bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working the Field: Kumasi Central Market as Community, Employer, and Home
Authors: Clark Gracia
Published: December 2008

The huge Central Market in Kumasi, Ghana is a prized workplace for more than 20,000 traders. Being physically present is a primary work method for market traders, and also for an ethnographer. Lending a hand in various trading tasks clarified the decisions and intentions associated with them, their physical demands, and the politics of the market. The market also made intellectual demands; it immediately challenged the assumptions of homogeneity and boundedness still then rarely problematized for residential communities. Different traders had different relationships to it; that difference was what constituted the market and bound them to it. Translocal ethnography is now beginning to explain how members dispersed over geography and social structure can create a more committed and resilient community. Market commodity groups commanded loyalty precisely because they bridged the most significant conflicts of interest, incorporating the retailers, wholesalers and traveling buyers most likely to quarrel over a sale as buyer and meaning its social institutions as much as its territory. This new perspective on difference also makes a place for the ethnographer, as one more woman making her living from the market. Gender, age, ethnicity, education and class significantly affect the symbolic and material public resources available to traders. Is it so very perverse that they also inflect ethnography?
Long‐term follow‐up of interferon‐alpha induction and low‐dose maintenance therapy in hairy cell leukemia
Authors: Benz Rudolf , Siciliano Raffaele Daniele , Stussi Georg , Fehr Jörg
Published: December 2008

Objective:  Interferon‐α (IFNα) was the first effective pharmacologic treatment of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Since 1990 purine analogs replaced IFNα because of higher rates of complete remission and an invariable disease recurrence after cessation of IFNα. However, there are only limited data about long‐term maintenance treatment with IFNα and none about dose finding in this phase.

Patients and methods:  Fifty‐two consecutive patients treated at our institution for HCL are included in this retrospective analysis. Forty (77%) patients received IFNα and 35 patients continue on long‐term IFNα maintenance therapy. The initial dose of IFNα was 3 Mio IU three times per week and was tapered 6 months after initiation to doses as low as 3 Mio IU/12 wk. Dose adaptation was performed by repeated measurement of soluble Interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R) together with peripheral blood values.

Results:  The median follow‐up of patients in the long‐term IFNα group was 13.6 ± 7.5 yr. Long‐term IFNα was in general well tolerated and only in six (17%) patients the treatment had to be changed to purine analogs in the long‐term IFNα group because of side effects. There are no deaths directly related to HCL.

Conclusions:  IFNα is still an effective and well tolerated therapeutic option. By repeated measurements of sIL2R together with the peripheral blood values, IFNα doses can be tapered to the minimal effective dose. The advantages and disadvantage of IFNα in regards to the standard treatment in HCL patients are discussed.
Consequences of Family Policies on Childbearing Behavior: Effects or Artifacts?
Authors: Neyer Gerda , Andersson Gunnar
Published: December 2008

This article argues for a more careful consideration of theoretical and methodological approaches in studies of the effects of public policies, labeled here as family policies, on childbearing behavior. We employ elements of comparative welfare‐state research, of the sociology of “constructed categories,” and of “the new institutionalism” to demonstrate that investigations into policy effects need to contextualize policies and need to reduce their complexity by focusing on “critical junctures,”“space,” and “uptake.” We argue that the effects of family policies can only be assessed properly if we study their impact on individual behavior. Event‐history models applied to individual‐level data are the state‐of‐the‐art of such an approach. We use selected empirical studies from Sweden to demonstrate that the type of approach that we advocate prevents us from drawing misleading conclusions.
Continued Reductions in Mortality at Advanced Ages
Authors: Rau Roland , Soroko Eugeny , Jasilionis Domantas , Vaupel James W.
Published: December 2008

Mortality data for 30 mostly developed countries available in the Kannisto–Thatcher Database on Old‐Age Mortality (KTDB) are drawn on to assess the pace of decline in death rates at ages 80 years and above. As of 2004 this database recorded 37 million persons at these ages, including 130,000 centenarians (more than double the number in 1990). For men, the probability of surviving from age 80 to age 90 has risen from 12 percent in 1950 to 26 percent in 2002; for women, the increase has been from 16 percent to 38 percent. In the lowest‐mortality country, Japan, life expectancy at age 80 in 2006 is estimated to be 6.5 years for men and 11.3 years for women. For selected countries, average annual percent declines in age‐specific death rates over the preceding ten years are calculated for single‐year age groups 80 to 99 and the years 1970 to 2004. The results are presented in Lexis maps showing the patterns of change in old‐age mortality by cohort and period, and separately for men and women. The trends are not favorable in all countries: for example, old‐age mortality in the United States has stagnated since 1980. But countries with exceptionally low mortality, like Japan and France, do not show a deceleration in death rate declines. It is argued that life expectancy at advanced ages may continue to increase at the same pace as in the past.
SEXUAL AGEISM
Authors: Hall A. , Selby J. , Vanclay F. M.
Published: December 2008

The term ageism refers to discrimination against the aged. One aspect of ageism appears to be social expectations that the aged do not have and should not have sexual relationships. How important do the aged themselves regard sexual relationships to be, and do they accept these social attitudes? This paper considers this question and reports findings from a Brisbane study of a group of healthy active mobile elderly citizens.
THE LIFE S0TYLES OF FOUR GROUPS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE INNER CITY AREA OF BRISBANE
Authors: Selby Jim , Hall Adrianne
Published: December 2008

In summary, both the Senior Citizens and the Chinese elderly were socially active, in average to good health, reasonably content with their life styles and were coping well in their post retirement years.

