The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Jul 2001
Informal costs of dementia care: estimates from the National Longitudinal Caregiver Study.
The purpose of the study was to examine on a national level the informal costs of caring for elderly community-dwelling male veterans with dementia by female caregivers and the relationships between informal costs and disease severity, and between informal costs and dementia problem behaviors. ⋯ This study provides a comprehensive estimate of the excess costs that result from providing informal dementia care in the community. Unlike previous studies, our estimates excluded costs that caregivers would have incurred if they had not been caregivers. Therefore, results reported here reflect only costs due to informal dementia care.
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Jul 2001
Social predictors of recovery in late middle-aged and older persons after injury to the extremities: a prospective study.
The impact of educational level and social support on short-term and long-term recovery of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living after injuries to the extremities was examined in a prospective study concerning late middle-aged and older persons. ⋯ Patients recovering from fall-related injuries who had reported high levels of social support before their injury had recovered better at 5 and 12 months. Encouragement and special attention given by health professionals to maintain social support may be beneficial for rehabilitation after fall-related injuries in older persons.
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Despite Medicare, elderly persons are exposed to substantial out-of-pocket health care cost burdens. As Medicare reform proposals are considered, it is important to determine the current size, distribution, and burden of these expenditures. ⋯ Out-of-pocket cost burdens fall most heavily on those with chronic health conditions and without employer-subsidized supplemental coverage or Medicaid. Impact of Medicare reform proposals on these subgroups needs to be carefully evaluated.
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Mar 1998
Comparative StudyAge-biased interpretation of memory successes and failures in adulthood.
This study extends previous research, which has demonstrated that age stereotypes bias the interpretation of everyday memory failures, by examining the responses of 81 young and 84 old participants to questions about the meaning and causes of memory successes and failures. The scenarios used described memory situations in which age differences would be small or nonexistent and included situtional factors that could account for the memory outcome, providing a more stringent test of the age-bias hypothesis. ⋯ Moreover, memory failures are seen to be more strongly caused by lack of ability and viewed as more worrisome. Finally, memory outcomes, in general, are perceived to be less controllable for old targets.
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The idea of a long and stable career rewarded by retirement is a fixture of the American social ethos and political economy. The paradox is that many Americans' careers do not fit this image. ⋯ Occupational roles in the mid career also have long-term, indirect effects, operating through the onset of health problems and the adequacy of pension benefits. Although retirement and disability are not hinged to occupational mobility per se, these career endings are sensitive to major discontinuities in the career and work role in terms of unemployment and labor force mobility.