Through the process of group dynamics, many of today's elderly have found solutions to problems by participating in groups. The field of group work with the elderly, much like the aging population itself, has grown dramatically in recent years. It is used extensively as a service modality in a wide variety of community and institutional settings serving older persons and their families. This book provides a needed resource to the interdisciplinary literature on group work for use by professional researchers, practitioners, educators, family members, and older persons themselves, seeking to take control of this life stage.

The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to provide social workers, counselors, group facilitators, activity directors, researchers, and other mental health professionals with a compilation of state-of-the-art references found in the group work literature. The literature spans over a period of 25 years from 1970-1996 and identifies 451 resources.

This broadly-based guide to recent work in the field encompasses references in gerontology, criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, and allied disciplines. Containing over 360 thoroughly annotated citations, it provides access to current knowledge of both the victimization of the elderly and their participation in crime. It presents a careful assessment of each resource, including objectives and major conclusions. a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and practitioners. Highly recommended. Choice Since 1970 the dramatic rise in crimes affecting the elderly has led to a substantial amount of research. This broadly based guide to recent work in the field encompasses references in gerontology, criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, and allied disciplines. Containing over 360 thoroughly annotated citations, it provides access to current knowledge of both the victimization of the elderly and their participation in crime. The bibliography is arranged by subject categories. Chapters devoted to crimes against the elderly focus on criminal justice issues, criminal victimization of the elderly, the fear of crime on the part of the elderly, the abuse and neglect of the elderly, crime prevention, and victim assistance. Chapters dealing with the elderly as criminals present resources on criminal patterns among the elderly, causes of criminal behavior, aging prisoners, rehabilitative programs, and policy and criminal justice issues. Citations include books and chapters, journal articles, conference proceedings and papers, research reports, congressional hearings, unpublished studies, crime prevention models, training programs, and listings of agencies and organizations concerned with crime and the elderly. Presenting a careful assessment of each resource, including objectives and major conclusions, this bibliography will be an important tool for human services and criminal justice professionals as well as researchers, teachers, students, and attorneys working in this challenging field.

The number of women in United States prisons has increased dramatically since the 1980s, and has in proportion outpaced that of men's incarceration. Despite these numbers, incarcerated women, and women lifers specifically, represent a relatively small percentage of the overall correctional and lifer populations. As such, women lifers are easy to overlook, discount, and diminish as such a small group. Many women lifers perceive themselves as a forgotten group; most often those whom we "lock up" and "throw away the key". They feel excluded from prison programming within and from their own families outside. They feel stigmatized by staff and other women in prison. Aging fast, many have real fears about declining health and losing family members over lengthy stretches of time. However, women lifers are some of the most resilient and strongest women who survive life in prison with the support of each other and religious faith, often transforming themselves in the process of doing time. While most of the women had extensive histories of trauma, abuse, and mental health issues, few had prior experience as offenders. Despite the term "lifer", many of these women will be released from prison after serving long sentences. Beyond this basic profile, there is much more to learn and share about the lives of women lifers. Focusing on women's pathways into prison, the ways they cope with life behind bars, and their diverse reentry needs, Meredith Dye and Ronald Aday give voice to women lifers and place their experiences within the larger context of penal harm policies. The authors look at their physical and mental health, family connections, adjustment to prison, prison supports and activities, and experiences with abuse/trauma; while also looking at the growing public and policy concerns over mass incarceration in general. Women Lifers provides insight into the lives of incarcerated women before, during, and following a life sentence, especially the population of those serving life sentences. With the growing numbers of women lifers in the United States, the authors emphasize the importance for the public and policymakers to understand the unique circumstances that brought these women to prison, the policies that keep them there, and the major challenges they face in carving out a successful life in prison and beyond.