In contrast, both of the other groups were socially isolated from the general community, were severely emotionally and materially deprived, were in poor health, not happy with their circumstance, and were not coping well at all.

There are many questions not addressed in this material. For example, what was it that caused the frail renters and the homeless to live in their present circumstances, what can and should be done for them, are there any frail ethnic elderly living in substandard rooms or homeless, why are so many Anglo‐Australians living alone and not so the Chinese, and so on, and in particular, just what relationship is there between our survey and the rest of the population in those categories?
ATTITUDES OF AUSTRALIAN DENTAL STUDENTS TOWARDS THE ELDERLY
Authors: Ettinger Ronald L. , Beck James D. , Barnard Peter D. , Klineberg Ivan J.
Published: December 2008

The attitudes of Sydney dental students towards elderly persons was studied using a semantic differential questionnaire developed by Rosencranz and McNevin in 1969. U.S. dental students from two Universities were used as a comparison group. The control age group was the attitude of the students towards persons aged 32 years. Knowledge about ageing was also obtained from the study population through the use of Palmore's (1977) Facts on Aging Quiz.

Analysis of the data indicated that the Sydney dental students viewed persons aged 32 as being less independent and autonomous than did their U.S. counterparts. However they also saw persons aged 65 and over BS more ineffective, less autonomous and less personally effective than the U.S. students. The Sydney students were significantly less well informed about ageing than the U.S. dental students as measured by the number of correct answers on the Facts on Aging Quiz.

The possible meaning of these findings is discussed and some explanations suggested.
EXPRESSIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND WELL‐BEING IN AN AGED SAMPLE
Authors: Mugford Stephen K. , Gibson Diane M.
Published: December 2008

An analysis of data from the A.N.U. Ageing and the Family Project's Sydney survey is described. Well being of aged respondents does not depend upon socio‐economic status or age. Nor does the size of support networks have much effect. What does Seem to be of importance, however, is the extent to which an individual has particular types of expressive support, and more particularly, whether s/he has a full range of such supports. The supports and the range are linked to gender and marital status, with women receiving greater support than men and the married more than the various not married categories.
CORE ISSUES IN PLANNING SERVICES FOR THE ETHNIC AGED1
Authors: Hanen Margaretha
Published: December 2008

In recent years the ethnic aged population in Australia has been identified as a disadvantaged or special‐need group (Moraitis 1981, Hurst 1981, Hugo 1983, AIMA 1985, 1986, ACOTA‐DCS 1985). Federal and State Government policy developments and legislation have been giving these findings some timely recognition. Examples of this are Ministerial Statements, 1985, 1986; the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs/Department of Community Services' Ethnic Aged Working Party, 1986; the Nursing Homes and Hostels Review, Department of Community Services, 1986; the Consultations by Federation of Ethnic Communities Council in Australia, 1986; the Commissioner for the Ageing Act, South Australia, 1984.

Such policy developments need to be matched with planning processes which facilitate effective use of existing resources for equitable distribution, including access to service provision culturally relevant to the ethnic aged.

It is therefore important to identify and define essential elements which need to be considered when planning services for ageing people from non‐English speaking background, core issues and functions which vary from the norm applied to aged care services in general or which need specific emphasis.

Based on South Australian experiences, an attempt is made to define these.
ETHNICALLY SEGREGATED RETIREMENT ACCOMMODATION: AN OVERVIEW OF THE MIGRANT AGED AND A REPORT OF RESEARCH IN TWO ETHNICALLY SPECIFIC VILLAGES.
Authors: Legge Varoe
Published: December 2008

Scattered throughout the greater Sydney region are ethnic specific retirement villages. The villages vary greatly from each other in the facilities they offer and the population they attract. Old people can frequently gain an enhanced quality of life through contact with their experiental cohort, in contact with others who, metaphorically and actually, speak the same language. Despite the diversity of the villages they can be divided into three categories by examining the population they service.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE CONTINENCE NURSE ADVISOR IN THE U.K. AND ITS RELEVANCE TO AUSTRALIA*
Authors: Wellings Cynthea
Published: December 2008

In the U.K. the complex problem of continence management has been tackled by the evolution of specialist nurses. The development of Continence Nurse Advisors in Australia could be an answer to the growing problem of incontinence within our society and be an invaluable resource aimed at total health care of the aged.
A COMPARISON OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL‐BEING OF NEVER‐MARRIED AND MARRIED AGED LIVING IN URBAN AUSTRALIA
Authors: Neyland Beth , Shadbolt Bruce
Published: December 2008

This study, based upon analyses of the A.N.U. Ageing and The Family Project's survey, disputes the negative stereotype often applied to older people who have never‐married. It shows that those who are physically and mentally able and living within the community are no more likely to suffer from depression, dissatisfaction and social relationships, loneliness, or anxiety than their married peers.

