OLDER PEOPLE: THE EFFECT OF HEALTH ON THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

This exploratory study, funded by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, investigated the factors influencing the social interactions of older people. The study was based on interviews with one hundred people aged 65 years and over to determine their past activities, present pursuits and the activities, if any, in which they would like to be involved. This article, the first of two, concentrates on the way in which the study was conducted and examines the results relating to the effect of health on the social interactions of older people.     

OLDER PEOPLE: THE EFFECT OF ACTIVITIES ON THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

This exploratory study, funded by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, investigated the factors affecting the social interactions of older people. The study was based on interviews with one hundred people aged 65 years and over to determine their past activities, present pursuits and the activities, if any, in which they would like to be involved. This article, the second of two, examines the results relating to the activities and social interactions of older people.     

THE EFFECT OF AGEING ON REMEMBERING TO REMEMBER: AN INVESTIGATION OF SIMULATED MEDICATION REGIMENS

Remembering to remember, prospective memory, was investigated by simulation of medication regimen. Subjects were 80 adult volunteers in five age groups: 20s, 40s, 60s, 70s and 80 plus years. Subjects were asked to push a button at prescribed times on a small box containing an electronic device that recorded the date and time of each push. They were required to push the button at the same times over two periods of seven days; once-a-day for one week and four-times-a-day for the other week. There was a significant effect for age, with the older adults more often on time and when late they were closer to the set times than the younger adults. However, the typical age-related decline was found on a retrospective task.