Abstract
This paper explains that, as in other countries, due to increased birthrates in the mid twentieth century, combined with relatively low birthrates in modern society, Canada is experiencing population aging. The author points out that this demographic shift creates a situation in which potential problems regarding economic stability are created and in which the workforce does not have enough manpower to support the aged population. The paper suggests that increasing immigration rates and implementing social programs may assist in helping balance this situation.

From the Paper
"This Health Canada report proceeds to stress the complexity of aging population issue, as it concerns not only the well-being of today's older Canadians but also broader areas and sectors that affect the entire population, including health, labour markets and public finances. They stress the fact that all levels of government are needed to work together in establishing a defensive front to safeguard the economy. Health Canada provides a detailed list of the challenges that Canadian society will face in recent years and how to properly adapt to work with these changes."

Tags:health, baby boomers, fertility rates, pensions immigration

Abstract
The paper examines the research on the physical and psychological benefits enjoyed by the elderly who participate in exercise routines. The paper points out that while exercise should be recommended to elderly patients, it should be monitored closely to ensure that the elderly are not over-extending themselves and causing injuries.

From the Paper
"Common sense and experience informs the majority of individuals that exercise, in moderation, is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. One need not look far in today's current media coverage to find stories that focus on the growing rates of obesity in North America and the lack of individuals involved in regular exercise routines. Quite a bit of recent news coverage has focused on the youngest portion of society, examining the eating and exercise behaviors of children and teenagers. In most cases, the stories have been depressing and offer dismal views of the future, based on the growing trend of young persons who fail to exercise regularly and who have adopted many unhealthy eating habits."

Tags:quality, of, life, health, mobility, falls

Abstract
General summaries of the last four stages of human development: Adolescence, Young Adulthood, Middle Adulthood, and Late Adulthood. Examines physical, cognitive, and psycho-social aspects of development.

Adolescence
Definition
Reproduction
Risky behavior
Cognitive: Piaget (Formal operations), Elkind
Identity vs. identity confusion (Erikson)
Peer and Family relations

Young Adulthood
Cognitive: Postformal thought, Triarchic theory of
Intelligence (Sternberg), Emotional Intelligence
Personality: 5 factor model (Costa & McCrae)
Intimacy vs. Isolation (Erikson)
Levinson & the Grant Study
Culture: Marriage, childbirth, remaining single

Middle Adulthood
Physiological changes ? hearing, sight, endurance,
metabolism
Ailments ? hypertension, osteoporosis, stress
Seattle Longitudinal Study: Fluid and Crystallized
intelligence
Cognitive ? Hoyer and Schaie
Jung ? Individuation
Generativity versus stagnation (Erikson)
Psychosocial ? identity style, assimilation,
accommodation

Late Adulthood
Biological aging ? genetic programming, variable rate
theories
Physical changes
Cognitive ? Metamemory, semantic, procedural, sensory
Ego integrity versus despair (Erikson)
Disengagement, continuity, and activity theories
Retirement
Marriage, family, peer relationships
Living arrangements

From the Paper
"Adolescence is the developmental transition from childhood to adulthood. Although its beginning or end is not clearly marked in Western societies, adolescence lasts about a decade from age 11 or 12 until the late teens or early twenties. Adolescence carries many risks to healthy development, as well as opportunities for physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth."

Tags:erikson, geriatric, jung, middle-age, old, piaget, stage, young

Abstract
History
Location
Occupations
Schooling
Family
Context of Interview
Discussion
Activity in normal day: sleep, exercise, groups
Diet
Sensory changes
Memory assessment
Changing relationships: family & peers
Retirement and goals
Analysis
Physical performance: causes of illness, injury, and
sensory dysfunction
Education - Engagement process (Schaie), memory
Ego integrity versus despair (Erikson), Grant Study
Role of religion
Continuity theory (Atchley)
Balanced investment - role of siblings and family
members

From the Paper
"Born in 1932, AB is a sixty-eight year old female from the central New York state area. AB grew up in a small town with her twin brother and two sisters. Her father passed away when she was two, and her siblings were then raised by their single mother. In her adult life, AB has worked as a dietitian at a University Hospital. Currently, AB resides at the retirement community in New York."

