Describes the process used by the Milwaukee Area Technical College to arrive at a new curriculum design: a geriatrically oriented curriculum that prepares graduates to work in nursing homes. The new curriculum focuses heavily on care of the elderly; students study geriatric nursing and work with older adults. (CT)

An approach to curriculum design for geriatric dentistry that incorporates an understanding of the students' own developmental stages into instructional activities is outlined, and the University of Mississippi's experience with this strategy is evaluated. An important element is to help students crystallize their value systems with regard to the…

Reviews a set of five studies reevaluating the "myth of relocation trauma" and supporting a no effect conclusion. Fallacies and sources of unreliability are discussed and general issues of relocation research are raised. The second article is a response to the first and defends the assertions made. (JAC)

A one week rotation in home health care for the aged, included in a required clinical clerkship, provided students with exposure to medical, social, and economic influences on the elderly and provided the patient with nondispensing pharmaceutical services. Improved communication skills and knowledge of geriatric drugs and diseases resulted. (MSE)

This article discusses the following questions: What opportunities and challenges for nursing leadership present themselves in institutions that provide care for our expanding aged population? Should nursing administrators take up these challenges? If so, what skills, resources, and attitudes will they need? (Author/CT)

Social interaction and physical activity are important aspects of health maintenance for the aged. A holistic approach to the care of the elderly in nursing homes would involve a team of professionals who encourage residents to pursue such tasks as adaptation to loss, and maintenance of physical activity to retain function. (JN)

Social variables that may be associated with mental health in geriatric severely mentally retarded individuals (N=10, mean age 59) were studied. The results indicated that as the frequency of staff resident noninteractions (while in physical proximity) increases, the amount of constructive behaviors exhibited by the clients decreases. (Author/PHR)

Ohio's initiative in geriatric education shows that the federal government need not be the initiator in charting new directions. Diversity of medical education and practice can be an asset. The Ohio model provides a replicable means of transition and holds great promise for other states. (Author)

Availability of nursing home beds was a strong predictor of institutional care. Higher rates of community care occurred where there were greater expenditures for protective, legal, chore, day care and social/recreation services and, in which there were more older persons in poverty and fewer women working. (Author)

A two-year postsecondary program in New York City prepares low functioning young adults with learning disabilities for careers in human services such as day care programs and geriatric centers. Students take courses in social skills as well as academic course work and on-the-job training in child care or geriatrics. (DB)

The 1975 to 1985 graduates of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry were surveyed to evaluate the influence on dental practice of a comprehensive geriatric dental curriculum introduced in 1980. Those who graduated before 1980 were more likely to be consultants in nursing homes than carrying out comprehensive care for this population.…

Describes a study investigating the effects of age and sports participation on functional loss. Data on 756 adults who underwent maximal exercise testing during the 1985 World Masters Games indicate even moderate sports participation may enhance functional capacity. Older people may maintain independence in later life by increasing physical…

Discusses changes in the profile of older Americans and public policy regarding older Americans. Asserts that traditional age-based health and social service policies have increasingly moved in the direction of functional means testing, through the use of activities-of-daily-living scales and similar mechanisms. Also notes renewed pressure in…

Family physicians may lack discriminatory ability to differentiate normal aging form disease states. To assess such ability, 53 aging-related indicators or symptoms were presented to 65 physicians in 3 family practice residency programs. Respondents classified each symptom as normal aging or disease. On average, residents classified 73.4% of…

The objective of this study was to compare enhanced access to geriatric assessment and case management to usual home care service provision for the frail elderly. This was a demonstration project, with randomized allocation to control or intervention groups of frail elderly persons who had been referred to the Home Care service in Winnipeg. Of the…