This study reports on a population of Anglophone Canadian seasonal migrants to Florida. Surveys were mailed to 4,500 subscribers to Canada News, a Florida-based weekly paper, and were completed by 61% of the respondents. The descriptive profile reveals younger-old, healthy, married, home owners of moderate income who stay in Fionda for six months, but communicate regularly with their Canadian family. They utilize no social services in Florida, are satisfied with life and with their Florida health care experiences, but take various precautionary health care measures prior to leaving Canada. Their Florida visits will continue, moderated more by the exchange rate than health concerns. These data will be discussed relative to policy issues for Florida and Canada.

While aging is associated with increased health problems and disability, most seniors subjectively rate their health positively, and view aging as a positive period of life evaluation, increased wisdom and maturity. The somewhat paradoxical nature of these findings suggests that later life well-being is multidimensional and variable. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey, this paper describes the subjective well-being of a sample of Canadian seniors, using the Ryff multidimensional measure of well-being, and investigates the effects of various demographic, health and socio-economic conditions on reported levels of well-being. Seniors’ well-being is robust in terms of the dimension of autonomy, which is resilient to the physical and social circumstances of later life. But, as seniors age, they experience declines in their sense of purpose in life and opportunities for personal growth, in part, due to socio-economic factors. Good health and functional status are important for seniors’ sense of mastery over their surrounding world.

Three Canadian research studies which used similar sampling strategies are examined. Data on their survey experiences are presented so as to assist those planning research to do so more efficiently. The response and completion rates of the three studies were quite similar, suggesting that some predictions might be made for similarly-designed future studies. The findings may give heart to those wondering whether their response and refusal rates are adequate or embarassing. Detailed reporting of survey research sampling experiences and adoption of a uniform terminology is called for.

Social Models of aging deal with changes over the life course. Using a loose definition of model, this paper reviews models under the following classification: Allocation models; Construction of the Life Course models; Personality and Socialization models; and Negotiation models. Differences between and within these models are explored, with particular reference to the issue of determinism and the conceptualization of social structure. The life course perspective is recognized as hegemonic in contemporary theorizing about aging, but it is seen as itself embracing diverse models.

Cet article traite des problèmes vécus par les families dont un proche parent réside dans un hôpital de soins aigus et se trouvent en attente de placement dans un établissement de soins prolongés. Les données ont été recueillies dans un grand hôpital universitaire de Toronto. On a demandé à 84 aidants, membres de la famille et des proches du patient, de décrire les problèmes qu'ils ont vécus à la suite de son hospitalisation. Les problèmes énumérés étaient d'ordre personnel, familial et se trouvaient directement reliés à la situation du patient, à l'hôpital. Les problèmes ont été analysés en fonction du statut des aidants: conjoint(e), enfant ou simplement parent. Plus encore que les autres catégories d'aidants, les conjoint(e)s ont eu tendance à faire état de problèmes financiers ou encore du sentiment de ne pas se sentir écouté(e) par l'équipe de soin. Quant aux enfants ou aux autres parents, ils ont été portés, plus que les conjoint(e)s, à signaler des problèmes reliés à la famille élargie et aux situations conflictuelles nées de leurs multiples rôles et responsabilités.

Current scholarship in the sociology of age relations suffers from conceptual ambiguity and confusion in the area of age and generational relations. This paper recommends precise definition and use of the terms cohort, generation, age grade, age stratum, age group, and generation groups. Concrete or real definitional constructs are distinguished from nominal constructs and their advantages are described. The central thrust of the paper is a call for a return to the conceptualization of Mannheim about generations and a parallel conceptualization concerning age groups. The usefulness of this approach is discussed in terms of the political sociology of age relations.

This study descriptively compares two older Canadian seasonal migrant populations in Florida: anglophones and francophones. It is based on two surveys, an anglophone survey conducted in 1986 and a non-probability survey of francophones in 1988. This exploratory study suggests that there may be little variation in the demographic profiles, migration experience and behaviour, living arrangements and social networks between the two types of seasonal migrants. The differences that do emerge, however, are interesting. There were strikingly different settlement patterns in Florida, and the francophones were more youthful and had larger families, contributing to larger social support networks.