Robert L. Rubinstein
Office address:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMBC: University of Maryland Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
Telephone: 410 455 2059
Fax: 410 455 1154
E-mail: rrubinst@umbc.edu
Title: Professor
Previous experience:
Previous positions: Polisher Research Institute, Philadelphia Geriatric Center,
Philadelphia, PA: Director of Research (1/93-8/97); Associate Directors of Research
(9/91-12/92); Assistant Director of Research (1989-1991); Senior Research Scientist
(1981-1997).
Research:
Lifestyles and generativity of childless older women. Funded by NIA. R. Rubinstein, PI
(1/1/08-12/31/12)
Lifestyles and generativity of childless older Russian women. Funded by NIA. R.
Rubinstein, PI (9/1/10-8/31/12)
Autonomy in assisted living. Funded by NIA. R. Rubinstein, PI. 8/1/10-7/31/14
Control in later life. Funded by NIA. R. Rubinstein, PI, 9/30/09-8/31/11
Family changes upon the death of a family’s elderly father/spouse. Funded by NIA. R.
Rubinstein, PI. 7/1/09-6/30/12
Stigma in long-term care. Funded by NIA. RL Rubinstein, Co-PI, 7/1/07-6/31/11
The meaning of food in long-term care. Funded by NIA. R.L. Rubinstein, PI, M. Moss,
Co-I; 2003-2008
The experience of suffering in later life. Funded by NIA. R. L. Rubinstein, PI, H. Black
and S. Cotton, Co-Is. 2003-2008
Transitions from assisted living: Cultural perspectives. Funded by NIA. J. K. Eckert, PI,
R. L. Rubinstein, L. Morgan and S. Zimmerman, Co-Is. 2001-2006
Native theories of suffering: At the locus of aging, health and spirituality. Funded by the
Fetzer Foundation. R. L. Rubinstein, PI, H. Black, Co-I; 1998-2002
Bereavment in long term care. Funded by NIA. R. Rubinstein, PI, M. Moss, Co-I; 19962004. MERIT award recipient
A study of the DOROT program. Funded by the Samuels Foundation. R. Rubinstein, PI,
A. Glicksman, Co-I; 1997-1998
Alzheimer’s disease terminal care in the nursing home. Funded by the Alzheimer’s
Association. R. L. Rubinstein, PI, M. Moss, Co-I. 1997-1999
Chronic poverty and the self in later life. Funded by NIA. R. L. Rubinstein, PI; 1994-1998
Grandaughters’ involvement in filial caregiving. Funded by NIA. S. Litvin, PI, R.
Rubinstein, Co-I; 1994-1997
Sons’ and daughters’ perspectives on the death of an elderly parent. Funded by NIA. R.
L. Rubinstein, PI, M. Moss, Co-I. 1993-1996
Minority supplement to Sons’ and daughters’ perspectives on the death of an elderly
parent. Funded by NIA. 1994-1996
Caregiving from the care receiver’s perspective. Funded by NIA. R. L. Rubinstein, PI, S.
Albert and S. Litvin, Co-Is; 1992-1995
Behavioral disturbances and social communication in the nursing home. Funded by the
Alzheimer’s Association. R. L. Rubinstein, PI, M. DeVoe, Co-I; 1992-1994
Lifestyles and generativity of childless older men. R. L. Rubinstein, PI, M. Goodman, CoI; 1991-1994
The middle aged child’s experience of parental death. Supported by NIA. R. L.
Rubinstein, PI, M. Moss, Co-I; 1991-1994
Lifestyles and generativity of childless older women. Supported by NIA. R. L. Rubinstein,
PI. 1988-1992
The personal surrounds of frail elders living alone: An empirical inquiry. Supported by
the Commonwealth Fund. R. L. Rubinstein, PI; 1989-1990
Aging in place: Older persons’ assessments of neighborhood resources. Supported by
the Retirement Research Foundation. R. L. Rubinstein, PI; 1989-1991
The caregiving career. Supported by NIMH. M. P. Lawton, PI, R. Rubinstein,
Ethnographer; 1988-1993
Ethnicity and life reorganization by elderly widowers. Funded by NIA. R. L. Rubinstein,
PI; 1985-1988
The meaning and function of home for the elderly. Funded by NIA. R. L. Rubinstein, PI;
1982-1985
Senile dementia patients: Mental health of caregivers. Funded by NIMH. M. P. Lawton,
PI, R. L. Rubinstein, Ethnographer; 1985-1988
Old age and the aging process of Malo Island, Vanuatu. Funded by NSF. R. L.
