The popular book, Who Moved My Cheese? (Johnson, 1998) is a metaphor for change. This parable-like story has particular resonance with older adults who face many potential life-altering changes. The four characters in the book are looking for their cheese in a maze. Cheese represents whatever makes people happy. How each character adjusts to the…

America now possesses not only the largest and fastest-growing population of older adults in our history but also the healthiest, most vigorous, best educated and civic-minded. By the year 2025, one of every four Americans will be a grandparent. However, the real potential is not in the numbers, but in the emotional attachment between grandparents…

Effective communication is the core of every helping relationship. Trained and experienced gerontology counselors bring skillful listening, the gift of reframing, the ability to suspend judgment, experience with confidentiality and ethics, and the ability to seek solutions and think of possibilities to the evolving field of life coach. Therefore,…

Narratives convey feelings and communicate ideas that the listener needs to hear. As such, they make powerful tools in all endeavors of human interaction. The use of narratives has been especially successful in educational settings. The time has come for the patient narrative to take back its rightful place after having been displaced in the name…

Aging is a complex process that involves factors such as cultural, ethnic, and gender differences and is unique to each individual. Love, sexual intimacy, and sexuality are characteristics that help define individuals and often contribute to how well they will continue to live and age. Enhanced knowledge and healthy attitudes about sexual needs…

The composition and needs of culturally diverse older populations should encourage hospitals to address the conflicting demands for access and delivery of ethnically sensitive services. Health communication that is patient-centered and provides culturally and linguistically appropriate care has the potential to reduce racial and ethnic health…

The goal of education and research in all disciplines is to develop critical thinking skills as a method for improving clinical decisionmaking. The emphasis on critical thinking is nothing new and can be traced back to ancient times when Socrates challenged his students to think about their knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors by interrogating them.…

The transition into menopause can be a time of apprehension and uncertainty; it can also be a time experienced as an emotional upheaval brought on through changes in hormonal levels. However, menopause with the appropriate attitude and motivation can be a time of freedom and rebirth. Menopause invites a powerful review of women's lives and a…

Older adults often get lost in the process of assessment, diagnosis and service brokering. If our concern as care providers is to enable older persons to remain independent or in the community for as long as possible, we must tap into their personal values, cultural identity and health beliefs in order to foster enhanced health care communication.…

Aunts and uncles play special roles in the lives and education of nieces and nephews. They are among the first adults children meet other than parents and grandparents. They are often willing and able to fulfill roles that strengthen the relationship with a niece or nephew, especially if they have never married. The roots of the relationship,…

The recent deaths of more than 13,000 French elderly in the European heat wave of 2003 revealed cracks in the social foundation of urban communities, here and abroad. The breakdown occurred in community services, neighborhood networks, and governmental agencies that were responsible for warning of impending dangers to at-risk elderly. This paper…

Old age is characterized as a period of resiliency when the older person uses internal and external resources to overcome the challenges presented by this stage of life. By acknowledging older adults resiliency and spiritual resources in light of past and present risk factors, care providers can focus on capabilities, assets, and positive…

The recent deaths of more than 13,000 French elderly in the European heat wave of 2003 revealed cracks in the social foundation of urban communities, here and abroad. The breakdown occurred in community services, neighborhood networks, and governmental agencies that were responsible for warning of impending dangers to at-risk elderly. This paper…

Old age is characterized as a period of resiliency when the older person uses internal and external resources to overcome the challenges presented by this stage of life. By acknowledging older adults' resiliency and spiritual resources in light of past and present risk factors, care providers can focus on capabilities, assets, and positive…

Presents a rationale for shifting the focus of social work/gerontology education from training to a learner-centered approach that incorporates principles of adult learning. Suggests the use of adult experiences, storytelling, simulation, role playing, and a supportive learning environment. (SK)