validated in many diverse samples. This measure of health-related quality of life, however, has not yet been examined among older Mexican Americans, a rapidly growing subset of the older population. Design and Methods: We address the validity of the SF-36 in a…

Examined models for predicting treatment decisions of physicians, nurses, and social workers within acute and long-term care settings. Elicited treatment choices to vignettes regarding decisions to allocate scarce medical resource and to withhold treatment from debilitated patient. Primarily medical factors predicted decision to allocate…

Presents a technique for assessing elderly residents' priorities and desired environmental characteristics for in-unit activities. Considered three components in design priority for activities: time spent, unit adequacy, and importance. Residents' high priority activites were sleeping, watching television, preparing food, resting, and eating. (NRB)

Suggests that work attitudes and the meaning of work are so ingrained in American culture that they carry over to nonwork activities. Proposes that personality influences the relationship between work-leisure meanings. Urges further research on sociological variables. (JAC)

Residents of an age-segregated housing project share their feelings on aging. Most accept their life- style and express a certain amount of fatalism regarding the future. They value autonomy. Services for the elderly must be provided in a way to encourage independence and allow choices. (JAC)

Little attention has been given to the severely handicapped older person. A group of disabled elderly men participating as unpaid volunteers in a bi-weekly sheltered workshop indicated that being able to help others, getting out of the house, and sociability were important reasons for their interest and participation. (Author)

Conducted baseline interviews with 642 caregivers of aged Alzheimer's disease patients, then assigned one-half to formal respite care. Over 12 months, families with respite care maintained Alzheimer's patient significantly longer in community than did caregivers without respite. Respite care was ineffective for caregiver burden and mental health,…

Nursing home medical-record documentation of daily-care occurrence may be inaccurate, and information is not documented about important quality-of-life domains. The inadequacy of medical record data creates a barrier to improving care quality, because it supports an illusion of care consistent with regulations, which reduces the motivation and…

Purpose: Research underscores how autonomy and decision-making involvement may help to enhance the quality of life of older adults; however, individuals with dementia are often excluded from decision making that is related to their daily functioning. In this study we use a modified version of the Stress Process Model to consider the stress process…

Data from 878 older persons in 28 communities in the USA were analyzed in order to determine the most important factors contributing to residents' community satisfaction. The most important predictors of community satisfaction were perceived community safety, satisfaction with the individual dwelling unit, and satisfaction with recreational and…

Examined partial retirement among older self-employed and wage and salary workers. Found much more partial retirement among the self-employed. Retirement status was correlated with health, age, Social Security and pension eligibility, and wealth. Suggests workers might choose part-time employment if opportunities were available. (Author/JAC)

Respondents said that their housing usually met needs, but that numerous details needed to be improved. Individually and collectively, federal housing programs were inconsequential to these older rural persons "left behind."

Purpose: This study describes the development and psychometric properties of a 24-item scale to be used in both research and practice settings that assesses the everyday care values and preferences of individuals with cognitive impairment and the perceptions of family caregivers about their relative's values and preferences for care. Design and…

Purpose: Prevalence estimates of healthy behaviors and preventive care among older adults have not received sufficient attention, despite important health benefits such as longevity and better quality of life. Moreover, little is known about general population prevalences of older adults' efforts to change behavior, motivations to improve health…