[Estimating length of stay of geriatric rehabilitation patients]. / Zur Abschätzung der Verweildauer bei geriatrischen Rehabilitationspatienten.

The aim of the study was to identify the most influential predictors of length of stay (LOS) among data, which are usually available on admission in geriatric rehabilitation units, such as diagnosis, functional limitations, age, gender, or marital status. Datasets of 6740 consecutive patients of a geriatric rehabilitation clinic have been retained for the analysis. As the density distribution of the LOS was grouped in intervals of 0-4, 4-6, 6-8 and 8 weeks and more, separate multivariate logistic regression models have been tested for the four intervals of LOS as well as for each of the four intervals separately. Some functional limitations on admission are significantly associated with longer LOS: limitations in dressing are associated with LOS of 6-8 weeks (OR = 1.47; CI = 1.32-1.65), and limitations in using the toilet are associated with LOS of 8 weeks and more (OR = 3.50; CI = 2.98-4.10). Shorter LOS of 0 to 4 weeks are significantly predicted by being respectively married (OR = 1.52; CI = 1.37-1.68), 75 years old and alder (OR = 1.29; CI = 1.16-1.43) or having a femur fracture (OR = 1.45; CI = 1.22-1.73). Single ADL-limitations such as in using the toilet or in dressing have a high predictivity of the LOS. Married patients and older patients are discharged earlier. Social characteristics like those subsumated under age or marital status seem to play a more important role as expected in determining the LOS in geriatric rehabilitation patients.

[Terminal care--a burden for professional and familial caregivers?]. / Sterbebegleitung--eine Last für professionelle und familiäre Helfer?

Within a framework of the results of thanatological research the main concerns of caring for the dying are worked out. It is shown that the personal besides education and training on the job needs a sort of permanent supervision in that field of work. Nevertheless caring for the dying will be a burden as long as the society neglects and ignores the needs of dying people. This is also true for the members of the family, friends and other nonprofessional people, who engage themselves in the care for the dying.

Reflections on cultural influences on aging and old-age suicide in Germany.

The limited attention paid to old-age suicide in Germany is likely related to society's lack of interest in the specific problems of old people. This is despite the fact that over half of all German suicides are committed by persons 65 and older. In reviewing what is known about elderly suicide based on retrospective studies, I submit that suicide in later life is not always based on pathologic mental processes. There may be a number of risk factors unique to elderly suicides, in addition to depressive disorders that involve broader cultural issues among the many motives likely present in any one suicide. Today's emphasis on individualized values may lead to a feeling of meaninglessness in the suicidal elderly. The uncertainty and fear of the inability to influence their own dying a certain weariness of life are also likely unique risk factors for the elderly. Thus the reasons or motives for a suicide may be best considered by understanding the entire life situation and the biographical aspects of the person. Prevention of elderly suicides requires a number of approaches ranging from social assistance and improved training of care providers to more acceptance and valuing of older persons by society.

[Initial results of a comparative study of the life style of the elderly in homes in Spain and Germany]. / Erste Ergebnisse einer Vergleichsstudie zur Lebenssituation alter Menschen in Heimen in Spanien und Deutschland.

Within the framework of a pilot study 100 inhabitants of homes for the aged in Spain and in Germany were asked for aspects of their life-situation. The results are described under different views of the social and cultural living conditions in both countries, and analyzed for studies comparing Spain and Germany to be planned in the future.

[Status of the elderly among gypsies]. / Zur Situation alter Menschen bei Zigeunern.

An overview of the relevant literature shows that on one side the chronological age is important in the frame of the social position of an old man or woman in a gypsy society, but much more important is the individual itself and its social situation. Only by reaching a very old age no old gypsy can reach an important position in his society.

[Adjustment and adaptation]. / Anpassung und Adaptation.

As in many other scientific disciplines, in gerontology adaptation is a central term. Yet it is not being used in a standardized way. This article describes the concepts and theoretical approaches which can be identified in Social Gerontology, together with their functions and the results of research.

[Terminal decline--a problematic construct? A study of persons in their 80's and 90's]. / Terminal Decline--ein problematisches Konstrukt? Eine Studie bei Personen im 8. und 9. Lebensjahrzehnt.

Within the research of intellectual functioning in aged people the hypothesis of terminal decline is quite common. This paper is stressing the question of the global validity of terminal decline. It will be shown that terminal decline has to be discussed within the frame work of changes in the processes of aging.

[Crises in old age. Trial with a multivariant analysis of adjustment strategies in crises]. / Krisen im Alter. Ein Versuch einer multivariaten Analyse von Bewältigungsstrategien in Krisen.

After a short review of some relevant theories focusing mainly on their developmental aspects, an own model is proposed. This is statistically analysed by means of the LISREL-algorithm, which is applied to data concerning crises behavior in a problematic housing situation, and which were gained from the Bonn-Longitudinal Study of Aging. From the psychological point of view, especially those findings seem to be important which imply that an active and problem-oriented coping strategy is often joined but not overruled by a passive and problem-disoriented one, whereas, if a problem-disoriented strategy predominates, this interferes with any rather active solution strategies turning up. Moreover, the situational stress is perceived more intensive under active rather than under passive strategies and--additionally--health and (test-)intelligence turned out to interact with other variables in a specific way: high intelligence covaries with low scores on perceived stress and passive coping styles, while stressed health rather correlates with passive strategies and a raised subjective load.

Research on aging in behavioral sciences in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The paper reports on cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on psychological, sociological, as well as physical aspects of aging completed or going on in the Federal Republic of Germany. Most of these studies are referring to community aged and point to the complex conditions of consistency and change in cognitive functioning and personality adjustment during the middle and later years. They stress the high degree of interindividual variability of the aging process and ask for a differential instead of a normative gerontology.

[Structural problems to open the universities for older adults (author's transl)]. / Die strukturellen Voraussetzungen für die Offnung der Universitäten für ältere Erwachsene.

On the basis of a comprehensive selection of problems the group decided to discuss two problems intensively: What are the legal and institutional conditions for continuing university studies in later years, and what are the characteristic contributions of universities, in terms of research, curricula and education?

[Preparing for old age. Biographic perspectives]. / Vorbereitung auf das Alter - eine biographische Perspektive.

Some biographical perspectives within the frame of preretirement education are lined out. Elements of learning ability, knowledge and motivation are discussed and some strategies for practise are developed.

[Consistency and variability of intellectual and psychomotor abilities in aged people (author's transl)]. / Konstanz und Veränderung in der psychischen Leistungsfähigkeit.

Several methods of statistical analyses, featuring as well group specific changes and intra-individual changes, in an investigation of intelligence, psychomotor abilities of 121 aged men and women over a period of 7 years, lead to results that there are many different aspects of consistancy and change. An attempt is made to discuss these results in the framework of differential and developmental psychological aspects.