No description available.

Adjustment to transitional life events and processes of advanced development have emerged as important areas of research. Relatively little attention has been given to the 65+ age group. The present study investigated processes of adjustment to transitional life events by individuals in this group. Sixty-three non-institutionalized males and females volunteered as subjects. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, a pretested list of transitional life events, an open- and close-ended transition questionnaire, a battery of neuropsychological measures, and several measures of psychological functioning. Results indicated the present sample to be somewhat atypical of the elderly in certain respects--highly educated, quite healthy, and economically secure. A 1 x 6 multivariate analysis of variance and posteriori Hotelling T² tests indicated that while the level of performance on neuropsychological measures of adaptive abilities significantly declined with increasing age, there was also much overlap in performance by the various age groups, particularly among the three oldest cohorts (75 to 85+). Significant intercorrelations were found to exist among measures sensitive to lateralized functions. No significant differences were noted in performance on lateralized measures. Analysis of open- and close-ended descriptions of the nature of transitional life events and adjustment indicated the factors involved to be very complex. Several patterns of adjustment emerged: an immediate tendency to be concerned with practical issues or arrangements, an effort to mitigate the degree of stressful upset through emotional distancing or minimization, consideration of events as distinct from each other to limit the extent of adjustment required, and utilization of immediate and extended social support systems to foster adaptation. Measures of psychosocial functions were not correlated with the number of transitional life events experienced or with the neuropsychological measures employed. However, multiple regression analyses indicated that neuropsychological functioning, level of education, and level of income predicted a significant portion of the variance in ratings of adjustment by three clinical psychologists. Results were discussed in terms of previous research and methodological suggestions for future investigation were presented.

No description available.

No description available.

A critical concern for society at the present time is the detrimental effects of human activity on the ecosystems. However, while there is raised awareness about issues such as global warming and the thinning ozone layer, humans still plan and develop the urban landscape from the perspective of the Cartesian worldview. This is also apparent in planning for the aging population. Although there is a large body of literature on population aging and sustainable urban development as well as a significant amount of material on aging and urban planning, the three issues of sustainability, urban planning and population aging are seldom addressed simultaneously. This thesis addresses the question of how sustainability planning principles can be integrated with planning for population aging. To this end, I investigate the underlying paradigms of both planning and the sociology of aging to gain an understanding of the values that underscore the policy directions in both these fields. I also review the literature on population aging, as well as housing and health service planning to highlight some needs, preferences and beliefs of the older population. Finally, I survey the literature on sustainable urban planning to elucidate some points of intersection between the needs and preferences of an aging population and the dominant principles underwriting a more sustainable lifestyle. The most significant themes arising from this investigation are the need for social and physical restructuring through changing paradigms. It is clear that older people are treated as a special group and have been segregated either covertly or overtly from mainstream society. Therefore, a change in values is required normalizing the older population within the societal structure. At the same time, traditional urban planning supports increasing consumption of material and energy resources leading to greater environmental degradation. Physical urban restructuring that reduces fossil fuel consumption and waste production will move society towards sustainability. Social ecology and ecological planning principles underwrite such social and ecological restructuring.

The purpose of this study was to generate an understanding of the process of program planning in a senior centre. Of particular interest was the extent to which technical, contextual, and social-political dimensions of planning were represented in the planning practice of programmers. Indepth interviews were conducted with four programmers who were responsible for planning programs at one Lower Mainland, British Columbia senior centre from April 1996 to April 1997. Observations of programming meetings and documents pertaining to program planning supplemented interview data. This exploration revealed that all three dimensions of planning were evident in the programmers' practice. When planning programs, the programmers completed four technical stages: generating ideas, selecting ideas, developing programs, and organizing details. Daily planning activities revolved around these stages and their related tasks. The way in which programs were developed at this centre was also a highly contextualized process. The programmers were influenced by a variety of contextual factors internal and external to the centre which shaped the structure, process, timing, and organization of planning as well as the selection and development of programs. When examining planning as a social-political process of negotiation, it was evident that planning practice was characterized by power relationships, interests, and negotiation. While negotiating interests was one form of action in which the planners engaged, it was not the dominant form of planning activity. Planning practice at this centre was best depicted as a highly contextualized technical process which entailed information gathering, criteria-based decision making, negotiating interests, and recording program details. The way in which planning occurred at this centre implies that technical, contextual, and social-political dimensions are interrelated and that the interplay between the technical and social-political dimensions is influenced by contextual factors. While much of the planning literature has focused on a single dimension, this exploration of practice suggests that an integrated way of thinking about planning is needed which acknowledges varying degrees to which technical, contextual, and social-political dimensions may be emphasized depending on the planning environment.

