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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1976)
thursdsy, dccmbcr 2, 1978 2$my-iminees0Qks Yiiyih 1 dies imciion tj Scott Vtco-sb- The public has a myth that getting that getting ell is synooomous wi'Ji becoming decrepit, according to Don Lanibeit, a trainee ia the gerontology program at the Uni versity of Nabra&a at Omaha (UNO). Lakbert said people ars forced into retirement at 65, and tl-srcfore become iaoreasr! ill:. She sad she hoped people ia s3 areas tf education wO help destroy the old cgs myth. .-.. "Dcopls naturally associate eld people with nursing homes," Lambert ski, Tut actually only 5 per cent of people over 65 are ia institutions. The majority of cller people are living very comfortably ia their owa homes." David Peterson, director of the gerontology program at UNO, sail the Gerontology Dept. has expanded sd sfiaitis2y over the last four years. "Enrollment has continued to grow to the extent that we are reaching the point that we wi3 soon have all we Rela fa vely lower raxes, hign income cm handle" Peterson said. llzny new federal programs are being crested because cf tLs ixreassd uteres! ia gerontology, la said.' Livchxrnt to-s:4jJ The National Nutrition Pr6grra is one federal program that has boosted elderly iavohtrmrr.t, Peterson said. He said it provides a noon meal and social scnices for people who live at home, but who come together at various local institutions. - There are many jobs available ia the field, Peterson add. He said job openings, coupled with intellectual and elements oy mem ' rr 'rt f iP V1 r..M"" personal interests, are reasons tor increassa enrolment. "Eighty-five per cent of those students who specialize in use lieu, t eterson said. Residents of Nebraska enjoy a lower state and local tax levy, as well as a higher per capita income, thaa do the citizens of most neighboring states, according to a report ia the November issue of Btssstsss m Ndimka. . - Bimnsss m Nebmska is a monthly publication of UNL's Bureau cf Business Research. -The tax effort re port was written by Donald PurseH, director of the bur eau. PurseH describes the tax effort as being synonymous with tax levy, the amount of taxes paid annually. . PurseH wrote that Nebraska's 1973 state and local 1 taxes were $503 for every man, woman and chili in the state. This figure is $74 below the national average with 35 states having higher tax levies than Nebraska. Taxes, of course, are a relative matter," PurseS said. The income capacity of the state citizens to pay taxes also is important. Therefore, in order to put Nebraska's tax situation into perspective, it is necessary to compare Nebraskans : per capita state and local taxes, as well as per capita in come, 'With similar data from ether states." The report compares Nebraska's state and local tax effort with those of six surrounding states: South Dakota, Iowa, fvliskai, Kansas, Colorado, and Vyoming. Those states have economic and demographic bases similar to Nebraska's. - The 1973 state and local tax efforts for Nebraska and the six surrounding states are as follows: Nebraska, $503 (5); South Dakota, $496 (6); Iowa, $530 (3); KSssouri, $492 (7); Kansas, $517 (4); Colorado, $543 (1); and Wyoming, $534 (2). According to this data; Nebraska ranks fifth of the seven states. Purse! said there hasbeen little change ia the dates' ranking over the past 20 years. -.-.' In other words, Nebraska's relative tax effort was lower than all of the surrounding states, with the excep tion of Missouri and South Dakota," PurseH said. The bureau director also analyzed Nebraska's tax effort in terms of available income. Data provided ia the report shows that Nebraskans have $10.44 of income per every tax dollar levied by state and focal governments. This compares with $959 in South Dakota, $10j03 ia Iowa, $10.14 ia lissouri, $10.20 in Kansas, V.4d in uoiorado, ana yuo in wyo- mms c This means that isi 1973 Nehrssksm mid less state and local taxes on a relative income bass thaa any of the sur rounding six states. The year 1973 as good in terms of income for many agriculture states. From a national perspective, there has been very little change in Nebraska tax effort compared to the 50 state average. State and local taxes increased 341 per cent in the VS. between 1957 and 1973, 349 per cent ia Nebraska. 3 A ia cerontolosy wu take iods of them will stay ia ths Lliilsnis, but there arc openings ia other areas of the couEtry." The program has reckved $375,000 ia Areas of Excell ence mosey from the Legidaiurc, and $1.2 million in federal money, Peterson said. This has been our cumuktlve amount over four years," he said. "Oa expectations are that we wO receive $2 in federal grants for every $ 1 ia state grants." - Students ia gerontology cannot get a specific degree, but can obtain a minor. In order to specialize, they must be involved full-time for one semester. They are required to take a 12hour course ia addition to six hours of field work. i. -....' . C." - l?"3L " Peterson said most students who go .into gerontology wl major innutrition, sociology or psychology. There is enh one course offered at UNL, and it is offered through the Adult and Continuing Education Dspt. More than half of the students ia gerontology at NU are at UNO, according to Peterson..' ; ' . - Some students do their Hsld work sa institutions, Peterson ssM. He cited Tsbitha Iloms and MMossa Home in Lincola as "outstanding" institutions for field work. Donna Amedeo, education coordinator for Madonna Home, said she was interested ia ths fHd cf gerontology because It has been one that has besa long neglected." Amadeo concentrates her studies ia the area of rehab tation of aging persens. "We try to tell them that aging docs not happen over sight, and that it is a normal process," Amsdeo said. . Lambert also said 2 thinks gsroatobgy is a nsglscted fMd. Shs saM there havt been social $dziti3.s working ia Isdnrks for many years preparing people for retire mast, but most of them have not gone through geron tology, perse. - The goal is to have everybody at all ages knowledge able about themselves, so they donl drop out of society totally when they reach 65," Lambert ssld. 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