Gerontological research aiming at practical work and planning

This is an attempt at an overview of research findings related to practical outcomes as well as of the main problems of the elderly, of the institutions providing services, of the staff working in the field, as far as they are highlighted by research findings. It seems necessary to at least analyse in short conditions under which research takes place and influences that effect research interests and outlooks. We try to systematize by dealing with general information on the elderly and on services and institutions and by picking out some fields of problem oriented research in selected fields of interest, such as social inequality or health services including nursing care. Emerging new research interests are expounded in short.