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Publication Date - 12/3/1999

27. American Association of Retired Persons Andrus Foundation - Aging Research Grants Program

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Andrus Foundation announces opportunities for funding in aging research. The focus of the research is the impact of aging and financial security as well as living with chronic health conditions.

Aging and Financial Security. Financial security is an issue with inter-generational implications. Issues of autonomy and independence are directly related to maintaining an adequate standard of living while being able to access needed health and social services. The Foundation hopes to advance knowledge in this area through grants to study the impact of legislation on savings patterns, psychosocial factors which determine an individual's propensity to save, the range and influence of employer efforts to educate employees about private savings options.

Proposals are invited in the following specific areas of interest:

Future Directions in Private Savings

• the effect of recent legislation which alters the law concerning private pension options;
• efforts to educate employees about savings opportunities, including cross-industry comparisons;
• how the growth in part-time work and the contingent workforce (such as contractors, consultants, and temporary workers) affects savings for retirements;
• issues of portability for pensions among older adults;
• psychosocial factors affecting savings decisions.

The Economic Impact of Chronic Health Conditions

• the economic impact on both the individual suffering from a chronic health condition, particularly with more than one, and family members who provide care and support;
• studies which emphasize differing responses to economic hardships encountered by family care givers of various minority groups.

Approximately 10 two-year grants of $75,000 will be awarded.

Living with Chronic Health Conditions. The Foundation seeks to identify how to measure the impact of chronic diseases and maintain independence among older adults with multiple chronic health conditions.

Proposals are invited in specific areas of interest:

New Ways to Assess the Impact of Chronic Diseases

• development of quantitative approaches to better identify the effect of having one or more chronic health conditions on the functional capabilities of older adults;
• development of tools or measurements that can be used to identify risk factors for functional decline or disability.

Maximizing Adaptation to Chronic Health Conditions

• examine how physical, mental, social, and environmental factors help maintain the independence of older adults with multiple chronic health conditions or place them at risk for developing dependency;
• define what it means to "age successfully" for those with multiple chronic health conditions;
• how older people develop and refine psychosocial coping skills that improve their ability to adapt to having one or more chronic health conditions;
• how chronically ill older adults maintain reciprocal relations with others in their social world;
• how conditions such as depression, pain, and sleep disorders affect the quality of life among older people with multiple chronic conditions and how to reduce the risks of increased vulnerability.

Approximately 10 two-year grants of $100,000 will be awarded.

A Letter of Intent to Apply is due at the AARP Andrus Foundation on or before JANUARY 15, 2000. Proposals will be invited.

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