The current study evaluated barriers to detection of depression among older people. Focus groups were conducted with 21 professional carers, 4 nurses, 10 general practitioners, and 7 aged care managers. The results demonstrated that care for older people is primarily focused on physical care. Further, staff resources, a lack of continuity of care,…

Reviews recent histories of geriatrics which suggest that early physicians contributed to the degradation of old age by labeling it a disease. Records of the Boston Almshouse Hospital indicated that assessments of the elderly's morbidity were prompted as much by doctors' desires for self-advancement as by the elderly's needs. (JAC)

Obtaining a valid informed consent from an elderly person, especially with possible senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, first may involve solving the practical problems of effective communication. Impediments to effective communication with these individuals is discussed and suggestions for how to obviate them are given. (Author/BL)

Explored the effects of locus of control and severity of hearing impairment on amount of denial in 39 older adults with hearing loss. Results suggested that locus of control and severity may affect the amount of denial exhibited to some extent, but other factors enter into the relationship. (JAC)

Presents a historical perspective on the meaning of senility, representing a significant change in beliefs about the nature of old age. Before the nineteenth century, to be senile meant simply to be old. By the late nineteenth century, old age was assumed to be synonymous with debilitating illness. (JAC)

A summary of the literature on the goals, content, and techniques of psychotherapy with the elderly client is presented, and supports the conclusion that this therapy is different from similar work with the younger adult, only in terms of a focus on different content areas. (Author)

Describes the accomplishments of elderly Jews residing at the Toronto Baycrest Centre, a multilevel geriatric facility, who formed a memoir activity group which eventually led to publication of their memoirs. The value of the activity for the group and for other groups of older persons in general is discussed. (JAC)

Clinical interest in individual psychotherapeutic intervention with the aged mentally ill has gradually risen during the past several decades. However, a broad review of the literature suggests that published descriptions of such interventions have generally been global and vague. (Author)

Discusses sex differences in the relocation patterns of 37 institutionalized patients interviewed prior to and following relocation. Trends indicated that while males scored slightly higher levels of mental alertness, females appeared to be better suited to life in the institution. (JAC)

Uses statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics to show that rural elders have greater health needs than urban elders but receive less care. Barriers to adequate health care include ignorance and denial, a tendency to use lay rather than professional treatment, and financial and transportation difficulties. (JAC)

The rationale behind adult foster care (AFC) has been that "participation in the life of the family" is superior to institutionalization. Discusses extent to which elderly clients are integrated into the family and the method by which such integration was measured. (Author)

One stationary camera with an audio-video taping system permitted systematic comparisons of staff-initiated touching in relation to naturalistic variations in the physical appearances of patients, and the sex, age, and social statuses of interaction partners at a home for the Jewish aged. This procedure is discussed with regard to the…

Geriatric outpatients were involved in a group resocialization program. Comparison is made between experimental groups whose leader used group intervention techniques, and groups where leader played a nonintervention role. Experimental group members showed changes toward more active problem-solving approaches, while group members remained fixed at…

Developed interview-based Geriatric Depression Rating Scale (GDRS) and administered 35-item GDRS to 68 older adults with range of affective disturbance. Found scale to have internal consistency and split-half reliability comparable to those of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Geriatric Depression Scale. Concurrent validity, construct…

Studied the effect of progressive muscle relaxation training on a group of anxious older widows (N=10). Found training decreased the severity of stress-related disorders when compared with controls. Results indicated, with state anxiety, improvement continued during home practice after treatment. (Author/JAC)