This manual for trainers provides a suggested course, along with background programming information, for personnel delivering recreation services to the homebound elderly. After assessing current needs, steps involved in the development of a homebound recreation program are considered along with agency administrative concerns. The actual planning…

The report is a general multidisciplinary survey of current areas of interest in the field of gerontology, especially those having to do with retirement and the provision of social security. Chapter 1 discusses social security as an issue in gerontology and the concern of social security with retirement and aging. Chapter 2 discusses the…

This document provides the objectives, background, and rationale for a teacher education program on aging, conducted by Ball State University, designed to incorporate knowledge about the aging process and the aged into the disciplines presently offered in elementary and secondary schools. The program will consist of a summer workshop experience…

The research conducted by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of the American Rehabilitation Foundation is summarized. The first phase of this study is divided into three parts: (1) an examination of all functions that might be engaged in by an information and referral center, (2) an examination of the potential role of an information and…

Health education must be considered to be as continuous as change itself, and must be programmed so that all persons, regardless of age, may take part in learning for better health throughout their lives. (RC)

A literature review explores why misuse of psychotherapeutic drugs is occurring among older noninstitutionalized adults. The roles of the physician, the patient, the pharmaceutical industry, and medical-geriatric journal advertising are discussed. The paper concludes with an exploration of innovative strategies for treatment and prevention.…

Studied the effects of monthly psychiatric consultation in a nursing home. Suggested that consultation was primarily useful to staff providing direct care to referred residents. Cited benefits to residents as increased staff awareness and acceptance of emotional problems and increased frequency of therapeutic programs offered at the nursing home.…

The effects of physical activity on the human skeleton are examined. Research studies are cited that indicate exercise may be beneficial in maintaining or increasing bone mineral content. Effects of exercise on the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis are uncertain. (DF)

The future of geriatric education is mixed, with an increase in social recognition and support, but with uncertain public funding and reluctant acceptance by conservative clinical schools and professions. The recognition of the importance of integrated health care will support interdisciplinary education but strong vested interests in disciplinary…

Results of a study showed: a one-month geriatrics rotation had only a slight positive effect on the attitude of interns toward care of the elderly; senior residents felt they had adequate exposure to geriatric medicine; and attitudes toward care of the elderly changed little during residency. (MLW)

Presents Project Adapt, a psychogeriatric rehabilitation service developed to integrate assessment, behavior and medication management, and outcome evaluation to meet needs of mentally ill in nursing homes. Notes that mental health staff perceived significantly more improvement among participating nursing home residents than among those not…

Presents a model of outpatient interdisciplinary geriatric care provided at a veteran's hospital. Compares characteristics of patients served in this program with those in community-based geriatrics outpatient clinics described in the literature. (Author/ABB)

Assessed whether depressed geriatric patients (N=33) would respond to group psychotherapy and, if they would respond differently to cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic modes. Results indicated that patients showed statistically and clinically significant reductions on observer-rated measures of depression and anxiety, as well as on self-report…

Reports data on admissions, discharges, and changes in health status of eight admission cohorts to nursing homes in a jurisdiction with universally-insured nursing home and home care services. The findings are compared to U.S. studies and disclose differences which may reflect differences in payment mechanisms and admission policies. (Author/JAC)

The humanistic instructional strategies employed in a retirement education program package represent a previously untried and viable alternative to traditional instructional strategies. A heuristic evaluation study measured pilot program participants' reactions to several aspects of the program package; 74 percent responded favorably and 93…