UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 20, Page 10
February 17, 1994
John Cavanaugh co-chairs task force on aging

     As the percentage of older people is projected to increase from 12 to
20 percent of the total population by the year 2025, the graying of America
is one of the most important issues facing the country. Consequently,
behavioral science research focusing on aging is vital and essential to
society as a whole, according to John Cavanaugh, professor and chairperson
of the Department of Individual and Family Studies.
     Cavanaugh recently served as co-chairperson, with Denise C. Park of
the University of Georgia, of a national effort for aging that produced the
Vitality for Life document, as part of the Human Capital Initiative. The
overall initiative is a national task force representing approximately 70
psychological organizations and additional federal agencies, which has
called for research on our aging society, productivity in the workplace,
schooling and literacy, drug and alcohol abuse, health, and violence.
     The Vitality for Life project was launched in March 1993, when
representatives from 25 behavioral science agencies and organizations,
under the auspices of the American Psychological Association (APA)and the
American Psychological Society (APS), met to formulate a national research
agenda for studying older Americans.
     The outcome of the meeting was a document entitled Vitality for Life:
Psychological Research for Productive Aging, published by the Science
Directorate of APA and in a special December 1993 issue of the APS
Observer.
     The research areas targeted by the committee were health and behavior,
functioning of the oldest old, productivity of older workers and specific
issues in mental health and well-being.
     As Cavanaugh and Park wrote in the introduction to Vitality for Life,
"the United States has done little to address some of the most important
consequences of an aging population....not enough attention is being paid
to identifying ways to change behaviors that improve older adults' health
and reduce the cost of care....little has been done to understand
psychological functioning in very late adulthood in order to document
normal versus abnormal behaviors...virtually nothing has been done to
understand the needs of older workers or how to maintain their
productivity. Finally, the mental health needs of older adults also have
been neglected, in part because of a proclivity to view psycho pathology as
either part of the normal aging process or as medical disorders."
     The report addresses each research priority, by stating the problems,
highlighting what is known and what needs to be known. For example, when
discussing the oldest-old (those 80 and older), one problem is that
research on psychological functioning has been limited mostly to those
under the age of 80. Research has established psychological differences
mainly between young adults and older adults in the 60-80 age range.
Research is needed about the oldest-old "to determine how to optimize
functioning in late life, building on the skills and abilities that are
least changed with very advanced age." Other areas that should be explored
include why some of the oldest-old adapt to change and some do not, as well
as the impact of environment and genetic factors on aging.
     According to Cavanaugh, emphasis in many areas thus far has been on
medical research involving older Americans, but applied psychology can
provide practical help in improving life for this group.
     Cavanaugh, who has worked on a research project involving Alzheimer's
patients and their caregivers, pointed out that applied psychology and
non-medical interventions can be useful. For example, some Alzheimer's
patients have a tendency to wander--a problem for them and their
caregivers. By putting up a red octagonal sign on a door, the international
"Stop" sign, some patients will stop. Another simple maneuver is to tape a
grid on the floor, which will also stop some patients.
     Other non-medical treatments that do not involve drugs nor treatment
can improve the quality of life for older Americans, Cavanaugh said, such
as persuading them to exercise, to eat properly, to stay active cognitively
and to stop smoking. Research is needed to develop psychological strategies
to encourage healthy lifestyles. In addition, many older Americans suffer
from chronic diseases that can be helped by behavioral interventions,
Cavanaugh said.
     Not only has Cavanaugh carried out extensive research in the field and
published numerous articles in professional journals, he also is an active
advocate for the importance of funding for psychological research on aging.
In this capacity, he and fellow committee members have met with
congressional staff members, federal funding agencies and the director of
the National Institute on Aging.
     As Vitality for Life concludes, "It is only by investing in behavioral
research on aging that we will advance our understanding of many aspects of
aging and find solutions to behavioral problems faced by older adults in
their everyday lives."
     In addition to presentations at professional conferences, Cavanaugh
also frequently speaks to community groups about research on the aging
process that can improve the quality of their lives.
     A Delaware graduate with high honors in psychology, Cavanaugh received
his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Before
joining the faculty at his alma mater, he was professor of psychology of
Bowling Green State University.
                                                  -Sue Swyers Moncure