Because of increased life spans and lower fertility rates, adults over 65 will continue to comprise a larger proportion of the population. The traditional emphasis on individual and family care of older Americans has been replaced by an emphasis on the obligation of society. Currently, poor health is the most prevalent problem reported among older…

Medical ethical problems involving the elderly elucidate the relation between broader social views of aging and ethical principles basic to medicine. Three clinical situations are described and alternative principles of medical ethics are discussed as a basis for resolution of ethical problems in the health care of the elderly. (Author)

Examines Lawton, Kleban, Moss, Rovine, and Glickman's (1989) caregiving appraisal through a principal components analysis and varimax rotation of a data set based on in-depth quantitative interviews with 144 caregivers. Five caregiving appraisal dimensions are identified: task load caregiving, dysfunctional caregiving, intimacy and love, social…

Distance education technologies may be applied to academic settings, continuing education/continuing medical education settings or in combination to both. This article provides an overview of what we have learned about academic and continuing education/continuing medical education in geriatrics and gerontology. It includes information on the scope…

A review of the literature and personal interviews with mental health administrators and other informed persons revealed that multiple inservice and preservice educational needs exist among administrators serving the aged in hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities, mental health centers, and mental health associations. Specific…

Reviews causes of dementia in later life, especially the Alzheimer's type, its prevalence, the characteristic structural changes, and hypothesized causes. The hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease represents accelerated aging is described. Treatment issues are discussed, primarily in terms of supportive environments, differential diagnosis, and…

Provides background on the World Wide Web, reasons for its growth, its potential usefulness to gerontologists, and the results of an exhaustive search of over 300 sites. Relevant information was discovered in five general categories of gerontology-related information: academic institutions, government agencies, biomedical and health research…

Evaluates whether trends in the prevalence of disability among the aged can be investigated using the 1980 U.S. Census' public transportation question and the 1990 query on mobility limitation. Results suggest that census data may be a suitable data source to study mobility limitation patterns in the small subgroups of the population that are…

It is expected that the demand for gerontological social workers will increase as the elderly population continues to grow. However, many practitioners enter the aging field with little or no formal training. Successful gerontological social work practice requires workers to be knowledgeable and technically competent. Fieldwork plays a critical…

The monograph addresses the need in the United States for greater numbers of gerontology programs and education in the health care of, and human services for, an aging society. Statistical information is provided concerning the aging of America within the U.S. and the 15 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states as well as the aging of…

With geriatric nursing a growing medical specialty, employment opportunities are favorable for nurses who have training in working with the increasing older population. Describes geriatric nursing in various settings, outlines educational requirements, and gives employment outlook earnings and information for both registered nurses and licensed…

In 2000, the Senior Mentor Program was implemented as an innovative, instructional method in the University of South Carolina's medical school curriculum designed to enhance and strengthen student training in geriatrics. This study qualitatively analyzed second-year medical students' and senior participants' perceptions of and attitudes towards…

Long-term care administration often involves care for older adults. Yet, in California, neither academic training required for licensure in this area, nor continuing education for maintaining licensure, specify any knowledge of geriatrics or gerontology. A formal standardized approach to academic preparation for licensing would help ensure quality…

The 1976 Anglo-American Conference on Care of the Elderly examined many issues related to the development, management, and possible prevention of functional dependency among the elderly. A number of conference participants subsequently expressed interest in specifying the implications of these issues for public policy. The Institute of Medicine…

Study sought to describe the very old living in rural areas and make predictions of survival rates of rural elders to very old age. Among the findings, very old rural adults were found most likely to live with others. Demographic and early life achievement influenced survival to very old age. (RJM)