The results show that never‐married older people are self‐sufficient individuals who enjoy spending time alone, and living without the complications associated with marriage. Social factors have little importance in the maintenance of the never‐married's morale, while the opposite is true of the marrieds. In any future research on the social consequences of marital status in later life it would seem apposite to include some form of personality measure.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POST BASIC COURSE FOR REGISTERED NURSES IN REHABILITATION, GERONTIC AND LONG TERM CARE NURSING.
Authors: Martin Mavis
Published: December 2008

The intent of this paper is to illustrate how a major teaching hospital in South Australia developed and implemented a unique programme for the preparation of nurse practitioners with people who are aged, or disabled, or both. The content will embrace:

i) rationale

ii) submission format

iii) curriculum design

iv) course implementation

v) evaluation.

Hampstead Centre, (annexe of Royal Adelaide Hospital) Adelaide, South Australia is a two hundred and twenty bed complex. It caters for people requiring nursing home accommodation, people participating in rehabilitation programmes following cerebro‐vascular accident, spinal injuries, head injuries, orthopaedic trauma including joint replacement and amputation and also there are a few respite beds. The rehabilitation programmes are both fast and slow stream.
“LEARNING” AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR “SENIOR” AUSTRALIANS
Authors: Russell Barry
Published: December 2008

Although there is a change in the learning process itself, the ability to learn even in extreme old age, is more dependent on personal motivation, and one's ‘self‐concept as a learner’, rather than on age itself.

Strategies for teaching the elderly are also treated in the paper as well as brief descriptions of new educational programs introduced in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales in the last few years.
VISITORS TO NURSING HOMES: FEW OR MANY?
Authors: Minichiello Victor
Published: December 2008

The presence of family and friends in nursing homes ensures that residents continue to have meaningful and personal relationships with others. With the aim of filling a gap in the Australian gerontological literature on the institutionalised aged, this study reports on the contacts that the elderly in nursing homes have with family and friends. A questionnaire was administered to assess whether residents at eight nursing homes had contact with people living in the community during the week prior to the interview, and examine whether there are differences between residents in who contacts them. The results reveal that like their American and English counterparts, the Australian aged living in nursing homes are not generally forgotten by their family or friends; the childless residents are not without visitors; and who comes to visit varies with the marital status of the resident.
MODELS OF CARE IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND DENMARK
Authors: Johns Alan
Published: December 2008

The recent introduction of new funding arrangements in nursing homes in Australia combined with other changes arising out of the Nursing Homes and Hostels Review have significantly raised the level of debate on a whole range of issues concerning the care of* the elderly in this country. It is useful therefore, to consider alternative models of care to that operating in Australia as a basis for improving our current continuum of care. The models chosen from the United States, Canada and Denmark all have assessment procedures that aim to reduce the need for early and inappropriate institutionalisation. The benefits are obvious in maintaining an elderly person in their own home and environment for as long as possible, given appropriate co‐ordination of personnel involved in service delivery.
LIFE SATISFACTION IN NURSING HOMES
Authors: Snowdon J. , Manicavasager V.
Published: December 2008

177 residents in Sydney nursing homes were interviewed. There were significant negative correlations between scores on life satisfaction and depression scales; this held for severely demented persons as well as the others. Scores were compared with those reported for Scottish elderly living in the community. Satisfaction with the past is just as high in nursing homes, but current contentment is not, except among people with severe dementia.
CLIENT PARTICIPATION AND ADVOCACY IN GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT
Authors: Hayman A. , Howe A.
Published: December 2008

This paper is an attempt to put into practical perspective the current general discussions on “user rights”, and to address some of the issues raised in relation to the provision of services for elderly people, with particular reference to the role of Regional Geriatric Assessment Teams (RGATs). Policies and practices relating to six areas identified by the Commonwealth Department of Community Services and Health as providing a framework for “user rights” initiatives are presented from the experiences of three Melbourne assessment teams, illustrating the ways in which assessment services have addressed these issues and resolved potential conflicts of interest.
USING VOLUNTEERS IN AGED CARE
Authors: Wiles D.
Published: December 2008

This article explores the use of volunteers in some aged services in Perth, drawing upon the experiences of workers in the field. ‘Volunteerism’ is set within its social policy context, and is considered in terms of the tasks, training, and protection of volunteers. Some problems with voluntarism are identified and projections are noted about the future for volunteers. Historically, volunteers have given much, the use of volunteers at present within certain areas of aged care seems justified, and volunteers are likely to contribute heavily within the aged care of the future.
GERONTIC AND INTENSIVE CARE NURSING ‐EQUALLY STRESSFUL?
Authors: Parish K.A.
Published: December 2008

It is widely accepted that nursing is a stressful occupation. However, much of the research which has been undertaken in this area has concentrated on nurses in the acute setting, particularly Intensive Care Units. This study attempted to compare stress levels of Registered Nurses (RNs) employed in Aged Care Facilities with Registered Nurses working in Intensive Care Units.

