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These six papers report on future-oriented studies of the situation of the elderly. "Changing Elderly in a Changing Society: Danish Elderly in the Next Century" (Henning Friis) reports on research dealing with preferences of the future elderly for their life when they grow older. "Aging Effectively: Meeting the Challenge of an Aging World" (J. David Curb, Andrea La Croix, and Jack Guralnik) discusses special factors that promote "success" in aging. "'Future' Studies in Gerontology: The Case of Work and Retirement" (Harold L. Sheppard) addresses socioeconomic implications of multiple generations in the 65-plus population, domination of intergenerational conflict or "equity" or "equality" issues in the changing world, and external factors and trends that bear on these two issues."Income Security for the Future Elderly: Can We Avert the Crisis by Raising the Age of Retirement?" (Ruth Bonita) presents some issues being addressed in New Zealand with regard to the provision of care for the future elderly population. "Changing Elderly in a Changing Society: Health" (Mariaane Schroll) considers: (1) whether a society of disabled people is being developed, as old people are not allowed to die; and (2) the prevention of chronic diseases by developing good health practices in early adulthood. "Use of Health Care and Social Services by the Elderly: Determinants of Present Use and Future Developments" (Anneke Klaassen-van den Berg Jeths) reports on a study that sought an explanation for the variations in use of service facilities. Each paper concludes with a list of references. (YLB)

This volume contains papers presented at a symposium on death, dying, and bereavement. Papers were presented on: (1) "A Psychologist in Hospice Care" (Clifford Morgan and Barbara McCann); (2) "Assessment of the Kubler-Ross Stages in Counseling" (G. Michael Averett and Claire H. Averett); (3) "Making the Road Less Lonely: Role of Volunteers in Hospice" (Pamela S. Jones); (4) "Bereavement and the Older Woman: A Model for Caregivers" (Carol Payne); (5) "A Younger Alzheimer's Spouse Speaks Out" (Marjorie P. Westergard); (6) "An Evaluation of a Hospice Caregiver Service" (Mark de St. Aubin); (7) "So Long Sadie" (Michael L. Benedict); and (8) "Alzheimer's Special Care Units" (Ryan P. Thorn). (CB)

The ongoing project described in this paper seeks to develop an economical, effective means through which communities can establish writing workshops that will provide the aged with constructive environments for life review. It is aimed at identifying the methods and materials useful in a workshop setting for stimulating reminiscence and personal history, culminating in oral/written compositions. Procedures include the establishment of ongoing writing workshops in senior residential centers, the collection of writing produced by the aged, the development of guidelines and materials for conducting workshops, and the production of a training film. A summary of tentative conclusions drawn from the first phase of the project is followed by a discussion of the significance of Life-Writing Workshops. (Author)

Care-givers, as a group, generally fare physically and emotionally as well or better than the population at large, at least in the early stages of their elderly relative's convalescent period. Fifty-one care-givers discussed their physical and emotional symptoms just as their relative was being discharged from a health facility and two months later. From this time-limited study it was possible to isolate restricted mobility--the feeling of being "tied down" as a major problem experienced by care-givers across all socioeconomic groups. This indicates a need for respite services which would periodically relieve the demands on care-givers and allow them necessary time for themselves. (BP)

This conference involving business, labor, policymakers and dependent care service providers covered issues related to the conflict between family and work responsibilities. The conference addressed the conflict's scope, substance, and major issues. Also covered are: information-gathering efforts which concerned institutions' national and international activity in the area, employees' and employers' needs and resources, governmental and legal approaches to the conflict, and individual and corporate activities and services designed to meet the needs of employees and employers. Plenary sessions and workshops concerned: (1) family and work conditions in the United States; (2) child care and productivity; (3) international work and family programs; (4) innovation, research, and emerging trends; (5) directions of policy concerning work and family; (5) flexible leave policies and practices; (6) solutions to problems faced by labor and management; (7) creation of work and family programs in the workplace; (8) employer-supported child care programs, group-based care, resource and referral services, and elderly dependent care; and (9) dimensions of labor's and business's shared responsibility for making needed changes. (RH)

Although research has demonstrated the potential for social robots to positively impact a person's mood and provide comfort, very little research has yet focused on social robots supporting people living with loneliness. Much of the relevant human-robot interaction work focuses on more serious situations such as living with dementia, or on related areas such as stress, anxiety, or depression, and these works generally target the older adult demographic. Loneliness, however, can affect anyone of any health and age. In this paper we present a summary review of the current research on loneliness and social robots, highlighting the gaps in research and the potential opportunity for more work in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to clarify the state of and background factors affecting functioning in Users of psychiatric daycare centers in Japan. A questionnaire survey based on the Self-Rating Scale for Functioning of Individuals With Mental Disorders was conducted on 1,176 Users and 916 psychiatric hospital outpatients between September 2008 and February 2009. There were 90.2±19.7 points of the functioning of Users. There was not a statistically significant difference in the functioning score between Users and Patients. Functioning scores were higher in Users With goals compared to those without goals. Background factors causing improvement in Users of functioning scores were as follows: having a goal other than to control symptoms; living with someone else; doing most of the cleaning, and doing most of the cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study which finds that senior day centers represent a solution that often transforms the well-being of their elder patrons by fashioning a therapeutic, or a restorative servicescape. Topics include the practical and evocative roles of senior centers in enhancing their patrons' well-being, the transformative role of senior centers in elder care by acting as therapeutic environments, and how senior center patrons respond to restorative dimensions.