For older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has emerged as a critical construct to examine because of its focus on components of well-being, which are affected by progressive changes in health status, health care, and social support. HRQoL is a health-focused quality of life (QOL)…

Discusses the Intergenerational Women's Group, formed to provide social support and an interchange of ideas between women of different generations. Provides a model for such a program that may be offered in geriatric medical clinics. Discusses the impact of intergenerational support for both the old and the young. (Author/BHK)

Outlines rationale for the Alzheimer's Disease Support Center (ADSC), a telecomputing-based project designed to provide information and support to caregivers of persons with dementia. Describes ADSC's context, structure, content, and operation. Notes that inherent features of telecomputing make computer-mediated information and support systems…

Describes Family Lifeline program which provides geographically dispersed families support and assistance needed to enhance and maintain independent functioning of elderly family members while strengthening family linkages and cohesiveness. Describes program's theoretical framework, organizational structure, and client data. (Author)

Describes a program designed for a board and lodging home which maximizes the use of natural helpers and takes into consideration the unique needs of the chronically mentally ill elderly. Existing support networks were strengthened and roles and functions of natural helpers were formalized. (Author/JAC)

Presents the dynamics of transition from support to therapy group for caregivers of demented relatives. Describes the group's defense against individual expression of painful emotions and the psychotherapeutic approach used to confront it. Found no overall detriment to the group and apparent benefit to some individuals. (Author/NRB)

Describes a support program for community-based Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. In addition to joint activities, the family group focuses on the family organization, support networks, feelings, new activities, and making decisions. The patient group provides social and awareness activities. (JAC)

Describes LINC (Living Independently through Neighborhood Cooperation), which formed intergenerational helping networks in which the elderly served as donors as well as service recipients. The project's evaluation indicated that frail older persons received services, acted as volunteers, developed friendships, and increased life satisfaction. (JAC)

Describes telephone network bringing family caregivers of Alzheimer's victims together over telephone in rotating pattern of twosomes. Explains how five caregiving spouses and five adult children were matched and connected over three months. Describes program's 25 telephone-accessed audiotapes that guided networks and provided information on…

An increasingly prevalent family constellation is a home headed by a grandparent who is raising grandchildren. We explore the state of our knowledge about such grandparents with particular attention to its implications for service providers and researchers. In our review we address several key areas: (a) the costs and benefits of raising a…

Describes the System to Assure Elderly Services, an innovative program operated by Consolidated Neighborhood Services, Incorporated in St. Louis, Missouri, which trains elderly volunteers to provide instrumental support (telephone reassurance, socializing, shopping, transportation) for their elderly neighbors and to maintain regular contact with…

A review of 85 patients who received home care for terminal illness showed that a small proportion of patients use a relatively high volume of both in-patient and home care services. Data suggest that there are two dimensions of service utilization: a medical dimension and a social dimension. (Author/RC)

Designed model program designed to increase social support for newly admitted nursing home residents through a structured program of peer counseling. Found residents (N=15) receiving peer counseling improved somewhat on measures of social conditioning; peer counselors (N=15) improved with regard to appearance and grooming. (Author/ABL)

Describes several kinds of mutual help groups and two ways to initiate them: (1) through conferences, and (2) through short-term training programs. A substantial need continues for mutual help groups in an era of reduced professional and consumer resources. Research is needed to document their extensiveness, impact and longevity. (JAC)

Describes the rationale, design, and implementation of a support and education group for parents caring for disabled children in later life. Parents encountered peers facing similar challenges. The experience of this group intervention strategy provides insights into the needs and strengths of a neglected segment of the caregiving population. (RJM)