ATTITUDES ON SENIOR CITIZEN ISSUES

This is a questionnaire that should be filled out by senior citizens with living spouses or other relatives with whom they have contact OR individuals with at least one parent sixty years old or older. Overall, it should not take very long to complete; however, it will be very helpful if you complete each section as fully, clearly, and honestly as possible. Your time and effort is greatly appreciated.

Part I.  Basic Descriptive Information

This section requests basic descriptive information. Please answer each question either by “clicking” a choice or by typing the answer into the box provided.

1. What is your gender? Male Female

2.  What is your age in years? (We won’t tell.)

3.  With which ethnic (or cultural) group do you identify?

     If you specified "other" for your ethnic group, please specify your ethnic group:

4.  What is the highest level of education you have completed?

5.  What is your social class?

6.  What is your current marital status?

7.  With whom do you live?

     If you specified "other," please specify with whom you live:

8.  What are the ages and genders of any grown children?

9.  Are you parents living?

                       

    If so, please specify the ages of your parents: 

10.  Rate the current state of your physical health on the following scale, ranging from 1=very poor physical health to 6=excellent physical health:

Very poor   1  2  3  4  5  6   Excellent physical health

physical health                                                   

11.  Rate the current state of your mental health (e.g., freedom from depression and anxiety) on the following scale, ranging from 1=very poor mental health (e.g., considerable anxiety) to 6=excellent mental health:

Very poor 1  2  3  4  5  6   Excellent mental health

mental health        

12.  Do you drink alcohol?  Yes   No     If so, please describe your drinking patterns:

Part II.  Scenarios Measure

Please read each scenario and respond to the questions that follow.

Scenario 1:  Jane, a 72-year-old widow, has had difficulties in managing her finances since her husband, who had handled all the family finances, died. So she asked her son to manage her finances, and she took all of her money, about $150,000, out of her various bank accounts and placed it in an account in her son's name. He agreed to authorize payment whenever his mother wanted any of the money. After the money was entrusted to him, Jane's son sometimes refused to authorize payment for money his mother requested, stating that his mother's finances were dwindling and that her requests were a waste of money.

1.  How justifiable was the son's behavior in this scenario?

Totally   1  2  3  4  5  6  7       Totally Unjustifiable

Justifiable 

2.  How abusive do you feel the son's behavior was toward his mother?

Totally   1  2  3  4  5  6  7       Totally Abusive

Non-Abusive     

3.  How abusive do you feel Jane's behavior was toward her son?

Totally   1  2  3  4  5  6  7       Totally Abusive

Non-Abusive     

Scenario 2:  Mr. Lopez was a successful businessman who didn’t retire until his seventies. He managed all of his own financial affairs until he was nearly 80, but then began having problems because of some forgetfulness and confusion. His son offered to take over the responsibilities of paying the bills and managing Mr. Lopez’s retirement income. At first, Mr. Lopez was very reluctant to give up any control of his own financial affairs, but for several years now his son has managed to maintain an adequate income for Mr. Lopez and keep the bills paid. Sometimes Mr. Lopez becomes angry because he thinks his son is too conservative about money, but he forgets his anger quickly and counts on his son to take care of him.

1.  Is it desirable for Mr. Lopez’s son to offer to help his father?

Totally Yes       1  2  3  4  5  6  7       Totally No

2.  Is Mr. Lopez’s original resistance to his son’s offer of help understandable?

Totally Yes      1  2  3  4  5  6  7       Totally No

3.  Is it appropriate and reasonable for Mr. Lopez to get angry at his son for being too conservative with his money?

Totally Yes      1  2  3  4  5  6  7       Totally No

4.  Is it appropriate and reasonable for Mr. Lopez to count on his son to take care of him?

Totally Yes      1  2  3  4  5  6  7       Totally No

Part III.  Senior Experiences Measure

As individuals get older, they sometimes find that they need help from family members in managing their finances; in this case, they may find offers of assistance both necessary and helpful. Other older people receive offers of help in dealing with money or possessions when they do not want this assistance. Still others are pressured for money or possessions from their relatives and find this situation stressful or even feel exploited. We are interested in your experiences, both good and bad, concerning the management of money or possessions. Think of which of your relatives best fits that description. For instance, think of who in your family is most likely to offer assistance when you need it, and who is likely either to ask you for money, or to do things with your money or possessions without your permission, or to pressure you for control over some of your financial decision-making. Please answer the following questions in regards to the particular relative who would be most likely to show that behavior.

Indicate whether the particular family member displayed each of the following behaviors by “clicking” beside every behavior that the family member has actually displayed. Indicate how often each behavior occurred by rating on a scale of 1 to 6 (1=never, 2=once, 3=on several occasions, 4=sometimes, 5=often, 6=very frequently).

  Asked you if you needed help managing your money or your estate. How often?

  Made a decision regarding your finances and/or possessions behind your back (either without your knowledge or without your permission). How often?

“Sweet-talked” you for money and/or possessions. How often?

Called you a nasty or derogatory name or swore at you when you would not provide money or possessions or give over control of some of your money or possessions. How often?

Offered you money or property or assistance in managing your money or some of your possessions. How often?

Said things to scare you (e.g., told you something “bad” would happen, threatened to “put you in a home,” threatened pets, threatened to commit suicide, etc.) when you did not provide money or possessions or give over control of some of your money or possessions. How often?

Did what you asked in regard to a request you made concerning your money or some of your possessions. How often?

Gave you banking or investing advice, even though you didn’t ask. How often?

Repeatedly requested, nagged, or begged you for money and/or possessions. How often?

Provided help in paying bills or managing assets. How often?

Threatened to hit you or throw something at you when you did not provide money or possessions or give over control of some of your money or possessions. How often?

Pushed, grabbed, or shoved you when you did not provide money or possessions or give over control of some of your money or possessions. How often?

Gave you money or goods when you needed them, even though you didn’t ask. How often?

Part IV.  Characteristics of Family Members

A.  Like most people, you may sometimes be able to use some assistance from family members. At other times, you may find yourself at odds with a family member about financial issues. We’d like to know just a little bit more about the family member with whom you’re most likely to come in conflict about financial issues. Then there are some questions about the family member who is most likely to be helpful, in part B.

1. Is the family member with whom you are most likely to have conflict over financial issues a:

    If you selected "other family member," please specify whom:

2. What is the age and gender of that individual?   Gender: Male Female   

  Age:

3. What is that individual’s current occupation?

4. What is that individual’s primary source of financial support?

5. What is that individual’s highest level of education?

6. With whom does he/she live?

    If you selected "with other family members" or "other," please specify whom:

7. Does the individual have any medical or psychiatric problems? Yes   No     If so, please specify:

8. Does this individual ever abuse alcohol or drugs? Yes   No

      If so, please indicate what substance, when, and how often:

B.  Now we’d like to have you tell us a little about the characteristics of the family member who is most likely to be helpful to you when it comes to money and possessions.

1.  Is the family member who is most likely to be helpful with financial issues a:

     If you selected "other family member," please specify whom:

2.  What is the age and gender of that individual?   Gender: Male Female     Age:

3.  What is that individual’s current occupation?

4.  What is that individual’s primary source of financial support?

5.  What is that individual’s highest level of education?

6.  With whom does he/she live?

     If you selected "with other family members" or "other," please specify whom:

7.  Does the individual have any medical or psychiatric problems? Yes   No    If so, please specify:

8.  Does this individual ever abuse alcohol or drugs? Yes   No    

       If so, please indicate what substance, when, and how often:

How did you learn about this survey?

 

                

 Questions? Comments? E-mail us at: lifespan@bu.edu

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