This thesis examines the phenomenon of the increasing number of middle-aged and older people who are living alone. Using survey and qualitative data, the principal aim is to determine whether the experience of living alone in later life and the way in which social relationships are organised is significantly different than in the past. Central to this aim is an analysis of how the different pathways to living alone, through widowhood, separation, divorce, and remaining single, influence the social relationships of men and women in different age cohorts. The thesis addresses these questions in the context of the conditions of late modernity, where the growth of intimacy has emerged as an important quality of relationships to exist alongside formerly dominant normative and prescriptive roles of the family. The findings provide little evidence that living alone represents a form of weakened family ties or other forms of informal networks. Despite this robustness, different pathways to living alone influence how social relationships are made, maintained and renewed. Among older people, the desire for residential independence following widowhood has been strengthened during the latter part of the twentieth century. The growth of intimacy as a defining feature of relationships is less applicable among the older age groups of individuals living alone. For middle-aged adults new pathways to living alone exist through separation and divorce. The characteristics of middle-aged individuals living alone suggest different types of experiences, resulting from influences such as life-style choices or separated families. Gender differences in the experience of living alone are an important feature among both the middle-aged and older age groups. The thesis concludes with hypotheses concerning how social support will be accessed by future cohorts of older people living alone.

This thesis explores the sociocultural meanings of home in congregate housing facilities offering assisted living services for the elderly in the United States. A review of the meanings of home in the single-family house is initially conducted to define categories of meaning with respect to the socio-historical and cultural forces which have shaped them. Previous studies are also analyzed concerning the meaning of home in elderly housing. Twenty structured interviews are then conducted with the elderly occupying apartments in three different housing facilities with varying socioeconomic composition. The purpose is to explore whether or not the same categories of meaning defined with respect to the single-family house one generally identifies with are replicated in the congregate housing facilities. Although the study is exploratory in nature without specific intentions of drawing definitive conclusions, emergent themes suggest that in congregate housing for the aged: security becomes less of an issue; function dominates social, expressive aspects; and self-preservation through objects tends to be more important than self-expression.

Aspects of landscape experience by the elderly are explored. An understanding of this user group is sought through investigation of stereotypes, personality traits, psyco-social, and physical aspects of aging. A construct of use categories provides a system for understanding the environment in terms of what it is perceived to provide its users. Use categories include wayfinding, human territoriality, cultural expression, visual and non-visual aesthetics, and task performance. Drawing from literature and research in many areas, each of these categories is first defined in general terms. Each is then surveyed relative to its more specific application to the elderly which is followed by an examination of each category as it relates to the elderly and landscape. Application of categories to site analysis, programming, design, post-occupancy evaluations, and research is proposed. Some landscape design implications for the elderly are noted along with areas for further research.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Richard Anderson. Dissertation Committee: Barbara Spencer. Bibliography: leaves 129-132.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 1973. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-124).

Thesis (PH.D.) -- Syracuse University, 2004. / "Publication number AAT 3135879."

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 1973. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-124).

Screenning of old people is very important from the point of evaluating their independence. Such screenning was performed in Slowakia for the first time ever.

The thesis looks at the effect of the social policy of community care for infirm elderly parents on their supporting single daughters and sons. It is a small empirical study of a sample of 58 carers whose parents were on the district nursing records of one area health authority. Most of the parents were in their eighties or nineties and all had multiple impairments. The daughters and sons (the carers) were themselves usually approaching or above retirement age. Common problems arising from parental dependency included broken sleep, few leisure activities outside the home, difficulties in taking a holiday and in maintaining friendships. The majority of the women below retirment age were unable to maintain a full-time job outside the home; but it was rare for a son's employment to be so affected. Several issues were highlighted by the research findings. In practice the policy of community care meant that the burden of care usually fell on one person. Not only did a substantial number of the single men and women totally lack supportive kin, those who had kin were usually given little support by such kin in coping with the parent. Although neighbours gave some form of practical support to about half the carers, the more infirm the parent the less likely were they to be supportive. As far as the statutory health and personal social services were concerned, the carers received relatively little support in the form of counselling or advice from district nurses or social workers. Although the social services departments often gave practical support such as Meals on Wheels or home help, services which would effectively share the burden of care, such as day care or short term places in residential Homes, were not readily available.

<p> <b>Purpose:</b> The purpose of this study is to explore the grief/bereavement process of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) caregivers following death of a family member in long-term care (LTC) and develop a theoretical model of this phenomenon based upon in-depth individual interviews. There is limited evidence examining ADRD caregiver grief and bereavement following family member death in LTC settings. Grounded Theory methodology has not been utilized to explore this phenomenon.</p><p> <b>Background:</b> ADRD is estimated to be the ^6th leading cause of death in the United States. Most individuals with ADRD die in LTC settings, where grief and bereavement support to surviving family members is virtually non-existent. Twenty-percent of these caregivers experience prolonged and/or exaggerated grief reactions that may impair their physical/mental health. </p><p> <b>Method:</b> A Grounded Theory design was used in this study. Participants were caregivers of a family member with ADRD who died in a LTC setting, recruited via Internet-based websites and caregiver forums. The interview guide explored recall of end-of-life grief and bereavement and the impact of LTC placement. Audio-taped individual interviews were conducted via Internet-based video-conferencing or telephone. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and entered into DeDoose^&copy; (qualitative data management software). Grounded theory methods were used to analyze data, formulate theoretical assumptions, and develop a theoretical model. Constant comparative analysis was used to interpret the findings and determine data saturation. Rigor was ensured through peer debriefing, audit trails, and expert reviews of the proposed model.</p><p> <b>Results:</b> Participants included adult children/grandchildren (<i>n</i>=16) and spouse (<i>n</i>=1) ranging in age from 30 to 77 years (M=56.94, SD=5.36). The mean time between death and the interview was 2.98 years (SD=2.22). The emerging model identified is comprised of 3 interdependent components of bereavement (behavioral, cognitive, and emotional). The following factors related to LTC placement were identified as facilitators or barriers to caregiver grief/bereavement: relationships/support with staff, death rituals, end-of-life care (hospice, end-of-life suffering), frequent deaths of other LTC residents, staffing-shortages, and length of time in LTC. </p><p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Findings from this study can be used to develop bereavement interventions for ADRD caregivers whose family members die in LTC.</p><p>