Nationwide communities struggle to meet the unique needs of at-risk populations. Currently, a large group of potential volunteers are entering retirement and moving into the next phase of their lives. There is a gap in the research specific to the volunteer motivations of older adults. Because of this gap, my study explored the volunteer…

Examined impact of employment on health of retirees (n=175). Results indicated that employment in retirement years was related to larger social networks and indirectly to better perceived health. Of three social network factors identified (family, friends, confidants), employment was significantly related only to friendship component. (Author/NB)

This study investigated factors related to retirement satisfaction in a midwestern rural population. Four major sets of variables were investigated: personal background factors; socialization for retirement; reasons for retirement; and social integration. Interviews were conducted with 252 men and 199 women who are participating in a larger 5-year…

Disability carries negative social meaning, and little is known about when (or if), in the process of health decline, persons identify themselves as "disabled." We examine the social and health criteria that older adults use to subjectively rate their own disability status. Using a panel study of older adults (ages 72+), we estimate…

The approximately l500 references in this document comprise a comprehensive list of the published and unpublished material on aging minorities in the United States and its territories. The bibliography is divided into six major parts. The first four are ethnic-specific, dealing with American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, Black and Pacific/Asian…

This study examined older adults' quality of interpersonal relationships and self-concept through semi-structured interviews with 39 70-year-old people in Malmo, Sweden. The gathered data is described on individual and group levels. Findings indicate that the elderly in this group have frequent contacts with their children and siblings. They…