Bibliographic Essay
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In the 16th century, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon sought the "fountain of youth," a source of water that could restore youth.  While no such fountain has ever been found, many Americans who are particularly aware that aging is often associated with weakness and failing health, have tried to slow down the aging process through a variety of methods. Baby boomers (the roughly 79 million people born in the U.S. between 1946 and 1964) have undoubtedly stirred this furor of retaining youth through a combination of socio-cultural views on aging and technical and medical advances.

There are several approaches to slow the aging process: shots of estrogen, testosterone or human growth hormone, exercise, nutrition, even extreme cosmetic surgery.  These efforts of creating a modern fountain of youth have met with concern and criticism particularly within the medical community in terms of ethical practices.  However, aging can imply much more than just health, graying hair and wrinkled skin.  There are many more issues surrounding the aging process including societal views on aging (stereotypes, role reversal, economics, ethnicity and culture), relationships (friendships, community, parent-child, care giving and sexuality), psychological responses to aging (depression, suicide, endurance, isolation, autonomy, and disengagement)  and search for meaning (employment, retirement, grief, loss, bereavement, life review, religion/spirituality, values and death).

Society's views on aging and the extent to which age is associated with power and status varies depending on gender and the specifics of the culture or society in question.  The mass media's neglect of older people or the often distorted presentation of elders as the either "feared and satirized 'old geezer'" to "the vulnerable ineffectual senior citizen" is particularly detrimental to the younger generations' views of elderly among them.  While experienced professionals focused on the problems associated with growing old, the field has made strides to examine the normative aspects of aging and the positive contributions of older adults in modern society.  Better balance has been given to the contributions of the elderly in terms of professional and volunteer achievements through work and hobbies.  What started as a broad concept to counter the negative images associated with being old, the term "productive aging" came into wider use in the 1990's, and along with its wider use came efforts to better define the term (Bass, 2002).

Termed "Gerontology", the study of aging used to describe a rather broad spectrum of theoretical interests relating to the aged, only emerged in the beginning of the 20th century.  This field differs from "Geriatrics" in that the latter is concerned with the treatment and management of diseases and illnesses that are more prevalent in old age (osteoporosis, dementia, Alzheimer's, etc.)  Although there is early evidence of publications in the field dating back to the early 1900's, it wasn't until the mid 1950's that a steady increase in recognition of the importance of gerontology through institutional curricula of higher education brought on the recognition and importance of the field (Cutler & Hendricks, 2002).  Applied gerontology serves an essential purpose.  As Cutler & Hendricks state: "By learning about the nature of aging and old age, we are in a position to use the knowledge to improve the quality of the later-life experience... It emphasizes the translation of basic research into the development of services, programs, and interventions for the betterment of the older population." (p.570) 

References

Bass, S. (2002).  Productive aging.  In Encyclopedia of Aging, v.4, p.1130-1132.

Bond, L., Cutler, S., Grams, A., Eds.(1995).  Promoting successful and productive aging.  Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Cutler, S., Hendricks, J. (2002).  Gerontology.  In Encyclopedia of Aging, v.2, p.564-570

Ranzijn. R. (2002).  The potential of older adults to enhance community quality of life: Links between positive psychology and productive aging.  Ageing International, 27:2 (Spring), p.30.

Smith, O., Ed.(2000).  Aging in America.  New York: H. W. Wilson.

Sperry, L. (1992)  Aging: A developmental perspecive.  Individual Psychology: Journal of Alderian Theory, Research & Practice, 48:4 (December), p. 387-401.

Ana E. Fontoura, MLS

Gill Library

College of New Rochelle

914-654-5456

 

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GENERAL INFORMATION

"Aging" refers to the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, this topic can be researched in conjunction with other areas of study.  Specifically, psychology, sociology, heath/nursing, law, art, philosophy, and religion to name a few.  In order to narrow down the topic, the researcher must use the term in together with their area of focus to obtain better results.

