Some older patients on treatment wards suffer from poor mental status in addition to a primary illness condition. This research 1) compared the relative prevalence of cognitive dysfunction when indexed by a mental status questionnaire (MSQ), physician reports, and nurse ratings, respectively, and 2) examined relationships of the MSQ to other variables. The sample was the entire inpatient population on medical and surgical wards at two general hospitals during a one-week period. Data were obtained from the patients (i.e., the MSQ), case notes by physicians (i.e., diagnoses or symptoms indicative of cognitive dysfunction), and ward nuses (i.e., ratings on several variables). The findings were that prevalence of cognitive dysfunction was greater by the MSQ than by physician reports, than by nurse ratings. Against the criterion of MSQ classification, both physicial reports and nurse ratings exhibited false positive and false negative errors; however, false negative errors were more frequent. The strong correlates of MSQ included capacity for independent living, use of geriatric chair, and physician evaluation. Other signs of normalcy or dysfunction were specific to only one MSQ category: tube feeding, restraint, and basic function capability.

A program of respite admission to a geriatric assessment unit was evaluated through a retrospective review of the medical records of 50 consecutive male respite patients.

The demographic and medical characteristics of these patients were examined and their hospital course was reconstructed. The correlates of several outcome variables were also examined. These included: 1) family response 2) the patient's condition at discharge and 3) the location of discharge.

The results indicate that although the program was appraised positively by family members, not all patients thrived during the admission and the condition of 22% deteriorated. Age and the incidence of a variety of intercurrent illnesses were among the most significant correlates of outcomes.

Finally, several recommendations are provided. These include the need for family counselling, following a pre-admission assessment, and the need for sound principles of geriatric management which can decrease the risk to the patient which appear to arise during a short-term respite admission.

Previous research on multigenerational households in later life has generally ignored the distinction between multigenerational households located in the home of a parent and those located in the home of a child. This distinction has implications for dependency on the part of the older adult and also for social policy which is primarily concerned with the child-provided type of multigenerational household. The present analysis employs the distinction of parent's home versus child's home, and investigates multigenerational households in a random sample of adults in Hamilton, Ontario. In a qualitative analysis, the two types of multigenerational households are shown to be related to different family life course phases and to differ on a number of dimensions, including family size, age, effectual and consensual solidarity, income, marital status, and gender. The analysis indicates the need for future research on multigenerational households to explicitly differentiate between the two types of households examined in this paper.

The majority of elderly individuals do not engage in any form of regular physical activity. This lack of participation is thought to be due to a number of factors ranging from entrenched patterns of inactivity to myths and fears concerning the safety and suitability of exercise for this age group. The following review critically examines the research in the area in order to assess the elderly's capacity for exercise and the benefits accruing from exercise. Endurance training studies are contrasted with rhythmic exercise programs in terms of documented benefits, screening procedures and attrition rates. The lower-intensity exercise programs attract a more representative group of senior participants and appear to overcome many of the barriers to increased involvement in physical activity. Implications of the research findings for both program planning and broader educational efforts are discussed.

Findings are presented on the psychometric properties of a short psychological hardiness measure using subjects predominantly aged over 60 years. The sample of 223 participants was administered the hardiness questionnaire and other instruments twice, with a one-year test-retest interval. First-order factor analysis yielded three factors termed challenge, control, and commitment. Second-order factor analysis revealed a single main factor of general hardiness on which all the first-order components loaded highly. Both internal consistency and test-retest forms of reliability were in the range 0.6 to 0.7. Concurrent validity was illustrated by significant correlations between hardiness and measures of happiness and adjustment.

An analysis of the data from the Ontario longitudinal study of aging was carried out to investigate the associations between self-reported income and perceived health status, using cross-tabulations and logistic regression models. Reported income, educational level, and smoking status were associated with perceived health status. Reported income was associated with perceived health status independently of the effects of education and smoking. The data also indicate that changes in income are related significantly to changes in perceived health status. A reduced income was associated with a worsening of health and a weak relationship was apparent between increased income and better health. The analyses further suggest that income changes precede health changes. The possible mechanisms through which an income change may lead to health changes are discussed.

