Offers 23 summaries of innovative approaches to medical education, presented in four categories: applications of the World Wide Web, curricular change, geriatrics and gerontology in medical education, and support for medical school faculty. (EV)

Summarizes the initial results of the regional geriatric medicine curriculum retreats for family practice residency directors provided as part of the American Academy of Family Physicians multi-part project to improve the amount and quality of geriatric medicine education received by family practice residents. (EV)

Offers a position statement on geriatric education in family practice residency, asserting that limited progress has been made despite an increasing need for such education. Offers seven recommendations, such as: every family practice residency should integrate a variety of training sites into a comprehensive curriculum of geriatric education that…

A survey of family practice residency directors found that 92 percent have a required geriatrics curriculum; nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care are the predominant training sites; the mean number of geriatrics faculty is 2.6 per program; and conflicting time demands with other curricula was ranked as the most significant…

Asserts that, if long-term care is to progress from custodial model to therapeutic model of rehabilitation, role of nursing assistants must be redesigned. Reviews current methods of institutional staff training and management and proposes model for geriatric, long-term care facilities. Discusses organizational resistance and offers suggestions for…

The language of geriatrics and gerontology reflects the generally held belief that potential for growth and development disappears when the elderly are severely disabled. To counter this mystique, the right to flourish must be advocated through policy, behavior, and attitude change. (SK)

Evaluated medical residents and discovered that although they considered detection and treatment of comorbid depression to be important, they knew few of the diagnostic criteria and etiological factors, rarely screened patients for depression and viewed current treatments as only marginally efficacious. Discusses implications for graduate…

Evaluated 150 geriatric medical inpatients for psychological dysfunction. Found 27.3 percent of subjects had at least one psychological disorder and 15.3 percent of total sample had a depressive disorder. Comorbid depression was associated with greatest level of psychological distress and dysfunction, and with poorest physical health status.…

This annotated bibliography lists organizations and publications in the following categories: general information on aging, career guidance, curriculum materials, education and training, family services, health care, intergenerational programs, nutrition, opportunities for older adults, program development, and research. (SK)

Reviewed 273 medical records and interviewed 42 referring physicians to examine effectiveness of geriatric day hospital (GDH). Found that GDH provided intensive outpatient care, geriatric assessment, rehabilitation, and alternative to hospitalization: 21 percent of physician-referred patients would have been hospitalized without GDH, 7 percent…

The authors describe a four-year baccalaureate nursing program that promotes positive student attitudes about and behaviors toward the elderly patient. Components of the curriculum include (1) community care, (2) acute care experience, and (3) experience in extended care facilities. (CH)

Notes that low Medicare reimbursement rates are already causing some mental health professionals to turn away elderly patients. Considers baby boomer cohort who, unlike elders today, have high rates of psychiatric illness and are more likely to seek mental health services. Projects increasing gap over next 25 years between need and availability of…

This study compared the research productivity of 97 senior staff members of geriatrics education centers and 91 faculty enrollees in a professional development program. Findings indicated that more senior educators (75 percent) than enrollees (40 percent) had published in the previous three years. (DB)

Evaluated prognostic validity of clinical and psychometric variables in psychogeriatric inpatients. Divided elderly patients into three outcome groups: nondischarged (n=29), discharged-readmitted (n=38), and discharged-nonreadmitted (n=67). Discriminant analysis of data yielded two predictive functions, which appeared to represent physical status…

Project Safety Net identifies low-income urban frail elderly and provides comprehensive geriatric assessment and referral. During 8-month period, 814 older persons were screened including high proportions who were widowed (51%) and who lived alone (66%). Effectiveness of program remains to be determined in randomized clinical trials. (Author/NB)