This guide is designed to help you learn more about the multidisciplinary aspects of aging in general and to get you started on your research in this field.  There are many resources available on this subject.  Some are listed below.  Keep in mind that you may narrow your search in this field by focusing on a specific culture and/or population, as well as adding other terms in your "aging" research such as: social welfare, sex, retirement, anxiety, specific disorder/illness, law, death denial, religion, and many more.  Some of these sources are meant to provide general information, while others are geared toward advanced study in the field.

 

Everything you need to begin your research is found at the library homepage - go to:     http://www.cnr.edu/home/library/index.htm

 

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 Search The Gill Library CATALOG for books, videos, journal titles and more

Go to:  Online Catalog

The College of New Rochelle Library uses Library of Congress subject headings as the standard for subject searching. Unlike searching by keyword, where any term or wording of a topic can be entered into the computer, subject searching requires you to use the exact wording of an official Library of Congress subject heading in order to retrieve search results.

Some useful standard subject headings on aging are:

Aging

Aged

Aging Parents

Geriatrics

Gerontology

        Common Subject Subdivisions you may add to the above are:

- Abuse

- Government policy

- Health and Hygiene

- History

- Law and Legislation

- Psychological Aspects

- Social Aspects

- United States

For precise results of items relating specifically to aging, search using any of the terms above and browse the subject list.  You will find a greater concentration of items under the terms "Aged"  However, don't forget to browse all the related subjects listed!

 

 

For results that are not so specific (for example books that may dedicate sections or one chapter to this issue, but are not necessarily devoted to the issue of aging), search by Keyword using the term "aged" and browse the result list. You will find that a large number of results is retrieved and therefore it would be wise to narrow down your focus by adding more terms to your original search.  For example: aged and

• Health

• Abuse

• Culture

• Relationships

• Services

• Loss

• Society

• Retirement

 

 For additional help on how to search the catalog, go to:   Catalog Search Tips

 

REMEMBER: If you can't find a book that you need at Gill Library, please search Other Library Catalogs on our website, or ask a Reference Librarian for assistance requesting an Interlibrary Loan.  (what is an Interlibrary Loan?)

  

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BOOKS 

SOME books available in the REFERENCE COLLECTION relating to Grief and Bereavement:

(Click on the title to see the record in our catalog):

 

An aging population : opposing viewpoints - As is always the case with this series, varying viewpoints are included; however, in this volume, a diversity of sources is also given weight. In addition to books and journals, material is drawn from policy and foundation reports, congressional testimony, and Web sites.

 

Encyclopedia of aging -

 

Encyclopedia of gerontology : age, aging, and the aged -

 

Aging -

 

Statistical handbook on aging Americans - Contains a totally new compilation of 378 tables and charts illustrating the changes in America's aging population, based on 1990 census data and on several new surveys. The data presented were the latest available as of June 1993. Includes a list of sources, a guide to relevant information sources, and a glossary of statistical terms and abbreviations (Book News Inc.).

 

Older Americans almanac : a reference work on seniors in the United States - This almanac addresses frequently asked questions about aging, indicates useful resources, and directs users to other informational sources. Unlike other references that present statistics only on such topics as health, living arrangements, education, income, employment, etc., the volume's 38 chapters cover experiences of and attitudes toward aging from Colonial times to the 1990s and into the next century. Essays discuss the process of aging, diversity, politics and government, retirement, relationships, health and wellness, lifestyles, etc. A reference section provides lists of organizations, a general bibliography, keyword index, and suggestions for further reading and research (Library Journal).

 

Developments and research on aging : an international handbook - Summarizes information on programs and research in gerontology in most countries where significant work is in progress. Included are chapters on ten countries not previously covered. Each chapter provides current information on the unique features of the country profiled; the roles and status of the elderly; problems of the aged; programs for older adults; research in biomedical, psychological, and sociological aspects of aging; and sources of information. Includes an appendix of gerontological associations (Book News Inc.).

 

Fact book on aging - A reference on the aging population of the US for people in gerontology or demographics. Provides data on such topics as attitudes toward aging, achievements in older age, disease prevention, discrimination, retirement, and international comparisons. Periodic updates are scheduled (Book News Inc.).