Tags:aging, cognitive, elkind, erikson, geriatrics, late, old, social

Abstract
This paper explains that Canadian senior immigrants are more vulnerable to social isolation and exclusion than Canadian-raised seniors; therefore, it is important to consider the importance of social inclusion for this population. The author points out that problems, such as the lack of social and family support, the lack of knowledge of the English/French language and the lack of community resources have resulted in senior immigrants becoming more socially excluded. The paper stresses that, to encourage social inclusion, social workers need to help break down these barriers, which have caused senior immigrants to face problems of accessibility to services. The author underscores that it is important to not homogenize the senior population but rather to offer culturally sensitive and accessible programs that meet the needs of specific immigrant senior populations and that encourage them to meet their own specific needs.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Senior Immigrants: Exploring Assumptions and Reality
Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion
Barriers to Services
Recommendations
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Contemporary Canadian society is among the most diverse in the world: the 2001 Census lists around two hundred ethnic groups. Among the immigrant population, 68% of all immigrant seniors are originally from Europe and 19% come from Asia (one in five). This development is the result of a change in immigration patterns since the 1960s, when the trend of admitting immigrants from Europe shifted to one admitting people from all over the world, especially Asia. For the purpose of this paper, senior immigrants can be defined by age as legal immigrants 65 years old and above."

Tags:holistic, inclusion, language, barriers, process

Abstract
This paper discusses the distinguishing types of bereavement: complicated and uncomplicated and the various responses in both cases. A classification of the forms of grief is provided along with an extensive analysis of each form. The mourning process is also dissected into several categories and leads into the presentation of the adjustment to the aftermath. The key points from above highlight how the response to bereavement is a physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral experience.

From the Paper
"Bereavement is always a painful experience, but some people return to their normal life rapidly, experiencing uncomplicated bereavement, while others never go back to their previous way of life before their loss. Death is a powerful cause of stress; even those going through uncomplicated bereavement are likely to experience many symptoms of anxiety and depression and undergo physiological changes which reduce the body's ability to fight off disease (Phillips, 1994). Popular options suggest that the progression through bereavement is often steady and orderly, yet people grieve in highly individualized ways. Depending on prior losses and the severity of the current loss, symptoms of anxiety may be most evident and can mix or overshadow symptoms of depression (Rogoff, 1989)."

Tags:death, dying, isolation, loss, memories, pain

Abstract
This paper reviews the writer's personal philosophy of care and individual ethics in a case scenario of a patient (referred to as Mr. Smith) with advanced Alzheimer's and dementia. The writer discusses how the family often appeared indifferent and unconcerned with their father's condition especially at his untimely demise, which proved difficult for the nursing staff as they cared profoundly for the patient. The writer explores the specific ethical principles involved, including autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence and links the clinical situation to a specific theory of grief, loss and bereavement. The writer suggests alternative actions which could have led to a more satisfying and ethical outcome in the case of Mr. Smith, his family and the nurses concerned.

Outline:
Introduction
My Philosophy of Care in my Nursing Practice
Autonomy, Justice, Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
Related Theory of Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
Suggested Alternative Solutions
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Ethics in healthcare is fundamental in the day-to-day care provided to patients' particularly in nursing and certainly with end of life issues. Essentially, the code of ethics for registered nurses is a declaration of commitment to those we serve, it is a guideline that sets out behaviors expected of us, and it advocates for quality care and serves as a self-reflection tool (Canadian Nurses Association, 1998). The codes of ethics and the standards of care made available by our governing body ensure that the best nursing practices will be provided to our patients (Aiken, 2005). Part of our nursing practice is to assist in life-threatening situations. Coping with death is challenging for nurses since the ability to cope with one's own grief or beliefs highly depends on the relationship of the healthcare provider to the patient, to their families and to their own experiences with death."

Tags:grief, loss, bereavement, autonomy, justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence

Abstract
This paper deals with the subject of elderly abuse and attempts to make the connection between elder abuse and family violence. The author explains that elder abuse is becoming more and more recognized as a form of family violence, and describes the different types of abuse, analyzing the connection between elder abuse and family violence. The author also uses the Ageism concept to explain elder abuse in broad context, to explain how society's distorted view on the elderly affect care-givers likeliness to abuse their elderly family members.

