¡@The results from a southwest Missouri study will be present at the Fourth Global Conference on Aging, set for September 1999 in Canada.

¡@Dr. Nina Chen, a University of Missouri Outreach and Extension human-development specialist in Carthage who conducted the study in 1998 and who will present her findings in Montreal, said 20 Ozarkers between ages 63 and 72 were subjects in the research. Half were widows and widowers, and the average age was 72.

¡@“T¡¨The purpose was to explore older people's life experiences, the meaning of aging,and the implications for social access and program planning concerning the elderly,¡¨Chen said.

¡@“T¡¨There were mixed feelings in the group. The majority didn't consider themselves old, and some didn't even like to hear the words aging' or old' because of negative feelings that being old is being sick. Others were comfortable about their present lives,in particular married people, and some felt being older means more experiences and more privileges. Spirituality also played a part in happiness.¡¨

¡@She said the study's findings can be a signal for researchers and educators to rethink the definition of aging.

¡@“F¡¨For example, how old is old¡¨ ? Also, more information and programs are needed to help people learn about aging and to build skills to copy with change, loss, grief and loneliness. Teaching different age groups about aging awareness is critical to deliver proper information and to provide support for the elderly,¡¨Chen said.

¡@Providing social access-such through senior centers and other activities - is ¡¨very important¡¨,”she said.