Explanatory frameworks in social gerontology often appear to represent variations on a theme. Regardless of subtype, linearity, ordinality, and universality are customarily assumed. This discussion advocates for an alternative model, an exploration of the utility of a new, transformative logic associated with chaos theory and related perspectives. As a metaphor, chaos theory can help gerontologists address contextualized change and non-linear dimensions of human aging processes.

The brain undergoes many changes in chemistry and structure during normal aging. For example, it dries and shrinks. Neurons are lost from some regions and there is also neuronal atrophy and loss of synaptic branching. The extent of such losses remains controversial for all but a few subcortical regions of the brain. Decreases in glucose metabolism and in some pre-and post-synaptic neurotransmitter indices have also been reported. Many systems, however, remain entirely unexplored. The evidence to date also indicates that there is great regional specificity in the effects, and that humans show considerable variability between individuals. Of interest is the fact that some of the changes most clearly demonstrated in normal aging - such as loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra and cholinergic neurons of the medial basal forebrain - also occur in a much accentuated form in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer disease. The small loss of these systems in normal aging may account for the shuffling gait, stooped posture and memory loss in the elderly. A phenomenon seen in neurodegenerative diseases, but not in normal aging, is the appearance of chronic inflammation in the brain. The suggestion that the progress of such diseases might be slowed by treatment with anti-inflammatory agents has, in the case of Alzheimer disease, gained some support from 19 epidemiological studies and one very small clinical trial. Clearly more detailed clinical trials are required, and caution must be used because of the undesirable side effects of currently available anti-inflammatory agents.

This paper examines the effect of cohort heterogeneity upon the potential needs for assistance in ADL and IADL of an aging population. Variables that are important predictors of the differentiating pattern of perceived needs in the older population are subject to on-going changes as a result of cohort differentiation and cohort succession in the older ages. For those reasons, a forecasting methodology involving three phases has been developed: an identification phase of the key explanatory variables, a demographic-projection phase of socio-demographic variables identified as key variables and a phase in which risk-factor probabilities are applied to the demographic-projection output to determine the overall impact of the population change. The use of logistic regression is shown as the best strategy to determine risk-factor probabilities. This method is applied to measure the assistance needed in ADL and IADL by disabled elderly persons in Québec. The results point to the need to consider changes in intra-cohort heterogeneity between new cohorts entering the older population and old ones leaving it.

Financial compensation for family members who provide informal care to elderly kin has frequently been discussed but rarely implemented in Canada. One exception is the Nova Scotia Home Life Support Program, which financially compensates family members for the care of the elderly. This study explores differences among caregivers who receive formal services, specifically, financial compensation or home help services. Financially compensated caregivers tend to be younger females who live in non-urban areas and co-reside with the care receiver. In comparison to caregivers who receive home help services, these paid caregivers report a reduction in financial worry but have greater involvement in the care of the elderly and higher levels of time dependence burden. Before implementing financial compensation policies, research which specifically investigates the effect of these programs on caregivers is needed.

Until recently, the health promotion movement has focussed primarily on individual responsibility for health behaviours rather than on broad social determinants of health. The movement has been targeted primarily at young rather than older persons, at men rather than women. There is an emerging call for a feminist approach to health promotion for aging women, an approach which would address the current gender, class, race, and age biases in health promotion practice, research, and policy. Feminist theories suggest that sexism limits women's health opportunities and subjects them to an array of situations including marginalization, powerlessness, and exploitation. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: to use a feminist analysis to critique health promotion, identifying gender, class, race, and age biases that influence older women's health, and to recommend changes in health promotion theory, research, practice, and education. Health promotion researchers, practitioners, and educators are challenged to work with older women to increase their visibility and empowerment, and to bring about a transformation of the society in which women age.

This research examined transportation problems of non-institutionalized elders with ambulatory difficulties. The purpose was to explore their responses to their needs, and their satisfaction levels. The sample is composed of 67 elderly persons divided into three levels of mobility (low, medium and severely-reduced), and three types of localities (large, rural and semi-rural). In general, transportation is supplied by family and friends. The need which receives the highest level of satisfaction is meals. For elders with medium and severe ambulatory difficulties recreational activities are absent and their satisfaction is low. Urban elders, as opposed to rural elders, are the most unsatisfied. Their insecurity and fear of going outside is one explanation for these results.

This case study examines the exposure risk of Quebec drivers aged 68 and over in five different difficult driving situations. 307 cases were identified based on driving performance (three or more accidents or traffic violations over a 3-year period) and paired on a 2:1 basis according to age, sex and area (urban/rural) with a random-selected control group (clean driving record). The response rate to this mail survey was 60 per cent. Assumptions were validated using the logistic regression method. Results show that as drivers get older, they gradually give up driving in risky situations; regardless of age, the number of drivers who stop driving in difficult conditions is proportionally higher in the control group. On the other hand, vulnerability would seem to increase with the exposure level. The analysis also shows that rural drivers are more vulnerable than urban drivers, regardless of exposure factors. Finally, the perception of health would seem to have little impact on the elderly drivers' performance.

Volunteering has become increasingly recognized as governments try to shrink the public purse, yet it is an area where little knowledge has been established. Using the National Survey on Volunteer Activity (1987) conducted in Canada, this paper examines types of and reasons for volunteering among Canadian seniors, compares these with types of and reasons given by younger adults, and examines the predictors of different types of reasons. The data reveal that seniors are less likely to volunteer out of self-interest but are more likely to volunteer for reasons of obligation and social value than is true of younger adults. Reason for volunteering, furthermore, is related to the type of volunteer activity in which individuals engage. Those volunteering out of obligation and for social value rather than self-interest (that is, seniors) are more likely to be involved in service provision. The reason for volunteering is also related to satisfaction with the experience.

This paper is about the television representation of aging and the ensuing social discourse. We analysed the content of 756 hours of television (3 weeks from 2 television networks: Société Radio-Canada and TVA in March 1992). We found that television discourse in different types of programs (information, talkshows, fiction, advertising) uses many strategies that deny the aging process and, in doing so, reassure the public about aging. Television also talks about the exclusion of the elderly in our society. But, at the same time, it must charm these potential consumers. Old people watching several hours of television daily know that they are excluded from society, except as consumers.