The elderly population of the United States is growing. While research on the normal elderly exists, little is known about the experiences of the troubled elderly. This category includes individuals who are physically or cognitively impaired. This research project will analyze the processes of becoming a troubled aged individual and the effect this has on these individuals, their families, and health professionals. In addition, the researcher will isolate those areas and assumptions where the cognitive models of aging of all three groups are incongruent. This research addresses a central problem in gerontology and medical anthropology and will have direct relevance toward identifying and solving the increasing problems in the US of caregiver burden, lack of compliance with health care recommendations and quality of life issues.
