Some older patients on treatment wards suffer from poor mental status in addition to a primary illness condition. This research 1) compared the relative prevalence of cognitive dysfunction when indexed by a mental status questionnaire (MSQ), physician reports, and nurse ratings, respectively, and 2) examined relationships of the MSQ to other variables. The sample was the entire inpatient population on medical and surgical wards at two general hospitals during a one-week period. Data were obtained from the patients (i.e., the MSQ), case notes by physicians (i.e., diagnoses or symptoms indicative of cognitive dysfunction), and ward nuses (i.e., ratings on several variables). The findings were that prevalence of cognitive dysfunction was greater by the MSQ than by physician reports, than by nurse ratings. Against the criterion of MSQ classification, both physicial reports and nurse ratings exhibited false positive and false negative errors; however, false negative errors were more frequent. The strong correlates of MSQ included capacity for independent living, use of geriatric chair, and physician evaluation. Other signs of normalcy or dysfunction were specific to only one MSQ category: tube feeding, restraint, and basic function capability.

This study examines a comparative sample of native and non-native Canadian elderly. Findings indicate that the native population is seriously disadvantaged in terms of housing and health care services. In terms of informal networks and assistance to the elderly, native Canadians rely almost exclusively on informal networks while others receive some assistance from formal agencies as well. These and other issues are discussed relative to future research and the development of theory.

The level of liver polyploidy was compared in three groups of humans: a young group aged 20–46, an older group aged 62–68 and the oldest group aged 70–79. The most important trend showed by the data was that there is a depletion of 2N and 4N cells, accompanied by an increase in 8N and 16N cells as a function of advancing age. There was a high degree of variability in the percentage of cells in each ploidy class from one individual to the next for all age groups. For this reason, polyploidy appears to be a less effective biomarker of aging in humans than it is in experimental animals.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of eight categories of leisure participation and enjoyment with ten selected demographic variables. A Likert-type questionnaire was designed to ascertain the degree of participation and enjoyment in 89 activities. The activities were grouped in the following leisure categories: aesthetic, civic, intellectual, mass-media, physical, social, spiritual and touristic.

The sample consisted of three executive board members and five non-board members for each of the 229 senior citizen clubs currently affiliated with the New Brunswick Senior Citizen's Federation. Canonical correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationship stated in the two research questions. Three meaningful canonical variates were respectively identified for participation and enjoyment. On the basis of the results of the study, there seems to be some justification to take into account the particular ethnic orientation of senior clubs in the delivery of the various leisure programs.

A recent trend in health promotion is to involve seniors in planning programs designed to meet their needs. However, many seniors have been socialized to be passive recipients of health care services and may initially require confidence-building and skill development to enable them to take an active role in health promotion.

This paper outlines the field development of a self-advocacy program. The central purpose of the program is to assist seniors to speak up for what they need to maintain control of their health and their lives. Results support the effectiveness of the program model as a framework for (1) helping seniors take increased initiative and control (2) developing a cohesive support network and (3) providing input from seniors into program planning. Recommendations are made for future research and program development.

This volume is the third in the recent series, jointly published by Simon Fraser University and the CA.G., and presents background information and observations on the growing diversity of housing options resulting from seniors expressing a desire to remain in their own homes. Aspects explored in the first part of the book include trend identification in the 55+ housing market, a general socio-demographic overview, discussions of changing migration patterns of seniors within Canada, and various housing alternatives. The second part of the book deals with existing Federal and Provincial Shelter-Related' programs and initiatives, designed to assist seniors in ‘aging in place’, in the community. This book benefits from being read in conjunction with its companion volumes, and the reader is advised to utilize financial data with prudence particularly in the light of current economic changes.

Aging in Place: Housing Adaptions and Options for Remaining in the Community, edited by Gloria Gutman and Norman Blackie, is a selection of papers originally presented at two symposia, held in conjunction with the 14th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Gerontology, in Hamilton, Ontario, in the fall of 1985.

In this book, comprised of 28 papers presented at the 1984 Olympic Congress, the research is divided somewhat arbitrarily into four categories including the sociological, physiological, psychological and program areas. The range of approaches is wide and interesting, and the research comes from seven different countries although the U.S. is predominant. The term ‘sport’ in the title is not adequately reflected in the body of the material as virtually all the research cited deals with physical activity for the aged not sports; where sport is the purview, it deals with the study of young not old people.

Attitudes toward activity in the elderly, the benefits of activity to female elderly, and the effect of activity on independent living are among the more significant papers included. The questions posed for the sport scientist in the opening paper and the admission of its writer (the editor) to the eclectic nature of the research included in the book are the key to understanding and appreciating its contents.

This is an informative book on aging designed for the educated layperson, not the professional gerontologist or a student in an introductory social gerontology course. It covers demography, health care, pensions, retirement, leisure, education, and politics. An appendix gives useful information on sources of information in every province.

The selected readings in the text reinforce the theoretical and empirical notion that elder abuse is a family affair and redefine the problem as a scientific concept of elder mistreatment. The editors aim “to illuminate causes and consequences of conflict between the aged and their relatives, and to present new research and theory regarding the problem of elder abuse”.

Wolf introduces new analytical frameworks to explain five types of abuse and their relationship to four causal factors. Pillemer illustrates caregiver and victim risk factors. The use of separate readings reflects the nonsystematic and isolated nature of research and policy efforts in the field to date, underscoring the strong methodological concern of the text.

This new quarterly refereed journal in the geriatric area is devoted to drug therapy and related issues in the geriatric patient. It is edited by a pharmacy professor, and has an editorial board of health care practitioners, educators, and researchers involved in the care of the geriatric patient. The inaugural issue involves drug-related problems in the elderly patient, including research articles, a review article, two commentary articles, and a case report. Except for the case report, which is highly technical, the information presented would be of interest to gerontologists with or without a health care practice background. If the calibre of this first issue is maintained then this journal will provide valuable and reliable information about geriatric drug therapy.