International team looks at costs of aging. (General).

OTTAWA -- Getting at the real costs of aging and improving support services for seniors and their families is the aim of a project headed by Janet Fast of the University of Alberta.

The project brings together sociologists, gerontologists, social workers, human ecologists, and nursing researchers for Canada, the United States, Britain, the Netherlands and Australia to look at the issues from a number of perspectives.

"The responsibility for care has largely shifted toward individuals and families. When this happens, costs are also shifted--to caregivers, the elderly, even employers," said Fast. "For example, both caregivers and those they care for are more likely to develop anxiety and to suffer financially, whether through lost wages or out-of-pocket personal costs."

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada has provided $2.3 million in a project that will study:

* the emotional and financial burden placed on people who care for elderly relatives,

* the contributions seniors make to their communities.

According to industry minister Allan Rock, "This study will offer guidance on how to ensure the elderly receive the care they need--and the respect they deserve."

In particular, the team will study the contributions, such as practical knowledge and spiritual guidance, that older adults make to their communities. 613-992-7302