W. Edward Folts

OLDER WORKER'S ADAPTATION TO A CHANGING WORKPLACE: EMPLOYMENT ISSUES FOR THE 21st CENTURY

The extent to which older workers leave their jobs rather than adapt to workplace changes has a large impact on the organizations they work for, on government programs (especially Social Security) and on the older workers themselves. A conceptualization of the work adaptation process begins by recognizing that older employees have needs, values, and interests that must be met by their jobs in order for them to choose to remain employed and adapt to changes in the workplace. Simultaneously, a job has knowledge, skill, and ability requirements that must be met by the older employee in order for an employer to choose to retain the employee. As a job changes, the individual - job fit is also likely to change, with the result often being that the employee is required to adapt. A review of the literature shows that there are a variety of factors at the individual, organizational, and environmental levels that impact an older workers choice and ability to adjust to workplace changes . These factors include , fo...

Housing for Older Adults: New Lessons From the Past

Despite the fact that it has been nearly 40 years since the first residents moved into the first leisure-oriented retirement communities (LORCs), housing issues remain an important component of gerontological discussions. A part of the reason is that, although much progress has been made, we still do not have a coherent housing policy nor do we even agree that one is necessary. LORCs are among many different housing alternatives that could provide direction in the formulation of such a policy. Using data collected in the late 1970s through the early 1990s, this article explores the lessons learned.

Caregiving in Social Context

The heterogeneity of family caregiving is explored with specific emphasis on differences by gender, age, race, and area of residence. The aging of the population and other social structural changes during the next several decades will simultaneously increase the size of the population in need of long-term care and constrain the options available to frail elders and their care providers. Research suggests that there will be particularly deleterious consequences for women, older elders, nonwhites, and those who live in rural areas. In addition to these social characteristics, elder abuse and neglect, negative outcomes sometimes associated with caregiving, and the importance of linkages between formal and informal providers are discussed. Finally, the many contributions of older people to society and the fact that most elders are aging well are addressed. The modification of curricula to reflect caregiving in social context will enhance training programs designed for formal and informal providers who work with impaired elders and formal courses available to students in academic institutions. The latter represent future decision makers who will have the opportunity to influence public policies and intervention strategies whose benefits will redound to frail elders and their care providers.

The Life Course of Leisure-Oriented Retirement Communities

Abstract Leisure-oriented retirement communities (LORCs) are specifically designed to meet the housing needs of a small but important sector of older population. This research involved informal follow-up site visits to seven LORCs that were the focus of previous research in the 1980s. In general, the communities were found to have remained viable by adjusting to changes in both the housing market and the needs and preferences of residents. Interviews with key informants at each site suggest that, despite economic and social pressures, the viability of these communities has been characterized by the autonomy and stability of community organization and quality of life, as indicated through amenities packages.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Elderly Volunteerism

Although the substantial contributions of America’s older volunteers have a long and well documented history as a vital component to our overall well-being, volunteerism is changing to reflect the growing diversity of the older population. Typically, and for many decades now, older adults have willingly provided many types of support when circumstances required their assistance. Often justified as ‘‘delayed reciprocity’’ or as a way of ‘‘giving back’’ to a community, older adults have gradually expanded their volunteer role from one typically perceived as a way to remain active to one with tangible and lasting benefits to a community. Although not complete, this expansion has brought with it a new and more positive view of the role of older volunteers. No longer are older adults limited to activities such as delivering flowers in local hospitals—although this type of interaction remains a valuable task typically performed by older volunteers. Today’s older volunteer is just as likely to be called upon to provide expertise to their local businesses, their local governments, or their communities. The activities described by the articles in this special issue of Educational Gerontology involve older volunteerism at its finest. With very few exceptions, the volunteers associated with the Foster Grandparent Program and the Senior Companion Program are personally dedicated to making their social environments a better place. They do this by refusing to abandon children with difficulties in school, and older adults who have little or no other contact with the larger community.

Housing and the Older Rural Population

Abstract From a policy standpoint, housing for the rural elderly has essentially been ignored. Among the many reasons are a lack of political power and the general perception that rural populations cannot be served efficiently or economically. However, the changing demographic profile of the older population itself will likely make housing and support services to rural elderly a compelling issue in the near future. Despite the development of various alternative living arrangements, most remain unavailable to all but a small proportion of the rural population. In an effort to encourage dialog, this article reviews the demographic characteristics of the rural elderly population and briefly introduces Home Sharing; Share-A-Home; and Cooperative Living Arrangements as promising alternatives to traditional housing types.

A College in a Retirement Community.

The Community Church College in Sun City Center is unique in that it offers a formal curriculum aimed at the educational needs of the residents of a large leisure-oriented retirement community. For almost 30 years the college has delivered a student-driven curriculum that draws on the expertise and experiences of volunteer instructors, and is flexible enough to meet the needs and preferences of a wide variety of students. This article is a case-study of the Community Church College in Sun City Center.

EMPLOYED CAREGIVERS: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ISSUE FOR GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION

The importance of the employed caregiver in the maintenance of functional independence has only recently begun to be recognized. The demographic changes that will shape the next few decades will require a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding caregiving than is currently available in the curricula of existing gerontology programs. By incorporating course offerings aimed specifically at the caregiver role, gerontological education could extend its influence into the business community and attract students from a wide variety of other disciplines. Providing future corporate executives with a basic gerontological education could broaden the scope of gerontology and, ultimately, improve the quality of the lives of older care receivers.

The Long-Range Impact of Administration on Aging Training Grants: A Study of Student Involvement in the Field of Aging

As a response to the growing need for increased numbers of trained employees infields related to aging, the Administration on Aging (AOA) funded a series of training grants. Beginning in 1967 and continuing for 15 years, the Center for Studies in Aging at the University of North Texas received AOA monies to help support students in the emerging field of gerontology. The results presented here indicate that the expenditure of federal grant monies for training has produced career-oriented individuals with both a high degree of involvement and a lasting impact on the field.

Reassessing The Demographic Imperative

Abstract For many years gerontologists have discussed the consequences of advances that have lengthened lives but have been less successful at improving the quality of those lives. While this debate continues, the resulting demographic shift in the age profile of the United States threatens to overwhelm our ability to care for those who most need assistance. In the absence of major policy changes or dramatic medical discoveries, or both, the need for institutional care among the population 85 and older will soon exceed the available resources.