A questionnaire by which RNs could indicate their perceived levels of stress was distributed to a number of hospitals and Aged Care Facilities. The responses of forty registered nurses (twenty from Aged Care Facilities (ACFs) and twenty from Intensive Care Units (ICUs) were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Both groups of nurses indicated that they may experience significant stress during their working day. However, there was no obvious difference between the overall stress levels of either group.
‘AT RISK’ COMMITTEE
Authors: Rose V.
Published: December 2008

The mid to late 80's has witnessed the expanding array of community based services for the aged and the disabled.

The emergence of the HACC scheme has played a major role in putting services into communities, to help keep their frail aged and disabled out of institutional care.

The frail aged and disabled are often consumers of multiple services, which are provided by autonomously run organisations.

For the consumer of services to gain their potential from each service agency, there need to be a high degree of co‐operation and co‐ordination between organisations.
THE VALUE OF RESPITE CARE ‐ A PILOT STUDY
Authors: Dax E. Cunningham , Holland J. , Webster E.
Published: December 2008

As a pilot study on the outcome of “respite care” the admissions to two institutions were compared, together with the resulting outcome of their stay. The figures suggest the arrangements for respite care are valuable and worthy of extension.
GERIATRIC MEDICINE; CONTENT AND NATURE OF PRACTICE, REASONS FOR LACK OF RECRUITMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
Authors: Cape R.
Published: December 2008

Have unsatisfactory conditions in practice resulted in the lack of candidates for consultant posts in geriatricmedicine? This question needs to be urgently addressed as there are currently about a dozen vacant positions in Victoria. The object of this paper is firstly, t o define briefly the content of the subject and the nature of its practice; secondly, to examine potential causes for the dearth of candidates and finally t o suggest an approach towards improving the situation.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION AT CURTIN UNIVERSITY
Authors: Boldy D. , Meddin J.
Published: December 2008

This paper provides an overview of offerings in gerontology within the Division of Health Sciences at Curtin University of Technology. The survey includes both the undergraduate and graduate levels and gives an overview of relevant material taught as parts of units, complete units and as academic courses within the many disciplines that comprise the Division. Particular attention is focused on the graduate level and on the recent establishment of a new generalist postgraduate diploma stream in gerontology.
THE AUSTRALIAN LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF AGEING
Authors: Andrews G. , Cheok F. , Carr S.
Published: December 2008

The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA) is a comprehensive multi‐dimensional study aimed at identifying factors which determine and predict the state of health and social well‐being of an Australian elderly population. The research design and selection of questionnaire items and measures that have been chosen are representative at a ‘state of the art’ level and provide the opportunity for cross‐national analysis of findings, particularly between Australia and the United States. It is planned to select a probability sample of 3000 people aged 60 and over from metropolitan Adelaide for a prospective follow‐up study, initially for a period of five years.
GENDER EXPLOITATION AND THE DOMESTIC DIVISION OF LABOUR AMONG THE ELDERLY: AN AUSTRALIAN CASE STUDY
Authors: Dempsey K.
Published: December 2008

Drawing on survey and observational data from a longitudinal rural community study this paper argues that the domestic division of labour is a mechanism for the exploitation of elderly women by their husbands. This proposition is sustained by demonstrating qualitative as well as quantitative differences in the nature of the tasks members of each sex perform. Even when husbands retire they leave their wives with major sole responsibility for the routine tasks which are the most repititious, most likely to place their performer in a subordinate position and to interfere with their leisure activity. Retired men help with, rather than share responsibility for, most traditional female domestic tasks whilst the tasks they do take responsibility for require much less time, are not usually servant‐like in quality and do not seriously reduce personal autonomy.
MONITORING THE MONITORS
Authors: Hanen M. , Williams A.
Published: December 2008

Comment on the Ethnic Aged Monitoring Group's Report on the implementation of recommendations arising from the Report of the Ethnic Aged Working Party, “Strategies for Change”.
LENGTHS OF STAY OF ASSESSED AND UNASSESSED NURSING HOME RESIDENTS‘
Authors: Lazarus R. , Gray L.
Published: December 2008

Admission and separation data from the regional placement list system operating in the catchment of the Bundoora Extended Care Centre were used to compare the turnover patterns of residents who had been assessed by a regional assessment team prior to admission with those who had not been assessed.

