Explores the wonder of trees and encourages us to recall our childhood trees in order to remember that we are part of Earth, and Earth is part of us. Children accept this more readily than adults. Growing up can lead to a misconception of being in control. It's time to rekindle our childlike kinship with nature. (TD)

The costs, nature, and benefits of residential supports were examined for 20 adults with severe disabilities living in newly built residential campuses and 20 adults living in small community-based dispersed housing schemes. Participants living in dispersed housing schemes enjoyed significantly greater quality of care and quality of life.…

An outdoor educator and life-long mountain climber describes his experiences with taking risks, and managing them, as a way of life in such areas as career choices, sports, relocation, marriage, political activism, and Outward Bound participation. Benefits include a sharper perspective on what counts, less concern with possessions and more with…

The authors divided 275 elderly volunteers into 2 groups (affiliated and non-affiliated participants) and examined demographic, emotional, and practical issues that affect elderly people. There were significant differences between the groups on issues of loneliness, nutrition, and overall quality of life. (Contains 20 references and 3 tables.)…

From 1990 to 1998, net inmigration in Oregon hit unprecedented high levels, leading to policy concerns about needs for infrastructure and services. Different regions of Oregon attracted migrants who differed dramatically in age, educational attainment, occupational status, and income. Migrants who moved for quality-of-life reasons were willing to…

Observations were conducted of the in-home leisure activity of three adults with severe disabilities in three supported independent living (SIL) sites. Results indicated a lack of leisure engagement. Potentially preferred, typical leisure activities were then identified by consulting lists of common leisure activities, surveying adults in…

Purpose: We examine the psychometric properties of the Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale (PGMS) in an elderly Chinese population in Hong Kong. Design and Methods: The study consisted of two cohorts: (a) 759 participants aged 70 years and older living in the community who were recruited as part of a territory-wide health survey and interviewed in…

Purpose: The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) has been validated in many diverse samples. This measure of health-related quality of life, however, has not yet been examined among older Mexican Americans, a rapidly growing subset of the older population. Design and Methods: We address the validity of the SF-36 in a…

This article describes the author's experience dealing with animal rights protests. It describes a group convened to address the issue of animal care and use in education, comprised of faculty from veterinary medicine, veterinary students, members of the Vegetarian Resources Network, the director of Oregon State's Program for Ethics, Science, and…

The baby boomer generation, typically referred to as those individuals born between 1946 and 1964, has been teaching in the schools since the 1960s. These dedicated professionals, many of them serving their schools for more than 30 years, soon will retire. In the next 10 years, more than two million new teachers will be needed to staff the…

The CUHK Hong Kong Quality of Life Index, which aims to assess and monitor the quality of life in Hong Kong, is a composite index incorporating both objective and subjective measures. This index, developed by the Faculty of Social Science of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, employs data collected in representative sample surveys and official…

The aim of this investigation is to obtain some baseline self-reported data of the health status and overall quality of life of all residents of the Bella Coola Valley of British Columbia aged 17 years or older, and to measure the impact of a set of designated health determinants on their health and quality of life. In the period from August to…

A distinction is made between objective and subjective assessment when quality of life evaluation is considered. The aim was to explore the association between objective and subjective appraisals within similar quality of life domains. Correlations between scores on objective and subjective quality of life measures concerning choice, activity and…

The increased participation of women in paid labor has changed the organization of domestic work. This article deals with a strategy to cope with remaining domestic duties; to what extent are domestic tasks outsourced, what are the main determinants, and does it indeed save time spent on housework? Five outsourcing options are investigated:…

An ostomy is an artificial opening in the body for the purpose of eliminating excretions from a working organ or for providing nourishment. Artificial openings may be from the stomach, intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, or trachea. The stoma is the terminal end of the ostomy, or the opening that is visible on the surface of the skin. This article…