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This qualitative study examined the occupations of individuals with dementia, the motives they have for this engagement, and the occupational adaptation they make in response to their memory difficulties. Eight individuals with memory difficulties and their caregivers participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The types of activities that individuals with memory difficulties do and stopped doing were described, as well as their motives for doing or stopping. The findings show that caregivers initiated most of the activities. Several participants exhibited defensiveness around various occupations. In addition, participants and caregivers indicated that they perform many occupations together. The results indicate individuals with memory difficulties do find purpose in occupational engagement and find ways to adapt occupations. Occupational therapists ought to facilitate meaningful occupations when working with individuals with memory difficulties.

This narrative describes, from a personal perspective, the aging and dying processes of a social worker's parents, and the impact that this process had on her teaching in the area of social work practice and gerontology. The impact of a personal crisis on one's professional role is dramatic. Issues related to social support, the conflict inherent in multiple roles, and the burdens and joys of caretaking are explored in an effort to offer readers the opportunity to understand the complexities of the aging process. Furthermore, the dilemmas inherent in teaching about a topic that has such important and personal implications for teachers and learners are examined.

This article presents the results of a survey of 99 practitioners that explored their attitudes related to the conflicting priorities of maintaining the principles of confidentiality, versus exercising one's duty to warn someone of danger. Social work practitioners face this dilemma in working with individuals who have HIV disease. When clients let workers know that they are engaging in unsafe sexual practices, and have not warned their partner of their HIV+ status, Practitioners are in a bind. Results show deep ambivalence in attitudes and actions. Discussion focuses on the dilemmas involved, and presents recommendations for practice.

This article presents an exploration of a growing effort to limit health services to the aged, which may shape our country's view of human life. A recent book by Daniel Callahan, Setting Limits: Medical Goals in an Aging Society is used to frame the discussion. His three‐part plan to limit health care is summarized, and the implications for our society are discussed, including our quest for, and view of, a just society, our future as a moral community, and the impact on practice for helping professionals. Lastly, a plea for action is made to address the moral consequences of such a plan.

A study was designed to determine if social work students are prone to rely on stereotypical categorizations to differentiate among patients. Students were shown a series of videotaped vignettes depicting five simulated doctor-patient interactions. The five patient-actors, whose portrayals included sociocultural characteristics, presented to the same physician-actor with a nondescript complaint of abdominal pain. The students were asked to assess each patient on various parameters. The results suggested that students inappropriately attributed both positive and negative characteristics to patients, apparently on the basis of certain stereotypes. Social work educators must address values and stereotyping in clinical assessments with their students to insure the inherent dignity and worth of clients.

Sixty single, elderly, childless women were interviewed in a study exploring the relationship between life satisfaction and four specific measures of social support. Using the constructs of role theory, the lack of major societal roles for this sample (wife, mother, employee) are examined, as they relate to the subjects feelings of life satisfaction and connectedness to others. The differences between never-married and widowed women are discussed, using the concepts of role creation, role substitution, and flexibility terms of the implications for practice in intervention with the elderly population.