Older adults constitute the group with the greatest increase in Internet usage in the past decade; however, usage varies greatly within this population. Services to older adults require a current understanding of Internet-use trends. This study utilized a quantitative survey method to examine correlates of, and barriers to, current Internet use in a demographically diverse county in Southern California. Findings indicate that the presence of a computer at home, a job requiring computer use, age, education, and ethnicity are important factors in predicting Internet use in older adults. Implications for social work practice with older adults is discussed.

A county agency and a social work research class partnered to conduct a state-mandated needs assessment of older gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people (GLBT). A survey design with purposive sampling of GLBT people over 60 yielded 38 participants. Findings included that the Internet was a viable means to reach this population and student awareness increased. Areas of greatest unmet need were GLBT-oriented/friendly legal advice, social events, grief and loss counseling, social workers, and assisted living. Some participants perceived existing senior services as unfriendly or hostile to GLBT persons. Recommendations include continued use of service-learning research and expanded needs assessment efforts.

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The primary purpose of this article is to examine the relevance of cultural values, such as familism and individualism, that influence public policy implementation processes for protecting older adults in Korea and the United States. The secondary purpose is to identify ethical dilemmas and policy implications for effectively implementing the recently developed public law designed to protect vulnerable older adults in Korea. This article discusses both similarities and differences found in the two countries' elder abuse reporting systems and the service delivery systems for protecting older adults at risk of abuse and neglect.

A random sample of older persons who contacted the Central Intake Referral and Information Service (CIRIS) of the Houston Areawide Model Project for the Elderly responded to the Social Indicators Index for the Aged. The scores obtained from this instrument were analyzed with respect to ethnicity. Comparisons were made with data from an independent city-wide sample to which the same instrument was administered. When ethnicity was controlled, consistent differences emerged both between the two samples and within each sample. Significant differences found in the CIRIS sample on measures of income, health, and life satisfaction were combined with differences between the two samples to provide indications of cultural factors involved in utilization of services by the elderly. Our findings support other literature which has stressed the necessity of considering ethnic differences in developing theories on aging and in designing and delivering services to the aged--regardless of whether one is dealing with minority or majority individuals.

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Since their inception, social work education programs have operated in partnership with community agencies, as both field sites and foci for research. However, surprisingly little has been written on models of university/community partnerships in social work or the role of agencies in shaping curricula. This study analyzed the outcome reports of 67 Council on Social Work Education Geriatric Enrichment Projects (Gero Rich), funded by the Hartford Foundation, that sought to infuse geriatric content throughout the foundation curricula of B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs. Using both quantitative and qualitative analyses, the structures and functions of the programs' university/community partnerships were examined along with their association with the sustainability of curriculum change efforts. Findings suggest that these partnerships were a critical component in increasing and sustaining geriatric curricular content and were beneficial for faculty, students, and agencies.

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