There were a total of 539 admissions (358 assessed, 191 unassessed) during the 36 month study period. Significant differences were found in patterns of turnover between assessed and unassessed residents for all separations combined and for separations due to discharge, but not for separations due to death. However, the differences observed were the reverse of those anticipated ‐ unassessed residents tended to occupy beds for shorter periods than assessed residents.
ELDERLY PATIENTS‘ IMPRESSIONS OF AN OUTPATIENT SERVICE
Authors: Adams R. , Woodward M. , Fonda D.
Published: December 2008

50 elderly patients attending a general hospital outpatient department were interviewed about various aspects of their attendance. Ninety percent had been brought by transport provided by the hospital. The mean time spent waiting for the doctor was 35 minutes, the mean time spent with the doctor was 17 minutes, and 10% of patients felt they needed more time with their doctor. Twenty four percent of patients had their medications changed, but none received written instruction. Fifty percent of patients had attended their clinic more than five times in the past 12 months. Eighty two percent of patients felt the visit was useful. It is concluded that although several problems were identified, elderly patients were satisfactorily serviced by this outpatient department.
LIFE CRISES AND AGEING PEOPLE OF NON‐ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUNDS: TWO PERSPECTIVES
Authors: Hanen M. , Williams A.
Published: December 2008

This paper is designed to highlight some of the difficulties which may be faced by aged migrants attempting to come to terms with unresolved life crises. Given the fact that migrants arrive in Australian from countries where war and political turmoil can force hasty migration on people, we need to foster an awareness of the trauma which may be faced by non‐English speaking elderly people, in what to the general service provider appears to be secure and unthreatening service providing structures.
WYATT HOLIDAYS: AN INDIVIDUALISED APPROACH TO HOLIDAY‐TAKING FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE INCORPORATING A NEW APPROACH TO RESPITE CARE.
Authors: Abbey R. , Hall J. , Trowbridge C.
Published: December 2008

This paper draws attention to a programme sponsored by Aged Cottage Homes Inc. and funded by the Wyatt Benevolent Institution Inc. in South Australia with its principal aim being the facilitation of individualised holiday‐making amongst frail elderly people. Through a conscious policy of providing information, encouragement and moral support, financial and administrative assistance on a one to one basis, the programme demonstrate frail elderly people can have a higher quality of life through enhancing their abilities to make informed decisions, by providing opportunities to enlarge their skills, to increase opportunities for socialisation, and to rekindle old interests or develop new ones. The programme can lead to a growing independence amongst its participants.
DEPRESSION AND DEMENTIA IN THREE SYDNEY HOSTELS
Authors: Snowdon J. , Mackintosh S.
Published: December 2008

A survey was conducted in three hostels in the eastern suburbs of Syndey. One hundred residents were interviewed. Using the Mental Status Questionnaire, 15% were considered to have significant dementia. About 20% scored as depressed on the Brief Assessment Schedule. D.S.M. III criteria for dementia were fulfilled by 13% and for affective disorder were fulfilled by 16%. Clearly, these hostels look after a population which is very different from those in nursing homes. Admitting an increased proportion of persons with moderate dementia would not be feasible without increased staffing and changes in management policies.
THE PUBLIC VERSUS THE POLICIES: THE ETHICAL BASIS OF AUSTRALIAN RETIREMENT INCOME POLICY
Authors: McCallum J.
Published: December 2008

The nature of public feelings about income support for the elderly is examined in survey data and theoretical debates about this are considered. New public opinion poll evidence on compulsory retirement and various aspects of retirement income policy shows strong public support for abolition of means tests and for more public spending on the elderly. The complexity and potential inconsistency of attitudes is examined here in detail for the first time. A “public demand” model of retirement income policy is rejected and the development of policy as a corollary of industrial relations policy is argued. The public opinion opposed to means tests but the electoral support for constrained public expenditure puts party policy makers in a difficult dilemma. Strong positive attitudes to support for the elderly indicate the continuity of the “ethical” core that led to the first establishment of age pinions at the beginning of the century. The situation is, however, fluid as industry superannuation brings more workers into the bounds of the means test and as more wealthier elderly feel the conflict of expenditure constraint applied to themselves. Both sides of the political spectrum experience dilemmas in their policies vis‐a‐vis public opinion.
NORMALIZATION: SOME CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS
Authors: Fopp R.
Published: December 2008

‘Normalization/Social Role Valorization’ has become a buzz word in the delivery of services to elderly people. After outlining the chief characteristics of normalization, the following article makes three criticisms of the policy. The first two arguments concern the inadequacy of the training and implementation of normalization. An argument about an important normalization premise regarding values and value is the subject of the third criticism. The conclusion reached is that normalization is theoretically inadequate as a policy, and has been implemented in a manner which is contrary to the complex issues which characterise human services, and the expressed and stated needs of individuals.
U3A AND SELF‐SUFFICIENCY: BENEFITS OF EDUCATION IN LATER LIFE
Authors: Swindell R.
Published: December 2008

Recent research indicates that cognitive challenge in later life has a positive effect on both the health and longevity of those who are so challenged. This Factor, coupled with other beneficial effects of education in later life may, in part, explain why education and leisure for older persons is now on the political agenda. Unfortunately, the dearth of substantial data about the successes of various adult education programs, particularly for older Australians, is likely to hinder those who would argue for the benefits, which can accrue to the entire community, of education in later life. U3A, with its well educated and motivated membership base, appears to be uniquely placed to undertake and compile its own research data and, as a consequence, to act as a powerful lobby group on behalf of all older learners.
Bookshelf
Authors: Outes Jennifer
Published: December 2008