Rubinstein, PI, 1983
Older men living alone. Funded by the F. and A. Schimper Foundation. M. P. Lawton, PI,
R. L. Rubinstein, Ethnographer; 1981-1982
Field research, Malo Island, Vanuatu. Funded by NSF. R. L. Rubinstein, PI; 1975-1976.
Academic degrees:
September 1974 - May 1978, Department of Anthropology, Bryn Mawr College. Degree
awarded: PhD
September 1972 – May 1974, Department of Anthropology, Bryn Mawr College. Degree
awarded: MA
September 1968 – June 1972, Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve
University. Degree awarded: BA, Magna cum laude
Publications:
Singular paths: Old men living along. R. L. Rubinstein. 1986 [Paperback, 1988].
Columbia University Press
Anthropology and aging: Comprehensive reviews. R. L. Rubinstein, editor. 1990. Kluwer
Elders living alone: Frailty and the perception of choice R. L. Rubinstein, J. Kilbride, S.
Nagy. 1992. Aldine de Gruyter
Depression in long term and residential care. R. L. Rubinstein and M. P. Lawton, editors.
1997. Springer
Old souls: Older women, poverty and the experience of God. H. Black and R. L.
Rubinstein. 2000. Aldine de Gruyter
Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders: Strategies in care and research. M. P.
Lawton and R. L. Rubinstein, editors. 2000. Springer
The many dimensions of aging: Essays in honor of M. Powell Lawton. R. L. Rubinstein,
M. Moss and M. Kleban, editors. 2000. Springer
Book manuscripts in progress:
Bereavement in long-term care. Partially completed manuscript.
Journal articles:
Toward a comprehensive perspective on filial response to aging populations (R. L.
Rubinstein and P. T. Johnsen. Journal of Tthird World Societies, 22: 115-171, 1984.
The construction of a “day” by elderly widowers. The International Journal of Aging
and Human Development, 23: 161-173, 1986.
What is the “social integration of the elderly” in small-scale society. Journal of CrossCultural Gerontology, 1: 391-410, 1986.
The never-married as a social type: Re-evaluating some images. The Gerontologist,
27: 108-113, 1987.
The significance of personal objects to older people. Journal of Aging Studies, 1: 225238, 1987. [Reprinted in Aging, Self and Community, edited by J. Gubrium and K.
Charmaz. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 1992.
Childless elderly: Theoretical perspectives and practical concerns. The Journal of
Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 2: 1-14, 1987.
The changing context of card playing on Malo, Vanuatu. Oceania, 58: 47-58, 1987.
Themes in the meaning of caregiving. Journal of Aging Studies, 3: 119-138, 1989.
The home environments of older people: A description of psychosocial processes
linking person to place. The Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 46: S45-S53,
1989.
The environmental representation of personal themes by older people. Journal of
Aging Studies, 4: 131-148, 1990
Key relationships of never married, childless older women: A cultural analysis. (R. L.
Rubinstein, B. Alexander, M. Goodman, M. Luborsky). Journal of Gerontology: Social
Sciences, 46: S271-S278, 1991.
Cultural differences among elderly women in coping with the death of an adult child.
(M. Goodman, R. Rubinstein, B. Alexander, M. Luborsky). Journal of Gerontology: Social
Sciences, 46: S-321-S329, 1991.
Generativity in cultural context: The self, death and immortality as experienced by
older American women. (B. Alexander, R. Rubinstein, M. Goodman, M. Luborsky).
Ageing and Society, 11: 417-442, 1991.
Anthropological methods in gerontological research: Entering the world of meaning.
Journal of Aging Studies, 6: 57-66, 1992.
A path not taken: A cultural analysis of regrets and childlessness in the lives of older
women. (B. Alexander, R. Rubinstein, M. Goodman, M. Luborsky). The Gerontologist,
32: 618-626, 1992.
Impact of an elderly mother’s death on middle aged daughters. (M. S. Moss, S. Z.
Moss, R. Rubinstein, N. Resch). International journal of aging and human development,
37: 1-23, 1992-1993.
Social isolation and social support. (R. Rubinstein, J. Lubben and J. Mintser). The
journal of applied gerontology, 13: 58-72, 1994.
The social context of grief amoing older adults who have lost a parent. (J. Klapper, S.
Moss, M. Moss, R. Rubinstein). Journal of aging studies, 8: 29-43, 1994.