This study examines a comparative sample of native and non-native Canadian elderly. Findings indicate that the native population is seriously disadvantaged in terms of housing and health care services. In terms of informal networks and assistance to the elderly, native Canadians rely almost exclusively on informal networks while others receive some assistance from formal agencies as well. These and other issues are discussed relative to future research and the development of theory.

To determine family involvement after geriatric assessment, two groups of patients were followed: a sample of 1981 patients and their caregivers were interviewed in 1981 and 1984: and, a sample of 1983 patients and their caregivers were interviewed in 1984. The findings indicate that nuclear family members retain on-going relationships with their elderly. Kin networks shrink for those elderly without nuclear kin when their mental functioning decreases. Needs and resources change over time.

This paper investigates several dimensions of the informal support network and well-being among widows and widowers. Using subsets of two random samples of older people living in Winnipeg, Manitoba collected in 1980, one group who were using home care services and another who were not. widowed men and women are contrasted on a number of support network variables, three indicators of well-being, and several socio-demographic and health-related variables. While significant differences arise in length of widowhood, functional ability and some components of the support network, no gender differences are found for the measures of well-being for either sample, even after introducing control variables. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

The level of liver polyploidy was compared in three groups of humans: a young group aged 20–46, an older group aged 62–68 and the oldest group aged 70–79. The most important trend showed by the data was that there is a depletion of 2N and 4N cells, accompanied by an increase in 8N and 16N cells as a function of advancing age. There was a high degree of variability in the percentage of cells in each ploidy class from one individual to the next for all age groups. For this reason, polyploidy appears to be a less effective biomarker of aging in humans than it is in experimental animals.

As an initial step in the improvement of interventions for the depressed elderly, the present study attempts to identify the strategies they spontaneously use to cope with depressive feelings. Fifty two older persons answered two questionnaires, one measuring the intensity of depressive symptomatology, the other dealing with coping strategies and their usefulness. Results suggest that, as a whole, coping strategies used by the elderly do not fundamentally differ from the ones advocated by younger individuals, in that they favor strategies involving goal-oriented action. The subjects who reported the most depressive feelings differed from the others on two points: they less frequently relied on the strategy of problem solving and they considered general activity as less useful in their struggle against depressive feelings. Implications for the development of services for the elderly, in particular the secondary prevention of depression, are drawn.

This paper examines three conceptual and methodological problems characteristic of research on patterns of aging in rural versus urban environments. These are: lack of consistency and clarity in definitions of rurality and in the application of those definitions; inconsistency in the way in which rural-urban comparisons are made and representative communities selected; and problems arising from inattention to the issue of duration of residential experience. Our analyses show how these problems also characterize the emerging body of Canadian research on aging in rural environments.

The book identifies the three distinct but related aspects of Educational Gerontology, specifically, educational opportunities for older people, education about aging for the general population, and education of professionals and para-professionals who work with the elderly. The first aspect, education for older people—including pre-retirement preparation—is emphasized. The volume has an international character with contributions from Britain, the United States, Denmark and Canada.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of eight categories of leisure participation and enjoyment with ten selected demographic variables. A Likert-type questionnaire was designed to ascertain the degree of participation and enjoyment in 89 activities. The activities were grouped in the following leisure categories: aesthetic, civic, intellectual, mass-media, physical, social, spiritual and touristic.

The sample consisted of three executive board members and five non-board members for each of the 229 senior citizen clubs currently affiliated with the New Brunswick Senior Citizen's Federation. Canonical correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationship stated in the two research questions. Three meaningful canonical variates were respectively identified for participation and enjoyment. On the basis of the results of the study, there seems to be some justification to take into account the particular ethnic orientation of senior clubs in the delivery of the various leisure programs.

A recent trend in health promotion is to involve seniors in planning programs designed to meet their needs. However, many seniors have been socialized to be passive recipients of health care services and may initially require confidence-building and skill development to enable them to take an active role in health promotion.

This paper outlines the field development of a self-advocacy program. The central purpose of the program is to assist seniors to speak up for what they need to maintain control of their health and their lives. Results support the effectiveness of the program model as a framework for (1) helping seniors take increased initiative and control (2) developing a cohesive support network and (3) providing input from seniors into program planning. Recommendations are made for future research and program development.