 

Aging and the law -

 

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SOME books available in the CIRCULATING COLLECTION relating to Grief and Bereavement:

(Click on the title to see the record in our catalog):

 

Learning to be old : gender, culture, and aging - This book helps put aging in a new light, neither romanticizing nor demonizing it. Feminist scholar Margaret Cruikshank looks at a variety of different forces affecting the progress of aging including fears and taboos, multicultural traditions, and the medicalization and politicization of natural processes. Through it all, we learn a better way to inhabit our age whatever it is (book description).

 

Aged by culture - The author elegantly lays out the case for revisiting and transforming current perceptions of aging. She examines contemporary American culture's attitudes about age, observing that our culture has bought into the notion of aging as a woeful wait for death, characterized by unattractive physical decline (witness the popularity of Botox and cosmetic surgery) and social disdain. With a sophisticated blend of scholarship and examples drawn from popular culture, Gullette issues a resounding call for a new way of looking at the progression of life (Library Journal).

 

Aging with grace : what the nun study teaches us about leading longer, healthier, and more meaningful lives - Written by one of the world's leading experts on Alzheimer's disease, this landmark book combines fascinating information about high-tech research on the brain with the heartfelt story of the aging nuns who are teaching scientists how humans grow old--and how to do so with grace (Book description).

 

Family ties & aging - Presenting a broad examination of the issues surrounding family ties and aging, this advances textbook provides an integrated and thorough representation of current research in the field. Whereas book on families and aging have traditionally focused on ties to a spouse and to children and grandchildren, Connidis's coverage is more extensive and more reflective of contemporary society (book description).

 

Aging : concepts and controversies -

 

Leadership for older adults : aging with purpose and passion - Drawing on research and an intimate knowledge of retirement, the authors use two specific organizations to highlight common leadership issues. Nine chapters provide a theoretical perspective, portraits of leadership, and concrete instructions and practical tips. Topics include how to give purpose to later years, education and leadership as meaningful leisure activities in retirement, organizational leadership theory, the dynamics of organizational leadership, practical strategies for building a community of healthy leaders, and how to address ageism and sexism (Book News, Inc.)

 

Handbook of theories of aging - Not about aging itself, which is no longer just theoretical to many people, but theories about why and how are presented from perspectives that include biomedicine, psychology, biology, and the social sciences. Intended as a successor to Birren and Bengtsan's Emergent Theories of Aging, the survey is addressed to the upcoming generation of gerontologists, policy makers, academics, and psychologists and so assumes no specialized knowledge of any field (Book News, Inc.)

 

The aging network : programs and services - This thoroughly revised and updated fifth edition of the standard reference to services for the elderly places special emphasis on new programs, especially those mandated by the Older Americans Act. Professionals will find a comprehensive listing of federal, state and local programs that can locate transportation, legal assistance, employment, income maintenance, and volunteer programs in every region of the country. It describes the key components of hundreds of programs, and addresses issues that confront providers of services for the aged (Book jacket).

 

Ethnogerocounseling : counseling ethnic elders and their families -

 

Aging and mental health : positive psychosocial and biomedical approaches - This text sets out the nature and problems of old age, including the position of older people in their families, and then explores some common emotional problems and psychiatric disorders that can affect the elderly. Comprehensive and authoritative coverage of the process of aging, issues of mental health and aging, and the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of some common effects of aging. Specific chapter coverage focuses on race, ethnicity, gender, crime, alcoholism, and physical disabilities including deafness and blindness.

