Declining birth rates and increased distance learning will result in fewer young college students. Higher education institutions must restructure to adapt to future needs. Examples include creating campus retirement communities and converting facilities for use by older adult education programs. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

Argues that nursing home mental health counselors should address nursing home residents' need for assistance in conflict resolution, having meaningful social interactions, and in developing and maintaining feelings of self-worth. Describes benefits of group therapy approach using life review format to help build basic trust and feelings of…

Explores how art education can enhance the mental abilities and educational needs of older adults. Maintains that the postformal operations development stage may be helpful in art studies. Suggests that older adults could study the meaning of their life experience as well as their place in culture. (KM)

Interviews with 13 female and 7 male retirees in the West Midlands, England, aged 60-70 plus, ascertained their self-perceived reading, writing, oral communication, and computation skills. It was concluded that basic skills cannot be defined as an identifiable set of coping skills, but must be based on self-perceived requirements within an…

The 1975 to 1985 graduates of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry were surveyed to evaluate the influence on dental practice of a comprehensive geriatric dental curriculum introduced in 1980. Those who graduated before 1980 were more likely to be consultants in nursing homes than carrying out comprehensive care for this population.…

Conducted 161 interviews to analyze the way that older married persons living--or having a spouse living--in a long-term care institution perceive their marriages following relocation. Results suggested that relocation did not affect respondents' marriage perceptions. Continuity theory helped in understanding these marital views. (RJM)

Argues that ageism fosters oppressive social relations directed at, and constructed in, images of the aged body. Researchers must sensitize themselves to historical and geographical variations of ageism, should focus on the contested nature of the aged body and associated identities, and must reject attempts at universalizing scholarship. (RJM)

Reviews data on the rapid growth of the older population in Australia. Describes the aims and content of gerontological education, highlighting the importance of destroying myths. Describes the educational opportunities available for older people, exploring the University of the Third Age model. (DMM)

Completion of Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz by 127 medical, 52 nursing, and 45 social work students in Israel revealed that nursing and social work students increased knowledge of aging and that no correlation was found among knowledge, attitudes, and work preferences among any group, implying that increased knowledge about aging does not…

A series of 6- to 10-week programs in creative collage were given to disabled elderly residents within a special care facility. The program stressed choice, decision making, and personal autonomy in the design process. Participants were involved in all stages of the creative process including exploration, manipulation, establishing a unity,…

Covers the following topics: aging of the Japanese population, restructuring social customs, age norms in adulthood, intergenerational interaction outside the family, continuing education for seniors, University of the Air, public library services to the elderly, nursing curricula for an aging society, preretirement education and life planning,…

Uses qualitative methods to examine the similarities and differences in the meaning of aging for young and older adults. Results show that younger adults associate aging with major events in their lives and perceive aging negatively. By contrast, older adults associate aging with everyday events and they perceive aging positively. (Author/GCP)

A gerontological training program for allied health occupations was developed by two Japanese colleges. It emphasized health promotion/disease prevention, health maintenance, caregiving, and retirement preparation. Information from a U.S. program was used in developing the curriculum. (SK)

Identifies challenges to the social work profession in an aging society including the shortage of gerontological social workers, lack of gerontological expertise and competence, negative attitudes towards older adults, inadequate social work curricula in aging, and cutbacks in federal resources. Offers strategies for enhancing gerontological…

Purpose: The correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) utilization among elders have not been fully investigated. This study was designed to identify such correlates in a large sample of older adults, thus generating new data relevant to consumer education, medical training, and health practice and policy. Design and Methods: A…