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Die in Litauen stattfindenden sozialen Prozesse, wie rasche demographische Alterung oder die Veränderung der Familienstrukturen, stellen den Staat vor die Aufgabe, für den schwächeren Teil der Bevölkerung zu sorgen, d.h. denjenigen zu helfen, denen es schwerer fällt, sich an die Herausforderungen des alltäglichen Lebens anzupassen, indem man die Fähigkeiten fördert selbständig den Alltag zu meistern und am gesellschaftlichen Leben teilzunehmen. Die sozialen Dienste zu Hause (Heimpflege) stellen eine der wichtigsten Unterstützungsformen für Pflegebedürftige dar, die aus verschiedenen Gründen, sei es Alter, Behinderung oder schwache Gesundheit, nicht in der Lage sind, für sich selbst zu sorgen. Die vorliegende Arbeit hatte die Untersuchung der Erweiterungsmöglichkeiten der sozialen Dienste in der Stadt Vilnius zum Ziel. Die Aufgaben der Untersuchung bestanden darin, die Bedeutung der sozialen Dienste zu Hause bei der Lösung gesellschaftlicher Probleme festzustellen, die Prinzipien und Bedingungen der sozialen Dienste zu Hause zu ergründen, ferner die Entwicklungstendenzen der sozialen Heimdienste zu analysieren, die Faktoren festzuhalten, die den Ausbau der sozialen Heimdienste beeinflussen sowie Vorschläge für das Modell einer komplexen Heimhilfe zu unterbreiten. In der Untersuchung wurden folgende Methoden angewandt: theoretische (Studium, Analyse sowie Verallgemeinerung sowohl der Gesetze, normativen Rechtsakte, die die sozialen Heimdienste reglementieren wie auch der... [to full text]

The studies in this dissertation asses age differences in the experience of pain in humans and animals and the appropriateness of pain assessment tools across the adult life-span. Chapter I reviews age differences in experimental, acute and chronic pain in humans. Chapter 2 reviews age differences in the outcome of psychological treatments for chronic pain. It is concluded do there are age differences in each type of pain and that the elderly appear to benefit from psychological treatments as much as younger groups. Several experiments were conducted to examine the concepts that the elderly believe that pain is an inevitable part of aging and are not distressed by it, and that they experience less interim pain than younger patients. However, Chapter 3 presents two studies which find no age differences in pain beliefs. Furthermore, the studies described in Chapters 4 and 5 suggest that there may be age differences in the perceived qualities of chronic pain, measured with the short and full form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), but no age differences in pain intensity measured with single-item scales The data from Chapters 3, 4 and 5 suggest that the affective and cognitive components of chronic pain do not differ among age groups. Analysis of the psychometric properties of the pain measures suggests that verbal descriptor scales of pain intensity and both forms of the MPQ may be appropriate for use across the adult life-span. However, visual analog scales may not be appropriate for use with the elderly. To further elucidate the effects of aging on pain, Chapter 6 reviews age differences in nociceptive responsivity and pain behaviours in the rat. This review suggests that reflexive responses to nociceptive stimuli may not be age dependent although sensitivity on tests of more highly organized behaviours may decrease with age. Chapter 7 presents studies of age differences in the formalin test, a model of tonic pain, which suggest a curvilinear relationship be

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and better understand the stigma experienced by a specific subgroup of the population experiencing mental illness---older adults. Using the framework of the Modified Labelling theory, the effect and significance of stigma on their self-image was investigated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten seniors who participate in the Community Mental Health Program at the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors in Montreal, Quebec. Using a purposive sample, study participants were included according to: age (i.e., 50 plus), participation in a mental health program in a community center, and having a diagnosis of a mental illness. Interviews were analyzed according to individual coping strategies as well as thematic content across interviews. Study results enhance understandings of how older people resist dominant discourses of stigma attached to mental illness and how personal perceptions on mental illness, age and health influence self-image.

