Purpose: This article explores the experiences of family carers of older people in using support services in six European countries: Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the UK. Design and Methods: Following a common protocol, data were collected from national samples of approximately 1,000 family carers per country and clustered into…

Used video-based observations to assess travels of 40 nursing home residents, 24 of whom were wanderers. Monitored travel continuously for 30 days, recording over 5,000 unassisted travel events. Observed four basic travel patterns: direct travel, lapping, random travel, and pacing. Travel efficiency was significantly related to cognitive status,…

Data were collected by personal interview on shopping roles, information processing, food stamp and coupon use, store brand purchases, mispricing and product unavailability experiences, and with familiarity with fair trade practices. Implications and directions for further research are suggested. (Author)

Constructed a theoretical model, based upon social functioning components and types of legitimacy characterizing behavior of persons of advanced years. These criteria define behavior as actually or potentially deviant. The resulting classification identifies 18 distinct varieties of social deviance associated with the behavior of elderly persons.…

This paper analyzes the decisions and experiences of 52 academics from four universities who agreed to retire early because of increased annulities or substantial lump-sum severance payments. Only one respondent was dissatisfied with his decision to retire early; 73 percent were very satisfied. (Author)

This paper examines political behavior among two samples of Mexican-American elderly. The findings show that the Mexican-American elderly have relatively low rates of political activity and a sense of efficacy. Factors leading to this political behavior--fear, lack of communication, socioeconomic status--are discussed. (Author)

Politically alienated elderly include those feeling inefficacious and others who are cynical. Yet cynics hold favorable attitudes toward voting and regularly cast ballots. The inefficacy and cynicism associated with political conservatism reflect pre-New Deal educational norms and political orientation. (Author)

Data from a national survey of 375,000 persons show that, when only victims are considered, elderly victims are more likely than victims of other ages to suffer from predatory crimes and to be attacked by unarmed, young black male strangers. (Author)

Interviewed members of families of nine Alzheimer's disease victims which revealed, not as expected by the families, continuity of behavior patterns from before until after onset of dementia. Frequency and intensity of some past behaviors apparently increased while their expression became inappropriate. (Author/ABB)

Describes specific comprehensive program implemented in intermediate care facility/skilled nursing facility that reduced problematic wandering by patients, increased patient freedom and safety, and increased staff skill and comfort in handling wandering behaviors. Describes program components, problem identification, prevention programs,…

Examined the use of public spaces in a nursing home by elderly residents by means of systematic observations. A cluster analysis disclosed several common behavior patterns related to residents' health status. The results support the thesis that, as an individual's health declines, behavior will become less diverse. (JAC)

Examines age-related changing levels of voting turnout across time at the individual level, using the University of Michigan Survey Research Center panel studies. Demonstrated that older people do not differ substantially from other age groups in the durability of their voting behavior across time. (JAC)

The tendency of more than 1100 males and females aged 17-92 to daydream about the past, present, and future was determined. Contrary to common belief, no linear relation between age and daydreaming about the past was observed, and all temporal orientations were of near equal strength at all ages. (Author)

Implementation of "24-hour" and classroom Reality Orientation procedures resulted in improved orientation to environment and behavioral functioning for confused and disoriented residents of an institution for the elderly. This study used a pretest-posttest control group design with 12 residents in the experimental group and 13 residents…

A study of urban frail elderly revealed an association between higher rates of social interaction and more reliance on informal aid but less reliance on formal agencies. It may well be that informal social ties block proper access to useful services rather than lead to more humane and cheaper alternatives. (Author)