Elementary curriculum about aging should seek to increase children's knowledge about aging, provide opportunities for interaction with older adults in class and community, and permit expression of attitudes about aging. Developing appropriate affective behavior can help modify stereotypes and develop interpersonal skills. (SK)

Presents an interview with Susan Krauss Whitbourne in which she discusses issues such as the challenge in teaching a course on the psychology of aging; types of assignments and active learning she uses in her course; resources she recommends; and how her research influences the adult development courses she has taught. (CMK)

Offers the insights of leaders in the fields of social work and aging regarding the profound economic, political, and moral implications of projected societal changes. Notes the trend toward economic inequality for future elders. Predicts the baby boom generation will bring about major policy changes and redefine aging in search of meaning in what…

Discusses the contours of population aging, especially the baby boom generation, and the political and economic changes in regard to the rapidly aging U.S. population. Focuses on entitlements such as social security and Medicare. Seeks to broaden national discourse on the aging of the baby boom cohorts through basic questions and clarification of…

An innovative gerontology education program was developed to advance research on aging that is interdisciplinary and promotes the translation of knowledge from lab to life. The program focuses on communication and social interaction in healthy aging. It brings together faculty mentors, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows from six…

Imagining what one will be like as an older adult can be a difficult task at mid life, let alone during young adulthood. Yet, pondering senescence has positive benefits for young adults with respect to their future physical, financial and social well being. This article describes an exercise used with more than 300 introductory-level gerontology…

This article presents a teaching methodology for free radical theory and discusses the role of antioxidants in human health. Free radicals are a normal byproduct of respiration, which allows the body to use oxygen, liberate energy, and dispose of harmful substances. The body's antioxidants and nutritional antioxidants quench most of the free…

An analysis of policy implementation by the Geriatric Education Centers (GEC) program is presented, using a model developed by Sabatier and Mazmanian (1980). A policy by the Bureau of Health Professions to expand education and training efforts in geriatrics and gerontology led to the creation of four GECs in 1983. By 1989, 38 centers had been…

The number of people who are living past age 65 is increasing dramatically. Although few stereotypes or generalizations apply to this population, older citizens still suffer from a societal attitude of agism. Studies on aging have demonstrated that chronological age does not predict physical condition or behavior. In fact, the current generation…

The paper discusses some of the available curricula on the aging, their goals, their shared characteristics, and some outcomes of the curricula. Appearing in several formats for grades K-12 classroom use and including texts, videos, and workbooks, the curricula are presented as activities that may be integrated with other prescribed content. Each…

Noting that early children's literature plays a major role in the development of children's attitudes, this annotated bibliography lists early children's literature which contains positive portrayals of older adults. The books selected portray aging as a natural and lifelong process of growing and developing; present similarities between young and…

The educational needs of elderly people (those over 60 years) around the world are examined in this paper. First, brief attention is given to the changing demographic structure in various regions of the world, and emphasis is placed on the dramatic increases in the proportion of elderly in the world's population. Particular references are made to…

Learning activities on the topic of aging which were developed and field tested by K-6 teachers in the public schools of Acton, Massachusetts, are provided. They are designed to overcome many of the myths that children hold about aging and to help them develop a more realistic and positive view of their own future as people who will grow old. The…

Schools have a role to play in educating young people about aging and the elderly. Education also has an obligation to the aged. Educators have an obligation to themselves to tap a vast resource stockpile that lies waiting. (BRR)

Describes two projects conducted by the Western Kansas Community Services Consortium and Kansas State University to develop noncredit courses, instructor-based modules, short courses, and credit courses dealing with gerontology for the general public and the providers of direct services to older adults. Explains the activities and accomplishments…