Stress, Coping and Life Satisfaction in the Aged: Trang Thomas, Ph.D. Lincoln Gerontology Centre, Biography No. 1, April 1990. Available at a cost of 5.00 from the Lincoln Gerontology Centre, La Trobe University, Abbotsford Campus, St. Helliers Street, Abbotsford, 3067.
A MODEL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DIAGNOSED DEMENTIA IN COUNTRY AREAS
Authors: Hueke M.
Published: December 2008

The Wingham Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit is part of the Manning Valley Area Health Service in New England, New South Wales. The Unit provides Rehabilitation and Assessment to the Zone 1 area of the New England Health Region. The Therapeutic Activities Centre is part of this Unit and provides an activities programme on a daily basis to both inpatients and day only clients.

The aged population explosion along the Mid‐north Coastal fringe (increases of 39% in some areas) has identified a need for some form of programme to address the problems associated with the maintenance of clients diagnosed with dementia in the community for as long as possible.

The area has a deficit of 227 Nursing Home and Hostel places, based on 1988 figures. (Commonwealth Dept. Community Services & Health ratio is to have 40 Nursing Home beds and 60 Hostel beds per 1000 people over the age of 70).
EDITORIAL
Authors: Jones Deirdre , Minichiello Victor
Published: December 2008

Cerontological Education: Meeting the Challenge Deirdre Jones and Victor Minichiello
SETTING THE CURRICULAR AGENDA ‐ A PERSONAL VIEWPOINT
Authors: Rechter B.
Published: December 2008

The very idea of a university implies full responsibility for determining what is taught to and learned by students. However, the increasing diversity of the professions now covered by the university umbrella has meant, in practice, that this responsibility is very often shared ‐ by the university, the State and the appropriate professional organisations. This sharing is not always explicit, amicable nor understood. The paper will examine this issue in the context of the health and teaching professions in Australia.
NEEDS OF OLDER PEOPLE: DO EDUCATION PROGRAMMES MEET THE CHALLENGE?
Authors: Marginson B.
Published: December 2008

It has been established that older people have the potential to continue to learn. Evidence that learning and intellectual stimulation is highly valued by older people is illustrated by the popularity of education programmes offered by the University of the Third Age (U3A). The paper will give an overview of educational opportunities presently extsting in Australia and trace the history of the development of U3A. Emphasis will be placed on issues which should be addressed if access to educational opportunities is to be improved.
THE ROLE OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Authors: Cleary R.
Published: December 2008

As Australia's population continues to age, there will be an increasing demand for a variety of support services to enable older people to maintain a meaningful quality of life. The benefits older people obtain from their support services will depend, not only on the available financial resources to fund each programme, but equally importantly on the values and attitudes as well as skill of staff. The role of the tertiary institutions should be to enhance skill training and development as well as challenge the basis of our service delivery. This involves questioning the motivation and expectations of those who choose to seek aged care as a career and the way in which we deliver those services. Tertiary institutions should work in participation with consumer groups and service providers in achieving this goal.
ETHNO‐SPECIFIC AND MAINSTREAM NURSING HOMES: A SURVEY OF RESIDENTS FROM NON‐ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUNDS
Authors: Westbrook M.T. , Legge V.
Published: December 2008

A survey compared the experiences of 47 NESB residents in mainstream and 46 residents in ethno‐specific nursing homes and the experiences of their family carers. Residents were more satisfied with ethno‐specific homes, particularly the food and companionship. They had better relationships with staff. Carers were more satisfied with ethno‐specific homes, particularly the food. Both groups of residents had similar patterns of reaction to placement as did their carers. The aged in ethno‐specific homes had migrated at a younger age and their carers seemed better informed regarding services.
DIFFERENCES IN LIFE EXPECTANCY: SOCIAL FACTORS IN MORTALITY RATES
Authors: Taylor R. , Quine S.
Published: December 2008

This paper addresses the question of the relation of social and economic differentials to mortality in Australia. It will begin with a short discussion of definition and measurement of the two major domains for investigation: (a) mortality, often also expressed in a positive way as survivorship and expectation of life; and (b) social and economic factors, which are much more difficult to characterise and quantify, and extend into considerations of culture. The paper will then address the methods which can be used to relate socioeconomic status (SES) to mortality in the context of the Australian mortality decline, and the dependence of study types on data availability.

A review of published studies on SES differentials in mortality in Australia will then follow, and generalised conclusions will be drawn from available information. Proposed explanations for social differentials in mortality will be explored. Important gaps in information will be described and further questions posed, and some current research in progress will also be described.