Normative ideas of age and stage-based transitions are built into policies and practices related to aging. However, how the issues of loss and depression impact older people's experiences of transition are often less prevalent. This paper discusses the sub-theme of loss identified within data from the Late Life Transitions Project; a SSHRC funded research project. In this thesis, qualitative interviews were analyzed from 30 community-residing seniors from diverse social backgrounds. Focused exploration of the everyday ways in which older people discussed major transitions and turning points revealed a strong subtheme of loss. Findings presented are related to the types of loss, the various barriers to integrating loss, coping mechanisms and the impact of social location on loss. Such discussions inform understandings of the ways in which older people discuss and make sense of their loss, and may provide guidance to plan interventions that are more relevant to older people's late life experiences.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and cognitive function in older adults Additionally, the study sought to determine if older adults adhering to ACSM PA guidelines would exhibit significantly better cognitive function than their less active peers. Thirty-five participants (M= 70.6 ± 4.6 years), 21 males and 14 females free of diagnosed cognitive disorders or prescribed psychotropic medications from the Muncie, IN. region were recruited for analysis. Resting heart rate, blood pressure, health history and basic body composition variables were evaluated to determine study eligibility. The Trail Making Task and Stroop Color and Word Test were used to assess cognitive function. Time spent in sedentary, light and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), energy expenditure and total steps were measured for a one-week period by accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3x) and questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionairre). Weekly MVPA was found to correlate significantly with Stroop Word (W) (r =.446, p = < .05), Stroop Color (C) (r =.389, p = < .05) and Stroop Color-Word (CW) (r =.609, p = < .05) performance outcomes. MVPA was also found to have a significant relationship with Trail Making Test Part B (TMTb) outcomes (r = -.358, p < .05). Energy expenditure was related with cognitive performance where W (r = .416, p = <.05), C (r = .424, p = < .05), CW (r = .656, p = < .05), TMTb (r = -.532, p = < .05) and difference between TMT Parts A and B (TMTdiff) (r = -.485, p = < .05) were significant. Total steps/week were strongly correlated to MVPAACC+ (r = .752, p = < .05) as well as CW scores (r = .388, p < .05). Women were shown to have a stronger relationship between MVPAACC+ and TMTb performance outcomes (r = .732, p < .05). Independent t-tests indicated that older adults participating in > 150 minutes of MVPA weekly perform better on Stroop W, C and CW (p = .003, p = .001, and p = .015, respectively) when compared to less active peers. Increased MVPA indicates improved cognitive performance outcomes in older adults when compared to less active peers. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

A molecular nitrogen laser was constructed and preliminary tests were performed to establish the fact that lasing action was taking place. The purpose was to show that a high energy pump source of ultraviolet radiation could be constucted, given a limited budget and expertise, which would be of the quality required to perform spectrographic research.

Cognitive aging research has demonstrated reliable declines in memory ability with age, and, in response, several memory enhancement programs have been developed to address these concerns. Most research indicates that these programs are beneficial. However, research into the predictors of memory enhancement outcomes is limited. In brief, age, cognitive status, and memory ability have been shown to be influential. Only a few studies have investigated other potentially important psychosocial influences such as personality, metacognition, and coping styles. The goal of this study was to identify potentially important demographic, cognitive, and psychosocial influences on memory enhancement intervention outcomes. Thirty-nine older adults completed a multifaceted memory enhancement program that included psycho-education, memory compensatory strategy instruction, and discussion aimed at addressing metacognitive concerns and ageist stereotypes. Eighteen participants served as delayed-treatment controls. Predictor variables included demographic, cognitive (3MS, HVLT, Buschke Cued Recall Protocol), personality characteristics (NEO-PI-R), coping styles (Brief Cope), and metacognitive measures (MCI, MIA). Dependent measures including subjective (MMQ) and objective (Face/Name Recall, Grocery List Recall, Story Detail Recognition, Strategy Application) memory measures were obtained pre- and post-intervention. The current memory enhancement program was effective in improving both subjective and objective memory functioning immediately following program completion. Results revealed individual variation in outcomes ranging from 30 to 60 percent of participants showing improvement depending on the measure assessed. Improvements in subjective memory functioning were maintained at three-month follow-up. Investigation of predictors of individual differences in outcome indicated that memory performance scores were the most consistent predictor of objective memory functioning improvement, although metacognitive factors were also influential. Immediate improvement in subjective memory functioning was associated with both metacognitive ratings and memory performance scores whereas only metacognitive ratings were associated with lasting subjective improvement. In general, metacognitive constructs of memory efficacy, controllability, and locus of control appeared to be associated with positive intervention outcomes. An unexpected finding of higher levels of memory-related anxiety being associated with positive outcomes was noted. Personality characteristics (e.g., openness, neuroticism) were predictive of immediate increases in memory strategies usage. Implications for cognitive rehabilitation and social cognitive theory and clinical application are discussed.

This thesis is divided into four chapters, the first of which is theoretical and synoptic. The method of chapter 1 is threefold. Firstly, an examination of the idea of the late career, including previous research on the subject, common perceptions and archetypes, and a consideration of the nature of artistic self-consciousness as it influences the late career. Secondly, a discussion of old age in literature, including the context of gerontology, our typically equivocal picture of old age as both decaying and spiritualized, and a consideration of the mode of creativity of the aged. Thirdly, an examination of literary "endings": the point at which the poet is faced with formal conclusions and "last things." A number of topics associated with or generated by the late career are considered, particularly the summational impulse, confrontation with death, and engagement with posterity: three perspectives supplied by the moment of ending. In the three chapters which follow, I examine the structure of the late careers of Hardy, Yeats and Stevens, in particular the points of crisis and self-renewal, and including in each case works which precede the final phase. The evolving attitude of each poet to old age is examined, and a number of topics which seem intrinsic to the late career: monumental intentions and their decay, the fate of the poet's work in posterity, the dividing of the mortal body from the poetic corpus, the old man's introjected sexuality, and the heightened dualism of old age. Finally, in each case the "final gestures" of the poet are considered: his attempts to confront the demands of the literary "ending. "