Theorists have suggested that domestic abuse may be a result of psychopathology in the abuser or the result of severe stress. To determine whether the families of aged victims exhibit an inordinate number of stressful situations, 20 elderly abuse victims were interviewed about family relationships and problems, and completed a modified version of…

A project was proposed to expand the gerontology program at Rancho High School (Las Vegas, Nevada) into the area of food services for the aged. Development of a course in food services for the elderly would meet the students' needs for field experiences and entry-level job skills. Objectives of the proposed program included the following: (1)…

The purpose of this sourcebook is to provide information about health promotion program planning, activities, and resources to people planning wellness programs for older adults. The materials are divided into two parts: background information and resources. The Wallingford Wellness Project is presented as an example of a comprehensive health…

Results of previous investigations of life satisfaction in the aged have suggested that health, socioeconomic factors, and social interaction are most strongly and consistently related to life satisfaction. However, a great deal of variance in life satisfaction remains unexplained. Men (N=19) and women (N=21) aged 65 years or older were…

This paper describes the changes in American society which are initiating the need to develop programs aimed at new audiences with diverse needs and interests. The reaction of continuing education units to these needs is discussed and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach is emphasized. The authors describe their use of the Education…

Changes in the geographic distribution of Hispanics have created a new focus on Hispanic populations removed from the traditional Hispanic population centers. To focus on the needs of rural elderly Hispanics, interviews with 110 rural elderly Hispanic subjects were conducted that emphasized the reliance of the rural elderly on family members. A…

Older people grow and develop psychologically; they do not necessarily decline in intellectual functioning; and they are capable of learning and enriching their own lives and the lives of others with their wisdom and experience. However, in a fast-paced and impatient culture, little time is given to hearing what older people have to say. Older…

This is the first volume of the final report of the Information and Referral Center Study, which was funded by the Administration on Aging, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The overall project objective, as stated in the initial grant application, was "to facilitate the development of a more useful, effective, and comprehensive system…

This publication brings together a large number of facts and statistics about the country's growing population of older adults. Data indicate that regardless of their economic situation, the elderly population will not only be growing rapidly in the future but will be changing rapidly as well. The trend toward early retirement coupled with longer…

A number of professionals in the family life field have examined the changing American values toward the family and responsibility to aging parents. Research shows that the provision of social services to the aged have in many ways eased the traditional norms of family members responsibility toward aging parents. In response, the social service…

Research has begun to define the older adult population, not as a homogeneous sample, but as at least two groups with different concerns. To determine the factors contributing to retirement satisfaction, two groups of retirees, i.e., young-olds, aged 75 and under (N=49) and old-olds, over age 75 (N=49), completed the Individual Status Assessment…

This publication contains three papers concerning the role of information systems in the field of social gerontology. The first, A Prototype Gerontological Information Program, describes research carried out at Syracuse University on the kinds of information needed by individuals in human service delivery and older persons' organizations, and…

This document contains the proceedings from the National Conference on Developmental Disabilities and Gerontology, a conference designed to develop guidelines for program development on national, state, and local levels; develop and disseminate a proceedings publication; and provide an interface between professionals working at national, state,…

With the increased use of paraprofessionals as service providers to the elderly, and indication in current literature that negative attitudes toward the aged are reflected in treatment received, the need for specialized training in geriatrics is apparent. A true-false 54-item questionnaire concerning older people's social, economic, physical and…

A college level unit which investigates stereotypes of aging in the United States is described. The three-class unit serves as an introduction to the study of social gerontology. Its purpose is to address issues of negative stereotypes of old age reinforced by the media and by our cultural roots; the lack of knowledge about the normal changes that…