Approaches to narrowing SES differentials in mortality in Australia will be outlined. These approaches will cover health service and behavioural intervention, and social and economic intervention. An integration of these approaches will be described.
BOOK REVIEW
Authors: Allen Felicity
Published: December 2008

Book reviewed in this article:

OLD AGE: A REGISTER OF SOCIAL RESEARCH 1985–1990. Ed by G. Crosby, Information Service, Centre for Policy on Ageing, UK, 1991.
THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CARING: THE PATTERN IN A SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SUBURBAN POPULATION
Authors: Kalucy E. , Baum F.
Published: December 2008

This paper provides a profile of a representative sample of informal carers drawn from a suburban population selected randomly from the electoral register in the inner southern area of Adelaide, South Australia. The data were collected through a mailed questionnaire survey which achieved a response rate of 71.7%. (n=1765). 13.4% (n=236) of the population defined themselves as having an unpaid carer's role. Of these 70 were resident carers and 166 non‐resident carers.

Most carers were women and were significantly older than the general population. Compared with non‐resident carers, resident carers were disadvantaged in terms of income, housing, access to transport and social support, and reported significantly worse health status as indicated by a number of measures including the Nottingham Health Profile. Resident carers reported stress and restriction of activities, but also reported receiving considerable satisfaction from their caring role. The paper describes the time spent on caring and the perceived needs of the carers.
OLDER PEOPLE: THE EFFECT OF HEALTH ON THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
Authors: Mott S. , Riggs A.
Published: December 2008

This exploratory study, funded by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, investigated the factors influencing the social interactions of older people.

The study was based on interviews with one hundred people aged 65 years and over to determine their past activities, present pursuits and the activities, if any, in which they would like to be involved.

This article, the first of two, concentrates on the way in which the study was conducted and examines the results relating to the effect of health on the social interactions of older people.
ATTITUDES HELD BY BEGINNING TERTIARY NURSING STUDENTS TOWARDS ELDERLY PEOPLE: POSITIVE OUTCOMES
Authors: Johnson P.
Published: December 2008

A survey to assess if beginning nursing students in the initial weeks of their course held negative attitudes towards elderly people was carried out in 1989 and 1990. A total of 290 respondents showed that positive attitudes were held. Contrary to expectations, measures of association with elderly people on a regular versus non‐regular basis had little influence on whether attitudes were positive or negative. The implications of fostering positive attitudes and the educational needs of undergraduate nursing students are briefly discussed.
A POSSIBLE ROLE FOR U3A IN CONSTITUENCY RESEARCH
Authors: Swindell R.
Published: December 2008

A new direction in research in ageing suggests that older adults are the most appropriately qualified to conduct inquiry among the ageing. In this paper, U3A is argued to be uniquely placed among organisations for older adults to take a leadership role in such constituency research. A high level of membership expertise and the widely delocalised nature of the movement are seen to be complementary attributes which support this assertion. Several U3A research initiatives are briefly discussed.
CASE MANAGEMENT FOR OLDER PEOPLE AT HOME: REVIEW OF AN ‘AT RISK’ REGISTER
Authors: Sadler P.M. , Cameron I.D. , Kerr K.
Published: December 2008

‘At risk’ registers have been proposed as a means of improving the case management of older disabled people living at home. An ‘at risk’ register in an outer urban area of Sydney was reviewed through a survey of 34 service providers who were attending ‘at risk’ committee meetings. The opinions of the service providers regarding the case management system were examined. The details of 108 clients of community support services placed on the register from July 1991 to June 1992 were analysed. The system effectively identified clients at risk of death and institutionalisation. It was perceived as worthwhile by service providers but changes were needed to maximise its efficiency.
CASE MANAGEMENT‐THE DREAM AND THE REALITY
Authors: Rungie M.
Published: December 2008

This paper summarises the author's impressions of the use of case management in programs for elderly people in America. The hopes for case management as independent brokerage able to organise the community and service system to meet the needs of individual elderly people has not been realised. This has not stopped its widespread establishment in community‐based long‐term care for relatively minor gains at high cost, but with a belief that it is doing much more. Australians are likely to embrace case management for the same reasons as Americans and will be just as disappointed. Despite this lack of real effectiveness of case management, a highly individualised response to elderly people's needs is still required but, this experience indicates, will only be achieved with a much broader strategy.
“STAYING FIT AND HEALTHY”: A MODEL PREVENTIVE HEALTH FITNESS PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Hamdorf P.A. , Barnard R.K. , Penhall R.K.
Published: December 2008

Staying Fit and Healthy (SFH) is a centre based fitness program operating in the north‐eastern suburbs of Adelaide. SFH is targeted at older persons and encompasses introductory, continuation and remedial classes. Exercise classes are conducted by accredited fitness instructors under the direction of exercise physiologists and include exercise in water, general exercise and circuit programs.

SFH is promoted in the local community through various means including letter drops, roadside signs and media publicity. Participants must complete a mandatory health questionnaire before commencement and are encouraged to visit their local doctor if unsure of their suitability to exercise. SFH has a specifically designed fee structure encouraging a commitment to activity and higher frequency attendance at exercise programs.

