The lonely ones

This program focuses on the psychological and sociological aspects of gerontology. Dr. James E. Birren, with the National Institute of Mental Health, discusses how structure is created by a job, spouse, children, friends, and organizations, and when these influences are stripped away, one must initiate one's own meaningful activities to avoid idleness. He characterizes meaningful activity as something offering group approval, a degree of ritual or repetition, a semi-challenge, and a degree or range of uncertainty of outcome. He notes that geriatric research is growing; however, increasing life spans may increase interrelated problems in health, economics, social adjustment, and personal adjustment. Research has shown that usually poor health leads to retirement rather than the opposite, and those who continue working tend to feel better. Examples include George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Ida Fuller, the first person to draw social security.