Biases against the elderly and people with disabilities can lead to discriminatory behaviors. One way to conceptualize attitudes toward the elderly and people with disabilities is through the differentiation of explicit (conscious) and implicit (unconscious) factors. Although both explicit and implicit attitudes and biases contribute to the full…

Developmental processes are inherently time-related, with various time metrics and transition points being used to proxy how change is organized with respect to the theoretically underlying mechanisms. Using data from 4 Swedish studies of individuals aged 70-100+ (N = 453) who were measured every 2 years for up to 5 waves, we tested whether…

Over the past 40 years, the assessment and scientific study of capacity in older adults has emerged as a distinct field of clinical and research activity for psychologists. This new field reflects the convergence of several trends: the aging of American society, the growing incidence and prevalence of dementia, and the patient rights,…

The Virginia Commonwealth University/A Grace Place Caregiver Telephone Support Pilot Program was developed as a service-learning experience for graduate students to address the need for family caregiver support services. The Telephone Support Program was developed by the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology, in collaboration…

Purpose of the Study: To examine the longitudinal associations between 3 dimensions of religious involvement--religious attendance, use of religious media, and private religious activities--and 3 domains of functional status--limitations in basic activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and mobility in…

Purpose of the study: The primary aim of this investigation was to determine whether caregiver confidence in their care recipients' functional capabilities predicts changes in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) among elderly home care recipients. A secondary aim was to explore how caregiver confidence and care recipient functional…

Gerontologic research in the past 40 years has shown that caring for an older, disabled person affects the health and well-being of the caregiver. This important contribution led to a wide range of programs and services designed to buffer caregivers from the effects of stressors. Many of these programs have been quite innovative. Although…

Purpose: This study examined how the amount of informal care received by disabled elders changes when they are receiving publicly paid home care, and whether formal service use, disability, caregiving arrangements, and demographic characteristics of older adults predict changes in the amount of informal care. Design and Methods: Hierarchical…

Collected information on the educational experiences, needs, and interests of a statewide sample of mentally retarded older adults by interviewing the mentally retarded individuals and sending questionnaires to knowledgeable others matched to each subject. Results indicated that this group of older persons strongly desired continued opportunity…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between functional disability and the use of health care services in a nationally representative sample of older adults by using the Andersen behavioral model of health services utilization. Design and Methods: The study used 12 years of longitudinal…

Discusses increases in numbers of elderly with disabilities. Contends the intersecting of aging and disabilities and the habilitative benefits derived by elders at this intersection will be facilitated by education and that gerontological educators should lead in this process. (ABL)

Proposes a conceptual model to describe and understand differences between functional capability and actual functional performance in the home. Results indicate that many older people appear to be both overachieving and underachieving in their functional performance relative to self-reports of functional capacity.(MKA)

In older persons the disabling process follows a general pattern of progression based on a typical sequence of impairments. Critical steps are identified and a model is presented. The model, based on a hierarchy of activities of daily living, was tested in several ways, including cross-cultural verification. (Author/EMK)

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to estimate the effect of obesity on both the length of life and length of nondisabled life for older Americans. Design and Methods: Using data from the first 3 waves of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) survey, this article develops estimates of total, active, and disabled life…

Through interviews and observation, the impact of caring for an elderly parent or in-law on 30 women was studied. The study differentiated between care provision and care management. Social and behavioral precedents and consequences of the role were identified. Costs of caregiving were much greater for providers than managers. (Author/JAC)