This quantitative study examined body image and disordered eating in older males. Using a series of questionnaires and demographic questions, two research questions were explored: a) What are the characteristics of older males in terms of eating and body image? and b) Are disordered eating behaviors among older males related to dissatisfaction with body image, specifically physical appearance or physical functioning? Paired samples t-tests revealed that older males rated their ideal body figure as significantly smaller than their current figure, t(35) = -5.53, p < .01, which indicates the presence of body dissatisfaction. Twenty percent of participants were found to be at risk for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Furthermore, a correlation was found between disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction particularly as it relates to physical appearance, (r(33) = -.486, p < .01).

The study problem was that sane individuals found institutionalizing a family member stressful, and family members required assistance in coping. The purposes of the study were to examine threat appraisal, degree of threat, and coping responses in a sample of family members of newly institutionalized elderly. The study was a descriptive correlational investigation which utilized Lazarus' theory of stress and coping as the theoretical framework.There were 21 questionnaires received from a convenience sample obtained through four nursing hens in the vicinity of a small city in Indiana. Five major categories of threat were identified. A high degree of threat was associated with each category. Both problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping were utilized.Pearson product-mcinent correlation was used to determine that no significant relationship existed between coping responses utilized and degree of threat. ANOVA was used to reveal that there were no significant differences between coping responses utilized and demographic variables. Each scale was determined to be reliable by usage of Cronbach's alpha. / School of Nursing

The purpose of this study was to: 1) review the literature as it pertained to physical fitness for older adults and 2) develop an exercise and fitness guide to be used by older adults.Much of the literature dealing with: 1) cardiorespiratory endurance, 2) flexibility, 3) muscular strength and endurance, and 4) balance and coordination, suggests that given proper training and instruction, older adults can develop and maintain these areas of physical fitness well into advanced life.Older adults can develop and maintain their cardiorespiratory system by exercising at an intensity equal to 40% of their maximal heart rate. Walking is an activity in which that most older adults can participate and show improvement.Flexibility is a precursor for all movement. All movement depends on one's ability to bend and stretch. Regularity is the key to developing flexibility. Supple muscles and joints make many tasks easier and aid in the prevention of injury.Muscular strength and endurance are needed by older adults in many of the simple movements they face daily.Muscular strength and endurance can be developed and maintained through continued participation in regular physical activity.Balance and coordinated movement are important to older adults as they perform routine tasks encountered on a daily basis.Older adults can benefit physiologically, psychologically and socially from participation in appropriate regular physical activities and exercise programs. When older adults move their bodies physically, with regularity and purpose, they achieve a life of better health and well-being. / Center for Lifelong Education

Many community-dwelling seniors are reported to have inadequate dietary intakes. Factors affecting food intake have been studied mainly from the perspectives of health professionals. As the reasons for adequate food intake are complex, understanding the seniors' perspective could provide further help in understanding their needs. / Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of eight community-dwelling women aged 73 to 91 who were at-risk of malnutrition. A qualitative analysis showed the women were reporting three essential aspects: struggling to maintain their independence (i.e., frustration with health care, stereotyping seniors, simplifying cooking); learning new ways of functioning (i.e., adapting to health limitations, simplifying meals etc) and; taking control (i.e., planning own meal and food supplies, monitoring health and keeping physically and mentally active). Finally, this qualitative research paradigm was useful and it demonstrated how careful listening could help to understand the individual needs of free-living seniors at risk of malnutrition.