Family caregiving research is increasingly contextual and dynamic, but few studies have examined prevalence and predictors of change in primary caregivers, those with the most frequent contact with healthcare professionals. We identified prevalence and predictors of 2-year change in primary adult-child caregivers. Data pooled from the 1992-2000…

Although many elderly people live for years in nursing homes, death certificates routinely obliterate nursing home residence. Data from records of 1 proprietary nursing home showed that of 128 residents, from 45 percent to 66 percent could be classified as permanent residents, depending on definition. Death certificates for those 128 residents…

Examined two issues of pet ownership in mail questionnaire and interview survey of 1,595 older adults over age 60, 377 of whom had a pet. Found evidence that pets were important determinant of housing choice. Many elderly pet owners had made no arrangements for pet if they predecease it or become unable to care for it. (Author/NB)

Middle-income older adults (N=314) responded to senior adult sexuality scale. Results showed that respondents who selected to reside in age-segregated leisure-type retirement communities exhibited significantly more sexual interest, sexual activities, and liberal sexual attitudes than did respondents residing in age-integrated mainstream…

Tested conceptual model relating neighborhood characteristics to social isolation in later life. Data from nationwide survey supported theoretical sequence of older adults with low levels of educational attainment being more likely to experience financial problems, of elderly people confronted by financial difficulties being more likely to reside…

Interviewed 48 elderly residents of 2 apartment complexes about availability and importance of different nearby natural settings. Respondents considered access to nature near their homes to be very important. Satisfaction levels were significantly higher among residents whose apartments overlooked natural settings, and among those who lived closer…

Examined demographic, environmental, behavioral, and social psychological factors that affect fear of crime among the elderly (N=1,439). Results showed elderly women were more fearful than other groups. Social isolation, type of housing, length of residence, and area of the city were all related to fear of crime. (JAC)

Examined family living arrangement and social adjustment among 258 elderly Indochinese refugees. Found that elderly refugees who lived within nuclear or extended family had better sense of social adjustment than those living outside family context. Those living in overcrowded households and in households with children experienced poorer sense of…

Studied 155 elderly residents of inner-city single-room occupancy hotels. At 3-year follow-up, 28 had died. Ten of 19 network variables were relatively strong discriminators between survivors and non-survivors. Network variables cut across all categories of social interaction. (Author/KS)

Surveyed older adults (N=158) who migrated from urban to rural areas to explore implications of residential choice. Data showed that while older rural residents have less access to services, they are more satisfied, more likely to perceive improvements over the former residence, and are more attached to their residences. (Author/JAC)

Older Korean immigrants (n=137) completed Dean's Alienation Scale (DAS) to examine relationship of alienation to place of residence, gender, age, years of education, time in United States, and living arrangements. Found significant relationships between DAS subscales and place of residence, age, time in United States, and whether living with or…

There is some evidence that older parents and their adult children may evaluate their relationships with each other in different ways. To date, we know little about what may account for these discrepancies. This investigation compares the perceptions of intergenerational solidarity among 2,590 adult-child/older-parent dyads from the National…

Used Canadian Census data on the elderly in Quebec to show that the frequency of multigenerational households did not vary with rural or urban location of the elderly. Age and sex of elderly and homeownership by their children were factors in explaining family living arrangements. Concludes that multigenerational households can be resource…

This article investigates the propensity for young adults to live in the parental home between the ages of 25 to 34--termed "mature coresidency." Drawing upon a synthesis of life course theory and the concept of social capital, a rationale is developed for examination of emotional closeness to parents during childhood and a number of…