At the second day of hearings on training needs in gerontology the witnesses were Stephen Kurzman accompanied by Arthur S. Flemming, John Lapp, Gerald D. LaVeck; George Maddox; Elias Cohen; Wilma Donahue; Brin Hawkins with Lettie Graves and Yolanda Owens; and John B. Martin. (MS)

Gerontological education is expanding for academic and practical reasons. One urban college offers a concentration in the psychology of aging within the psychology major. The philosophy, sequence of courses, required and/or recommended supportive courses, practical and field experiences, academic advisement procedures, and other features of the…

Subjects (N=43) aged 50 and more were tested on a Sternberg recognition-memory task to explore the relative effects of depression and altered brain function on short-term memory in later life. Many performance differnces were best accounted for by the additive effects of depression and educational background, rather than by either variable…

Psychological services are largely unavailable for older people who want help in coping with their interpersonal problems. The Continuum Center of Oakland University selects, trains, and supervises older men and women, who serve as paraprofessional group leaders in a self-exploration program offered in a variety of community centers. Paper…

Geriatrics, a new medical speciality, is closely linked with scientific research in experimental gerontology, the biology of aging, and social gerontology and gerohygiene. The importance of using gerontological research data and data on relationships between the aged, family, and society plus the significance of international cooperation are…

Focuses on the supports and impediments inherent in the provision of geriatric medical care by family physicians. Addresses providing a good educational program for medical students and residents who will be caring for the elderly and developing uniform access to quality care for the elderly, the community, and community institutions. (Author/ABB)

Reports findings from a preliminary survey of the growing phenomenon of endowed faculty positions in social gerontology and geriatric units in institutions of higher learning in the United States. There has been a distinct upsurge since 1980 in the number of endowed chairs and professorships in gerontological units. Identifies and describes…

Found no significant differences in burden for relatives of demented and depressed patients admitted to geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit. Although at follow-up depressed patients were more improved than demented patients, their caregivers did not experience any greater decrease in burden. Families of depressed patients may require as much…

Examines personnel needs for geriatric social workers, explores growing demand for geriatric social work practitioners, reviews argument for specialized training in geriatrics, and identifies number of social workers specializing in geriatrics. Discusses state of the art of geriatrics in social work education. Makes recommendations for increasing…

Medical records of older outpatients treated at 15 university teaching hospitals were reviewed to evaluate how their medical problems were managed in university-based internal medicine practices. The finding suggests either that these patients were extremely atypical or that their geriatric problems were unrecognized. (Author/MLW)

Describes sub-acute diagnostic and treatment nursing home program for difficult to manage older adults with medical and psychiatric illness. Notes that assessment and discharge can be completed within seven months, and that among sample population studied, almost equal percentages were discharged to state institutions, remained in the study home,…

Data on dental faculty involvement in geriatric programs, didactic and clinical academic curricula, and other aspects of ongoing geriatric educational activities in dental schools are reported and the prospects for future activities are discussed. (Author/MSE)

Describes the Potteries Elderly Support Group, a small-scale, locally based initiative in England, which relieves relatives, one day a week, of some of the pressures associated with caring for an elderly mentally infirm person. Details the rationale for the group and describes how it has been funded, staffed, and operated. (JAC)

A pilot study is described that was designed to make medical students' early professional contact with the elderly occur with those who are well enough to function as independently living individuals. The students felt the teaching value of the experience equaled or exceeded that of their experience with hospitalized patients. (MLW)

Reviews the effects of vision changes commonly associated with aging (e.g., cataract, presbyopia, pupil changes) and examines their relationship to intellectual performance. Discusses variables related to intellectual functioning including motivation, education, test anxiety, and fatigue. (LLL)