Gray Power came into prominence in the 1970s and has received considerable attention among social gerontologists. This paper reviews studies on gray power, political consciousness among the elderly and advocacy by organizations on behalf of older people, and it considers their implications for further research. Constructing the agenda for future research on gray power requires recognizing the diversity of older people and the life-course context through which individuals shape their concepts of old age and its meaning. Studies on political power need to be longitudinal as well as cross-sectional. Furthermore, studies on the political power of older people should consider how the young and middle-aged perceive their power relative to issues of common concern. Finally the studies of age advocacy groups should be linked with those of other advocacy organizations involved in social change (e.g. the disabled). The paper concludes that research on gray power should be fostered along inter-disciplinary lines of inquiry.

Surgical care of elderly persons focuses many of the difficult legal and ethical dilemmas that have arisen in modern medicine. Such issues arise at both macro and micro levels. This paper explores four micro level areas involving physician-patient interaction. These are: informed consent, dying patients, pain relief treatment and medical research, when the patients involved are elderly persons.

The discussion of informed consent includes consideration of refusal of treatment, scope of information, voluntariness, coercion and competency. In particular, the basic presumptions are articulated and variations in the application of these concepts, when aged persons are involved, and justification of such variations, are considered. Within the topic of dying elderly persons, the “living will” and “durable powers of attorney” are discussed. The obligation to provide pain relief treatment can be particularly important in the context of terminally ill and dying persons and it is suggested that there should be a legal obligation to provide such treatment, including in some circumstances, where the treatment could possibly, or even is likely to, shorten life. Finally, aged persons' participation in medical research and the special problems that can be involved in this are addressed.

In conclusion, it is suggested that the greater visibility and identification of old persons needing surgery than of those needing some other forms of medical care is likely to make this an important arena for setting far-reaching precedents regarding humane approaches to, and human rights in, access to and provision of medical care.

A group of Canadian senior citizens (n = 22) who bicycled 7700 km across Canada, from Victoria, B.C. to St. Johns, Newfoundland, over 100 days in the summer of 1983 were the subjects of this study. Each was tested on three occasions: 2 days prior to commencement of the tour, at the geographical mid-point of the tour and within 2 days of tour completion. Comprehensive anthropometric data were collected along with evaluation of fitness and blood chemistry on all three testing occasions. Participants were also asked a series of questions designed to ascertain positive and negative psycho-social experiences and to assess their anxiety level. Generally the cyclists reated well to the tour, exhibiting objective evidence of increased fitness in the absence of negative physical or psychological changes. Self-report data indicated that subjects generally enjoyed the tour, felt their endurance had increased, and perceived other improvements such as increased self-confidence, reduced anxiety, and improved appetite.

In response to recent claims for the role of the humanities in understanding aging, this paper identifies certain works of fiction which illustrate and dramatize such concepts as life review and integrity. In its consideration of novels by Muriel Spark, Tillie Olsen, Margaret Laurence, and Jessica Anderson, the essay argues that complex fiction about old persons refuses to over-simplify or sentimentalize the problems of aging but often finds poetic and symbolic means of affirming the positive values of life review and spiritual growth at the end of life's journey.

Many elderly in Canada are living independently and managing their own medication use. Since the elderly are more susceptible to the ill-effects of drugs, non-prescription drug use may pose a hazard. In order to conduct a survey to determine the extent of hazardous self-medication with non-prescription analgesics and the factors that contribute to such use, a valid measurement of hazardous use was needed. To determine items for this measurement, a survey was conducted with health professionals in a position to detect problems with drug use by the elderly. Nurses and physicians were asked their perceptions of drug use problems and of their elderly clients' concerns about their health and drug use. Results indicated that eight items should be included in a measurement to reflect hazardous drug use seen in practice by more than 50% of the health professionals surveyed. Nurses and physicians differed in their perceptions of certain problems and of their elderly clients' concerns.

Debate over fixed-age retirement continues as a steady stream of court cases are launched and appealed. Contrary to some early opinion, Charter provisions apparently do not guarantee an end to mandatory retirement and legal decisions have yet to establish any clear precedent. This paper reviews the legal framework of age discrimination cases, examines current attitudes and practices regarding retirement, and outlines major arguments for and against forced retirement. The contrasting principles of individual justice versus comparative justice are emphasized.