 

 

 

 

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JOURNALS

CNR subscriptions

(click on each title to see complete holdings information)

 

Death Studies

 

Omega: an international journal for the study of dying, death, bereavement, suicide, and other lethal behaviors

 

For full text journals in the field of Gerontology and Geriatrics (which may have articles pertaining to grief and bereavement)  go to:  GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS FULL TEXT ONLINE JOURNALS.  Examples follow:

          

International Journal of Aging & Human Development

     from 06/06/2003 to 6 months ago

 

Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology

     from 03/01/1997 to 1 year ago

 

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

     from 01/01/2001 to 1 year ago

 

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Some VIDEOS available in our catalog relating to Grief and Bereavement:

(Click on the title to see the record in our catalog):

 

Call Number	Title
VID 1306	The Secret Life of the Brain
VID 790	View From The Inside
VID 714	Something Should be Done About Grandma Ruthie
VID 998	Seasons of Life

 

 

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Search for journal ARTICLES in Gill Library Databases: 

(For help on how to search some of our databases go to:  Database Search Tips)

 

 

To search for articles (many in full-text)  search Gill Library's databases.  These databases are arranged by subject, or alphabetically by the database's name. 

 

Specific databases that index articles relating to Aging, would be listed under Psychology.  Different databases should be consulted depending on the focus and scope of your search. 

 

Once you are in a specific database, you should be certain that you are using valid terms.  (See "Search the Catalog" for a list of possible terms)   To obtain the best results, however, browse the "subject" or "thesaurus" tab within each database. If you need assistance with this, narrowing your search or any other question, please feel free to ask a librarian.

 

It is recommended that you begin with the database "Academic Search Premier" due to its broad spectrum content.  Once you have a good overview of your topic,  search "PsychArticles",  "PsychInfo" and "Social Sciences Abstracts", although you should search as many databases as listed in the above link.

 

The following is some information about each of the databases mentioned above:

 

 

Academic Search Premier - provides full text for nearly 3,180 scholarly publications covering academic areas of study including social sciences, humanities, education, computer sciences, engineering, language and linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences, and ethnic studies.

 

PsycArticles - is an online database containing more than 25,000 searchable full-text articles from 42 journals published by APA and allied organizations from 1987 to the present, with earlier years in production. The PsycARTICLES database covers general psychology and specialized basic, applied, clinical, and theoretical research in psychology.

 

PsycInfo - provides indexing and abstracts for over one million articles in 1,500 journals from over 50 countries. This database, provided by the American Psychological Association, also includes abstracts for dissertations, books and book chapters ranging in date from 1887 to the present.

 

Social Sciences Abstracts - H. W. Wilson's Social Sciences Abstracts covers 518 English language periodicals.  Topics include  anthropology, area studies, community health and medical care, criminal justice and criminology, economics, family studies, geography, gerontology, international relations, law, minority studies, planning and public administration, policy sciences, political science, psychiatry, psychology, social work and public welfare, sociology, urban studies, women's studies, and related subjects. Social Sciences Abstracts includes abstracts from January 1994 and indexes from February 1983.

 

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Browse the Gill Library INTERNET RESOURCES page under GERONTOLOGY:

Go to:  Selected Internet Resources - Gerontology

There you will find links to various sites and organizations relating to the field of Grief and Bereavement.  For example:

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

National Institute on Aging

 

Other possible sites to visit include:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

 

Want to search the Web independently? The best strategy is to make use of a Search Engine, but remember to thoroughly evaluate your results before accepting the information you retrieve.

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LISTSERVs:

A LISTSERV® is a commercial mailing list management system that allows you to subscribe to or create, manage, and control an electronic mailing list. Mailing Lists are email-based discussion groups. Each member that is subscribed to a particular mailing list receives a copy of every message sent to that list via E-mail. 

LISTSERVs can be a valuable resource for a researcher as long as one keeps in mind that messages are not necessarily posted by experts in the field.  Information obtained from LISTSERVs should be verified whenever possible.  If you need help subscribing, searching archives, or posting a question on a LISTSERV, please see a Reference Librarian.  Some examples of LISTSERVs relating to the field of death are:

A Sample Of Some Available Lists:

CAREGIVERSARMY@onelist.com

ElderLawFax

Alzheimer caregivers

For a more complete list visit Empowering Caregivers website.

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NEED MORE HELP?

Come to the Reference Desk during regular library hours for further assistance, or, feel free to ask a Librarian via E-mail at any time.  E-mail inquiries will be answered within 24 hours of being submitted.

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