Operant principles were used to design an activity for a group of handicapped, elderly women in a home for the aged; the activity was monitored to study its impact on their levels of participation and social interaction. Results are described. (Author)

The presence of support friends is related to general well being in successful aging. Some social gerontological research concludes that the positive effects of interacting with support friends can be attributed to the quality of these relationships; however, there is a gap in our understanding regarding the mechanism which accounts for this…

Although researchers have found a correlation between health and social participation, more data are needed to determine the influence of health on the institutionalized elderly's participation. A study was conducted to explore the relationship between the perceived health status of the institutionalized elderly and their social participation. The…

A series of sessions were devised to assist nursing home personnel to effectively help residents in nursing homes. Four sessions were scheduled over one month, one week apart. All levels of employees were involved in the series. The sessions were planned so participants had opportunities to practice and discuss the skills taught in each session.…

Changes in adolescents' perceptions of people over 60 years old occurred following two months of daily intergenerational contact in a naturalistic setting (i.e., the school lunch period). Sixth-, seventh-, and eigth-graders' perceptions of the aged became less negative and stereotyped. Boys had more negative stereotyped perceptions of the aged…

The social world of the aged SRO tenant is described and analyzed. Characteristic features include an impoverishment of social roles and relationships which result in a "world of strangers." Dominant norms of SRO life which preclude the establishment of intimacy are examined; these include prescriptive norms of privacy, freedom, and…

Cohort differentiation has been posited to crystallize around periods of social crises and to be most impactful on the young adults of a given socio-historical period. The two most prominent socio-historical events in the pasts of today's older married persons were the Great Depression of the 1930's and World War II. Older married couples were…

Through a review of relevant literature, the paper illustrates how role expectations of males and females are modified with age and with the decrease of major family/work expectations. The discussion is based on the framework of sexual politics which is defined as power-structured relationships in which one group of persons is controlled by…

Areas of morale, health, perceived income adequacy, stress, interaction with family and friends, and attitude toward life in retirement, were examined to determine the existence, degree, and direction of sex differences among widowed persons. Survey data from 161 widowed respondents from a study of 1100 adults aged 50 or older were analyzed.…

Semantic differential statements were used to elicit attitudes toward aging from 176 high school students, college students, and older adults (nonstudents) who had viewed four sketches of a white male's appearance at ages 12, 19, 49, and 70 years. The results were the following: (1) High school students described aging as more personally…

Investigated the validity of using the Interpersonal Checklist in self-ratings by older individuals and under across generation instructional sets by college students. Effects of sex of target and sex of rater were also investigated. Results indicated significant generational differences and misperceptions of older adults by students. (Author)

Two male stroke victims (ages 63 and 67) whose verbal disorders impaired social interactions and suggested the need for nursing home placement were treated by teaching spouses to reinforce positive and ignore undesired verbal responses. Problem behaviors were reduced sufficiently to permit continued home care, and alternative positive behaviors…

Describes a poetry workshop in which the teachers intended to teach the students but instead found themselves learning with the students. Discusses the importance of elder poets' use of reminiscence and relationships. Techniques that were used, such as audiotaping and discussion of poems, and formula stems are explained. (CT)

This paper presents a theoretical framework to analyze marital adjustment in the post-retirement years. This provides a foundation to enrich the marital lives of older persons. (Author)

Measured residents' perceptions of quality care and satisfaction with how well their needs are being met. Found that residents' perceptions of quality care (attitude of staff, food, and social activities) and satisfaction with roommates are significant predictors of perceived needs being met. Stressed that self-selected roommates are more…