Journal of Applied Gerontology

We studied the family caregivers of elderly stroke patients, focusing on perceptions of the positive and negative aspects of caregiving and the resources used by caregivers to meet its demands. Most caregivers were women and either spouses of daughters. The majority were satisfied with their roles as caregivers and would do it again if faced with that decision. They relied on family and friends for help with caregiving, but not on formal services. Greater understanding of the determinants of caregivers' heterogeneous responses to the demands of caregiving is needed.

Humanistic care is care that leads to quality of life. The viewpoint of nursing home residents is uniquely indicative of humanistic and dehumanizing care in nursing homes. Therefore, three books by nursing home residents about their experiences in nursing homes are examined in the context of three themes of humanization: control, privacy, and relationships. These insights are then translated into the model "Modest Proposal" Nursing Home, less infeasible than its Swiftian namesake and equally thought-provoking.

Some persons of desponding Spirit are in great Concern about that vast Number of poor People, who are Aged, Diseased, or Maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the Nation of so grievous an Incumbrance. But I am not in the least Pain upon that Matter; because it is very well known, that they are every Day dying, and rotting, by Cold and Famine, and Filth, and Vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. (Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal)

This study, using data drawn from a sample of 1,879 older Mississippians, demonstrates that social isolation is both complex and multidimensional in nature. Interaction with relatives, feelings of loneliness, and interaction with friends and neighbors composed the three primary dimensions underlying the varying patterns of social isolation found among study respondents. Study findings suggest that certain groups of older people are at greater risk than others of experiencing the potentially harmful effects of social isolation and that human service practitioners must consider the various dimensions of social isolation when designing interven tive strategies that attempt to combat the causes or consequences of this psychosocial phenomenon.

We compared the quality of life and health status of elderly public housing residents living alone to that of residents living with another person. Those living alone were predominantly women and had significantly better scores on time-use and social interaction domains. On measures of physical health, they were at least as healthy as those living with another person. We conclude that living alone did not place these low-income aged persons at additional risk for worse health outcomes or a diminished quality of life.

This study examines interest in labor force participation among persons age 55 and over in Connecticut. Phone interviews with 818 low-income elderly were conducted in 1984 to examine participation patterns and perceived barriers to employment. Wefound that reasonsfornot working involvedpredominantly situationalfactors such as personal health, problems with transportation, and issues relating to qualifications for training. Regression analysis indicated that the strongest predictors of an interest in work are the connection between training opportunities and good jobs, perceived income adequacy, willingness on the part of the worker to work on weekends, and having the appropriate qualifications for a job. Implica tions for social intervention and policy development for older workers are discussed.

Studies of participation in senior centers frequently compare attenders and nonattenders on a number of social psychological, demographic, and socioeco nomic indicators. The result of these studies is a growing set of generalizations that help to differentiate those who attend from those who do not. This article is based on the premise that the classification ofattenders and nonattenders is a helpful but rather crude classification and examines variation in participation among users of senior centers. The analysis is based on observational methods during a ten-month period in a senior center and interview data collected from a sample of senior center participants (N = 48). Several of the variables used to predict variations in duration and frequency ofsenior centerparticipation are based on multiple indicators (e.g., age identity, anxiety, and life satisfaction). The results suggest that frequent attendance is more likely among elderly adults who use the center primarily as a social agency, but long-time attendance and greater participation in activities are more likely among those who use the center primarily as a voluntary organization. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the recruitment and development of potential senior leaders in center activities and programming of service for specific types of senior participants.

Selected studies conducted by leisure researchers about the leisure involvement of older adults are reviewed and implications are drawn for readers concerned with aging and leisure. To set the tone, the activity and disengagement theories of aging are discussed within the overall conceptual framework ofrole theory. The range of contributions found in recent leisure literature related to aging and activity involvement, from testimonials to atheoretical works to empirical studies, is then discussed. Shortcomings of the state of the art lead to the consideration of continuity theory as a fruitful avenue for leisure research within the role theory framework. Finally, some implications for further research and professional practice are highlighted.

Half of a sample of 275 high school and college students rated "generalized"elderly targets, described only by gender and age, and half rated known elderly. Known elderly were rated more positively than generalized elderly. Within the generalized group, younger targets were rated more favorably than older targets and females more positively than males. This pattern was not replicated in the known target group. The results suggest that given the opportunity, youths use information other than gender and age to evaluate the elderly, but in the absence of additional information, stereotypes of elderly emerge in attitudes of youths toward the elderly.

Intergenerational programs are well established, but there is a void of educational support for grandparents. A series of discussions were held with 400 grandparents to identify learning needs associated with their changing family role. Outcomes were used to formulate a curriculum for helping grandparents become more influential and respected family members. Elements of the described curriculum include sharing feelings and ideas, listening to child perspective, studying life-span development, encouraging mutual storytelling, developing questioning skills, and focusing self-evaluation. When all aspects of the program are judged to be suitable, an experimental study is planned to determine whether grandparents can benefit from family-oriented education.