NOTE: MATERIAL AT END OF THIS FILE ON PRIOR YEAR PRESENTATIONS NOT POSTED TO WEB

Psyc 345. Possible topics for group projects or individual papers.

* = prior presentation on file.

- activities: senior citizen recreation.*

- addiction.*

- alcohol and substance abuse.*

- Alzheimer’s disease.*

- cross cultural views on the elderly.*

- death: advance directives, living wills, health proxies, etc.

- death: dealing with loss and death (bereavement; suicide; death of spouse; Alzheimer's)

- death: death of a spouse; child; elderly parents.

- death: physician assisted suicide; euthanasia; right to die.

- death: preparation for death; anticipating your own death

- depression (also loneliness; aloneness)

- discrimination against the elderly. (Biases and discrimination).*

- elder abuse.*

- family relationships: strengthening vs. deterioration.

- financial issues in aging.

- gender differences in aging.

- happiness and quality of life as they relate to aging.

- illness: specific diseases: Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; etc.

- living arrangements and housing for the elderly.

- living arrangements: nursing homes, other options.*

- media: images of elderly in the media, #1: advertisements.*

- media: images of elderly in the media, #2: TV and movies.*

- medical facilities and support.

- personality changes in the elderly.*

- physical changes in the elderly: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke.

- physiological bases of aging and physiological changes with aging.

- recreation for the elderly. See also Activities.

- relationships (guidelines for successful relationships; how relationships change with age; friends vs. family; parent-child relationships).*

- religion in the elderly. Do people turn to religion as they get older?

- retirement (early vs late; forced vs voluntary; and life satisfaction).

- services for the elderly. Panel of providers from agencies, etc.*

- sex and sexuality (changes in males vs. females; changes in sex drive; physical sexuality vs. emotional closeness; new medications and treatment).

- sex roles and how they change with aging.

- sex roles and how they change.

- stereotypes about aging. Examine: books; magazines; TV; movies; changes over time; cultural differences in attitudes and stereotypes.*

- stroke and it’s after-effects.

- suicide.

- wisdom: what is it, and how does it increase or decrease with aging.

Topics F99:

Section 01

A1 10/28/99 elder abuse

A2 11/2/99 mental, cognitive: Alzheimer's

A3 11/4/99 personality: depression; drug and alcohol abuse. Living arrangements; death of friends and spouse

A4 11/9/99 men vs. women in relationships.

A5 11/16/99 stereotypes of work and retirement in aging; media portrayal; emotional effects.

A6 11/18/99 change, stress, death and dying: hospice, tied in with wills, bereavements, euthanasia.

Section 02

B1 10/28/99 cultural and religious views on death. Two groups.

B2 11/2/99 cultural and religious views on death. Two groups.

B3 11/4/99 elderly abuse. (hospital neglect; in home abuse; stealing).

B4 11/9/99 sexuality and aging. Gay-lesbian issues. Decline in sex drive.

B5 11/16/99 living facilities and arrangements for the elderly.

B6 11/18/99 Alzheimer's.