Culture, caregiving and the frail elderly on Malo, Vanuatu. Journal of Cross-Cultural
Gerontology, 9: 355-368, 1994.
Narratives of elder parental death: A structural and cultural analysis. Medical
anthropology quarterly, 9: 257-276, 1995.
Sampling in qualitative research: Rationale, issues and methods. (M. Luborsky, R. L.
Rubinstein). Invited article for Research on Aging, 17: 89-113, 1995.
The engagement of life history and life review among the aged: A research case
study. Journal of aging studies, 9: 187-203, 1995.
Book review essay: Review of Old age in Global Perspective (Albert and Cattell); Old
age: Constructions and Deconstructions; and Encounters with Aging (Lock). American
anthropologist, 97: 785-788, 1995.
Paternal bereavement among older men. (M. Goodman, H. Black, R. Rubinstein).
Omega: The journal of death and dying, 33: 303-322, 1996.
Parenting in later life: Adaptive illusion in elderly mothers with one child. (M.
Goodman, R. L. Rubinstein). Journal of aging studies, 10: 295-311, 1996.
Middle aged sons’ reactions to a father’s death. (S. Z. Moss, R. L. Rubinstein, M. S.
Moss). Omega: The journal of death and dying, 34: 259-277, 1997.
Childlessness, legacy and generativity. Generations, 20: 58-60, 1997.
Narratives of three elderly African-American women living in poverty who have lost an
adult child to “Horrendous Death”. (H. Black, R. L. Rubinstein). Omega: The journal of
death and dying, 38:143-161, 1998-1999.
Older men’s health: Sociocultual and ecological perspectives. (J. K. Eckert, R. L.
Rubinstein). Clinics of North America, 83 (5): 1151-1172. September, 1999.
Terminal care for nursing home residents with dementia. (M.S. Moss, H.
Braunschweig, R. L. Rubinstein). Alzheimer’s care quarterly, 3: 233-246, 2002.
Long term care planning as a cultural system. P. San Antonio and R. Rubinstein.
Journal of Aging and Social Policy. 2004
The metaphor of family in staff communication about dying and death. M. Moss, S.
Moss, R. Rubinstein and H. Black. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 58B, 2003,
S290-S296 .
Themes of suffering in later life. H. Black, R. Rubinstein, Journal of Gerontology:
Social Sciences, 2004, S17-S24
Direct care workers’ response to dying and death in a nursing home. H. Black, R.
Rubinstein, Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 2005, S3-S10
Frail men's perspectives on food and eating. Moss, SZ, Moss, MS, Kilbride, JE, &
Rubinstein, RL. (2007). Journal of Aging Studies, 21, 314-324.
Conceptualizations of dying by an elderly man. Helen Black, Kimberly DeMichele and
Robert L. Rubinstein (2007) Journal of Palliative Care, 23: 87-92
Frail men's perspectives on food and eating. Moss, SZ, Moss, MS, Kilbride, JE, &
Rubinstein, RL. (2007). Journal of Aging Studies, 21, 314-324.
The effect of suffering on generativity: Accounts of elderly African-American men.
Helen Black and Robert L. Rubinstein (2008). Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences
An Ethnographic Study of Stigma and Ageism in Residential Care/Assisted Living.
Debra Dobbs, J. Kevin Eckert, Bob Rubinstein, et al. (2009) The Gerontologist
Robert L. Rubinstein, Helen Black, Patrick Doyle, Miriam S. Moss and Sidney Z.
Moss. Faith and end of life in nursing homes, In press, Journal of Aging Research, 2011
Black, Helen K., Miriam S. Moss, Sidney Z. Moss and Robert L. Rubinstein, The end
of life a family narrative, In press, Journal of aging research, 2011
Robert L. Rubinstein. Constructing a world: The nursing home as a site for dying and
death, (under submission)
Robert L. Rubinstein, Helen Black, and Amanda Peeples. Sources of meaning in a
religiously-affiliated nursing home, (under submission)
Robert L. Rubinstein. Feminist perspectives on aging-as-biology, (under submission)
Helen K. Black and Robert L. Rubinstein. Family solidarity as a Zen concept, (under
submission)
Helen K. Black, Robert L. Rubinstein, Miriam S. Moss and Sidney Z. Moss. Parental
Bereavement: The pragmatics of a belief system in meaning making after death, (under
submission).
