Wiley P. Mangum

The Invisibility of Older Men in Gerontology

Abstract This article advocates for a gerontological commitment in research, practice, education, and training to the needs of elderly men, no more, but no less, than to the needs of elderly women. The special needs of aging and aged men have been either ignored or downplayed in gerontological literature, as a result of the fact that they exist in smaller numbers and proportions and are erroneously believed to enjoy a better quality of life. Thus, aging and elderly men in general, and those representing specific subpopulations, often have their social, psychological, and health care needs ignored, misunderstood, or underserved. Additionally, elderly men do not have the advocacy that is found for elderly women in gerontology organizations and associations. Gerontologists should have a personal and professional stake in better addressing the needs of elderly men.

RACIAL/ ETHNIC VARIATIONS IN INFORMAL CAREGIVING

Variations in informal caregiving among members of racial/ethnic minority groups in American society are documented and discussed. Variations in attitudes, norms, practices, expectations, and stereotypes in informal caregiving among blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, and Asians and Pacific Islanders are considered. It is pointed out that although informal caregiving is the predominant mode of care provided for most older persons, demographic and cultural changes in all groups in the United States should lead to a greater balance between informal and formal care.

But Not in My Neighborhood

Reactions of community residents to proposed or built Section 202/8 apartment complexes in two communities in and near Tampa, Florida were studied through observation of two public hearings and data gathered through questionnaires mailed to a probability sample of householders in the communities. Findings indicated that the respondents were about evenyl divided between positive and negative reactions to the housing facilities. A discriminant analysis revealed that those who reacted negatively tended to be more satisfied with their own homes, to have lived longer in their homes, and to be less satisfied with their neighborhoods. Recommendations for avoiding community resistance to housing for the elderly were presented.

Ethical Dilemmas in Teaching Ethical Issues in Aging.

Discussed are dilemmas faced by instructors who teach a course on ethics and aging. Decisions need to be made as to whether the course should utilize scientific objectivity or advocacy, relative or absolute standards, a theoretical/ intellectual or applied/personal orientation, and an age‐specific or age‐irrelevant view. Recommendations are provided for educational gerontologists who teach such a course.

Book Reviews : Stephen M. Golant. Housing America's Elderly: Many Possibilities/Few Choices. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1992.

Powell Lawton was right! Stephen Golant’s HousingAmerica s Elderly is &dquo; ... the first integrated, comprehensive treatment of housing for elders&dquo; (from a promotional quotation on the back cover). It is also, by virtue of its single authorship, probably the most ambitious housing book yet to appear. As an area of specialization within gerontology and some other disciplines, housing for the elderly is very diverse. Its fairly massive literature has long contained contributions by architects, economists, geographers, policy analysts, psychologists, and sociologists and, more recently, by marketing and management specialists. Consequently, due to the scholarly demands on an author that this diversity implies, most of the books that have been published either have been edited or coauthored, thereby drawing on the specialized knowledge of a number of authors. Even then, they tend to be restricted to conventional housing

55.00 hdbk.,

One sign of the increasing development or crystallization of a particular field is the publication of research methods books dealing with issues from the perspective of the field or subfield. In applied gerontology, the first such book to appear was Applied Research in Aging: A Guide to Methods and Resources by Jan Sinnott and Associates (1983), which made notable contributions to our understanding of the general nature of applied research and specific methodological issues in relation to older persons. Now comes Applied Research in Gerontology by William J. McAuley ( 1987), director of the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with well-wrought contributions by Rosemary Blieszner, Jay Mancini, and Laurie Shea of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Jean Romaniuk of Virginia Commonwealth University ; and Cynthia Bowling of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.