Outline:
Introduction
Purpose
Rationale
Key Concepts Related to Elder Abuse
What is Elderly Abuse?
Elder Abuse as a Form of Family Violence
Analysis:
The Situation Model
Social Exchange Theory
Ageism
Practice Interventions
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Elder abuse is a growing social concern in Western society, but it is not a new phenomenon. Mistreatment of older people both in the community and within institutions has been an enduring feature of our social history. Many older Canadians have suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of family members and caregivers for many years, without the support and resources they needed to leave their abusive situations. Recently, practitioners have been displaying a growing awareness and concern about elder abuse, putting a new perspective to this type of family violence (Pillemer & Wolf, 1986: 169). Like other types of domestic violence, elder abuse is extremely complex. It is a combination of many factors, from psychological to economic as well as the mental and physical conditions of the victim and the abuser. These factors do not usually operate in isolation. Instead, they tend to function as complex dimensions, interacting in ways uniquely dependent on the victim, perpetrator and the situation (Steinmetz, 1988: 23)
Moreover, research shows that estimates of abuse are difficult to make, although in Canada it is often said to affect at least four percent of seniors (Kinnon, 2001: 6).
"In addition, explanations about why abuse occurs under different theoretical frameworks make it difficult to pin-point the direct connection between the dynamics of elder abuse and family violence. Many elder abuse cases fit the paradigm of family violence; that is, acts of abuse or misuse of power that may result in harm to a family member (Pillemer & Suitor, 1992: 170). However, not all cases involve spouses or family members. Practitioners stress the need to understand the entire range of elder abuse and the underlying causes- including self-neglect, abuse and neglect within the family, and abuse that occurs in institutional settings (Prevention Pathways, 2004: 12)."

Tags:treatment, neglect, concern, conflict

Abstract
The paper discusses the development of a child between conception and birth and S. Cooper's research on fetal alcohol syndrome. The paper discusses the first few years of life and the development of attachment as researched by Harry Harlow, early childhood and middle childhood and their psychosocial challenges as identified by Erik Erikson and adolescent teenagers' sense of egocentrism as illustrated by David Elkind. The paper then looks at young adulthood and Kohlberg's model of moral reasoning development and middle adulthood's challenge as theorized by Erik Erikson. Finally, the paper addresses late adulthood and the development of Alzheimer's disease and end of life issues as defined by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

Outline:
Conception through Birth
First Three Years of Life
Early Childhood
Middle Childhood
Adolescence
Young Adulthood
Middle Adulthood
Late Adulthood
End of Life

From the Paper
"There are a number of different dangers that can threaten the healthy development of a child between the time of conception and birth. A child begins as a zygote until its first 2 weeks, then moves on to being an embryo between 3 and 8 weeks, and finally, is considered a fetus from 9 weeks until birth (usually around 38 weeks). The first three months of pregnancy are the most dangerous for an unborn child, and during this time a child can be threatened by teratogens, which are harmful agents in the prenatal environment that can have negative impacts on a child's development. One of the most common of teratogens is alcohol. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to a syndrome called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which causes mental retardation, abnormally small size, as well as organ, facial and limb abnormalities."

Tags:egocentrism, attachment, fetal, alcohol, syndrome, Alzheimer's, moral, reasoning

Abstract
This paper covers a broad range of areas pertaining to Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating disease that ravages the brain, robs the sufferer of their identity and eventually causes death. It looks at how AD is not an inevitable part of aging or an acceleration of aging and how it is a disease belonging to a category of diseases known as dementias, which cause a severe deterioration of several mental functions such as judgment, language and memory. It explores different areas from its neurochemistry, anatomy and neurophysiology, to the alarming statistics, the psychology and observable behavioral changes in all stages of this disease. It also discusses causes, current treatments, and treatments under investigation.

From the Paper
"The first symptoms of AD occur at a microscopic level which affects many areas of the brain and may begin as early as the 20's. Initially, subtle symptoms arise such as forgetfulness and mood change (Jones, 1999). This is due to nerve cell death in the limbic system which undergoes the most severe degenerative changes in AD. The entorhinal cortex is affected earliest and most severely, and shows the clearest evidence of cell loss. This structure is the major relay through which information from the neocortex gets to the hippocampus and back to the neocortex, and it is this degeneration that is thought to cause initial memory loss in AD (Kolb & Whishaw, 1996). Short-term memory is made worse as the hippocampus is gradually ridden with plaques and tangles. Sadly, even long-term memories fade away."

Tags:aging, brain, chemistry, dementia, gerontology, memory, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry