Used data from nursing homes (n=33) to analyze nursing homes' response to requests to participate in field study. Multiple organizational characteristics predicted responsiveness. Facilities with greater financial resources were more likely to grant access. Stable administration and local facility control predicted higher response rates of nurses.…

Examined participation of elderly people in research. Compared to subjects refusing consent, subjects signing consent had significantly more positive feelings about being used as subject; giving urine; giving blood; having physical examination; being interviewed; taking intelligence test; answering questions; being subject to help others; finding…

Notes that national information is seriously lacking concerning the number and types of board and care homes, their residents, and the quality of services provided. Examines shortcomings in current living arrangement classification procedures used in federal surveys. Proposes definition and classification system that transcends state and local…

Notes a critical examination of fundamental assumptions of gerontological research reveals problematic sources of concept and theory development. When empirical findings conflict with researchers' theories, the latter must be reexamined and revised. Claims the aged themselves should be looked to for new hypotheses, and focus should be on such…

Presents reanalysis of previously reported study (Zarit et al.,1987) with family caregivers (n=113) of dementia patients using the method of prediction analysis. Compared with subjects on a waiting list or enrolled in support groups, caregivers in individual and family counseling were more likely to have successful outcomes. Recommends previous…

Argues that although many publications imply that a negative attitude toward older people is common, evidence does not support this judgment. Reports a study in which participants were allowed to give their opinions on the number of exceptions to generalizations about the elderly. Suggests possible motives for misinterpreting evidence. (Author)

Presents a summary of an earlier monograph on the recruitment and retention of older ethnic minority individuals. Findings suggest that recruitment and retention success occurs when there is a match between the goals of the ethnic minority communities and the research community. (Contains 10 references and 3 tables.) (GCP)

Examined difficulty of obtaining valid informed consent from participants in research with older persons. Of 470 nursing home residents asked to participate in nonrisk study, 406 agreed. High consent rate was attributed to perception of research significance, presentation format, and absence of risk or pain. (Author/NB)

Collected information on the quality of needs assessments of the elderly from three sources. Found that the overall quality of the majority of needs assessments was so low as to provide little meaningful input to the planning process. Recommends that states focus on the improvement of needs assessment efforts. (Author)

Many studies examining health service utilization by older adults involve secondary analyses of existing data sources and rely on behavioral model of health services utilization. Suggests that severe shortcomings in breadth and depth of available data, and numbers of intervals at which data have been recorded, limit understanding of health…

Outlines problems encountered and strategies evolved to deal with them in four studies of the elderly in Manitoba, Canada. Ethical concerns include consent, obligations of the researcher to the respondent, and demands of the respondent. Emphasizes the heterogeneity of the elderly population and its effect on research process. (Author)

A group of 11 researchers and administrators knowledgeable in the field of retirement explore basic issues in retirement research. Consideration is first given to definitions and types of retirement. Then attention is turned toward identifying pertinent variables and research questions. (Author)

Meta-research study examined ongoing research projects of personal autonomy initiative of Retirement Research Foundation. Developed guidelines emphasizing appropriate setting and context of review for research in long term care, clinical assessment of decisional capacity, and institutional arrangements to minimize conflict of interest. (Author)

Analyzes the relative merits of nonprofit nursing homes. Reviews research on ownership status, and points out problems with past research. Suggests future research should study the relationship between nursing home ownership and quality and cost of care. (JAC)

An extensive review of the literature on Mexican-American elderly reveals more argument than consensus in interpretation of available data and a tendency for researchers to treat this population as if it were homogeneous. To improve this situation, specific recommendations for future research are offered. (Author)