SFH provides a significant service to many participants previously not involved in organised exercise programs. With the continued expansion of the ageing segment of our community, SFH is destined to flourish further as it fulfils a demand arising from greater awareness of the benefits of activity in our lifestyle.
RESPONDING TO ELDER ABUSE—A FOLLOW‐UP STUDY OF INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES
Authors: Kurrle S.
Published: December 2008

This paper reviews the process of intervention in cases of eider abuse. It discusses the objectives of intervention and the specific strategies which can be employed. It reviews the interventions used and outcomes achieved in a follow‐up study of 54 cases of abuse identified in a one year study of an aged care service population. Provision of community services, counselling and respite care were commonly used intervention strategies which were initially effective. In a small proportion of cases, the abusive situation was resolved completely with the victim remaining at home. In other cases of continuing abuse, the victims chose to remain in the abusive situation. However the long‐term outcome in the majority of cases was institutionalization. This reflects both the need to separate victim and abuser to completely resolve many cases of abuse, and the high levels of disability and dependency in the population studied.
CONTEXTUALISING ABUSE OF OLDER PEOPLE
Authors: Hughes M.
Published: December 2008

The emerging Australian response to the abuse of older people appears to recognise that ‘elder abuse’ is not a discrete phenomenon and that the concept incorporates a range of differing dimensions. This paper argues that the development of an appropriate Australian response could be assisted by making explicit the various contexts of abuse. Specifically, the paper investigates the interpersonal and lifespan contexts of the abuse of disabled older people in caregiving relationships. It highlights the role of social exchange and interdependency in the causal processes of abuse, as well as in the prevention of abusive behaviour. It also recognises the value of understanding the patterns of conflict and exchange behaviour in the relationship throughout the lifespan. This contextualising process is served by making links between the literature on the abuse of older people and other related literatures, such as the family violence and family caregiving literatures.
Prevalence of Drug Related Admissions to a Hospital Geriatric Service
Authors: Atkin P.A. , Finnegàn T.P. , Ogle S.J. , Talmont D.M. , Shenfield G.M.
Published: December 2008

217 consecutive admissions to an acute geriatric care facility in a teaching hospital were prospectively evaluated to assess the prevalence of drug related problems (DRPs) contributing to admission. DRPs were considered to include adverse drug reactions (ADRs), toxic overdose and poor compliance leading to therapeutic failure. The prevalence of DRPs on admission was 22.1% of total patients or 24.0% of those on prescribed medication at the time of admission. DRPs comprised 41 cases (85.4%) of ADRs, 1 case (2.1%) of exacerbated disease due to withdrawal of medication by the prescriber, and 6 cases (12.5%) of patient non‐compliance. DRPs were significantly associated with both the total number of immediate pre‐admission medications and the presence of a previous history of ADR. No other significant associations were found. The results suggest that prescriber behaviour, as opposed to patient behaviour, is a major contributor to DRPs and accordingly indicate the need for education of doctors about the risks of polypharmacy.
Why People Move to Retirement Villages: home owners and non‐home owners
Authors: Gardner I.L.
Published: December 2008

The aim of this study was to understand how housing attainment in old age interacts with life span vulnerabilities to influence the decision to move to a retirement village. Eighty residents were interviewed on reasons for moving to a resident funded village and a subsidised village. For the former home owners anticipation of, and reaction to, the life span transitions of declining health, widowhood and changing neighbourhoods were important. While these were also important for the non‐homeowners, their primary concern was to obtain affordable accommodation of reasonable quality.
A Comparative Study of Community Options Clients and Nursing Home Applicants
Authors: Gray L. , Sims N. , Farish S. , Sullivan M.
Published: December 2008

The characteristics and care requirements of 130 clients admitted to a community options project were compared with those of a cohort of 301 nursing home applicants who lived in the same region. The community care clients were all assessed as having care needs which would render them eligible for nursing home care. The community options clients were younger and more likely to be married than the nursing home applicants. Their care needs were significantly less as indicated by a wide range of indicators including the Barthel score, Resident Classification Instrument, and frequency of dementia, disturbed behaviour and incontinence.
Planning Ratios and Population Growth: Will There be a Shortfall in Residential Aged Care by 2021?
Authors: Gibson D. , Liu Z.
Published: December 2008

A major change in the Australian residential aged care system has been the recent shift in emphasis away from the more intensive nursing home type care toward the less intensive hostel level of care. Under the Aged Care Reform Strategy, the benchmark for nursing home type care has been set at 40 beds per. thousand persons aged 70 and over, and for hostel type care at 52.5 beds per thousand persons aged 70 and over, to be achieved by the year 2011. This paper presents projections of hostel and nursing home utilisation from 1993 to 2021, based on current age and sex specific utilisation rates, and compares them with projected levels of supply. The findings suggest that there may be a general shortage of residential care from the turn of the century. They also highlight a likely shortage of nursing home type care for high dependency aged persons, particularly in the period from 2006 to 2016.