Canada's demographic situation in the future will differ substantially from what we have known in the past. Unless there is an early return to high fertility the average age of both the population and the labour force will increase substantially, while the overall dependency ratio will be low by historical standards. Our analysis suggests that up to about 2010 population change will have less of an impact on the real (i.e., constant—price) level of aggregate government expenditures than on the size of the real gross national product However, we can anticipate compositional changes in government expenditures as a result of population change: very large increases in the real social security costs, lesser (but still large) increases in health costs, and a reduction in education costs. Finally, a relatively large portion of the aggregate expenditure increases will be at the federal government level.

Fifteen subjects with moderate or severe dementia failed to recognize pictures of close relatives. When given a simple preference test which involved choosing the picture they liked from a matrix of four pictures they most frequently chose the picture of their relative. This suggests that while recognition memory may be impaired affective memory appears to remain intact.

A program of respite admission to a geriatric assessment unit was evaluated through a retrospective review of the medical records of 50 consecutive male respite patients.

The demographic and medical characteristics of these patients were examined and their hospital course was reconstructed. The correlates of several outcome variables were also examined. These included: 1) family response 2) the patient's condition at discharge and 3) the location of discharge.

The results indicate that although the program was appraised positively by family members, not all patients thrived during the admission and the condition of 22% deteriorated. Age and the incidence of a variety of intercurrent illnesses were among the most significant correlates of outcomes.

Finally, several recommendations are provided. These include the need for family counselling, following a pre-admission assessment, and the need for sound principles of geriatric management which can decrease the risk to the patient which appear to arise during a short-term respite admission.

To determine family involvement after geriatric assessment, two groups of patients were followed: a sample of 1981 patients and their caregivers were interviewed in 1981 and 1984: and, a sample of 1983 patients and their caregivers were interviewed in 1984. The findings indicate that nuclear family members retain on-going relationships with their elderly. Kin networks shrink for those elderly without nuclear kin when their mental functioning decreases. Needs and resources change over time.

As an initial step in the improvement of interventions for the depressed elderly, the present study attempts to identify the strategies they spontaneously use to cope with depressive feelings. Fifty two older persons answered two questionnaires, one measuring the intensity of depressive symptomatology, the other dealing with coping strategies and their usefulness. Results suggest that, as a whole, coping strategies used by the elderly do not fundamentally differ from the ones advocated by younger individuals, in that they favor strategies involving goal-oriented action. The subjects who reported the most depressive feelings differed from the others on two points: they less frequently relied on the strategy of problem solving and they considered general activity as less useful in their struggle against depressive feelings. Implications for the development of services for the elderly, in particular the secondary prevention of depression, are drawn.

The book identifies the three distinct but related aspects of Educational Gerontology, specifically, educational opportunities for older people, education about aging for the general population, and education of professionals and para-professionals who work with the elderly. The first aspect, education for older people—including pre-retirement preparation—is emphasized. The volume has an international character with contributions from Britain, the United States, Denmark and Canada.