Erin G. Roth, Lynn Keimig, Robert L. Rubinstein, Leslie Morgan, J. Kevin Eckert,
Susan Goldman and Amanda Peeples, Baby Boomers in an Active Adult Retirement
Community: Comity Interrupted. Submitted to The Gerontologist
Lynn Keimig, Erin G. Roth, Robert L. Rubinstein, Leslie Morgan, Kevin Eckert and
Susan Goldman, Active Adult Retirement Communities and their Potential for Aging in
Place. Submitted to The Gerontologist
Book chapters:
Pleiplei long Malo: Bifo mo tede. In R. Brunton, JD Lynch and D. Tryon, Man, lanwis,
mo kastom long Niu Hebrodis. Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1978.
Siblings in Malo culture. In M. Marshall, Siblingship in Oceania: Studies in the
meaning of kin relations. ASAO Monograph 8. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press,
1981.
Knowledge and political process in Malo. In M. Allen, ed., Vanuatu: Politics,
economics and ritual in island Melanesia. New York: Academic Press, 1981.
Old men living alone: Social networks and informal support. In WH Quinn and GA
Hughston, eds., Independent aging: Family and social system. Rockville: Aspen, 1984.
Older people living alone and their social supports. In G. Maddox and MP Lawton,
eds., Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics. New York: Springer.
Women as widows in Malo, Vanuatu. In HZ Lopata, ed., Widows: Other countries,
other places. Durham: Duke University Press, 1987.
Stories told: In-depth interviewing and the structure of its insights. In GD Rowles and
S. Reinharz, eds., Qualitative gerontology. New York: Springer, 1988.
Ethnicity and lifetimes: Self-concepts and situational contexts of ethnic identity in late
life (M. Luborsky and R. Rubinstein). In DE Gelfand and C Barresi, eds., Ethnic
dimensions of aging.
Temporailty and affect: the personal meaning of well-being. In LE Thomas, ed.,
Research on adulthood and aging: The human sciences approach. Albany: SUNY
Press, 1989.
Ethnic differences in older widowers’ reactions to bereavement. (R. Rubinstein and
M. Luborsky). In J. Sokolovsky, ed., Aging, culture and society. Brooklyn: Bergin and
Garvey. Revised for new edition, 1998.
Culture and disorder in the home care experience: The home as ‘sickroom’. In J.
Gubrium and A. Sankar, eds., The home care experience: Ethnography and policy.
Beverly Hills: Sage, 1990.
Nature, culture, gender, age: A critical review. In R. Rubinstein, ed., Anthropology
and aging: comprehensive reviews. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1990.
Introduction. In R. Rubinstein, ed., Anthropology and aging: comprehensive reviews.
Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1990.
Seven sections of M. Schweitser, ed., Anthropology and aging: A partially annotated
bibliography. Westport: Greenwood, 1991.
Place attachment among the elderly (R. Rubinstein and P. Parmelee). In I. Altman
and S. Low, eds., Place attachment: New York: Plenum.
How to find meaning in patient interaction. In J. Rothman and R. Levine, eds.,
Prevention practice: Strategies for physical therapy and occupational therapy. Orlando:
W.B. Saunders, 1992.
Generational justice in cross-cultural perspective. In L. Cohen, ed., Justice across
generations: What does it mean? Washington DC: AARP, 1993.
Proposal writing. In J. Gubrium and A. Sankar, eds., Qualitative methods in aging
research. Beverly Hills: Sage, 1994.
Retirement adaptation among single, never married, divorced, widowed and gay and
lesbian persons. In A. Monk, ed., The Columbia handbook of retirement. New York:
Columbia University Press, 1994.
Generativity as pragmatic spirituality. In LE Thomas and S. Eisenhandler, eds., Aging
and the religious dimension. Westport: Greenwood, 1994.
Jewish ethnicity and aging: Community and diversity. In Z. Harel, D. Biegel and D.
Guttman, eds., The Jewish aged: Diversity, programs, and services, 1995
Introduction: The aging process and prevention. In P. McArdle, L. Quatrano and S.
Rawlings, eds., Social and psychological aspects of aging in the Caribbean. Washington
DC: Pan American Health Organization.
Special community settings (Board and care homes and assisted living). In Z. Harel
and R. Dunkle, eds., Matching people with services in long-term care. New York:
Springer, 1995.
Is aging more problematic for women than for men? The NO position. In A. E.
Scharlach and L. Kaye, eds., Controversial issues in aging. Boston; Allyn and Bacon,
1996.
Introduction. In R. Rubinstein and MP Lawton, eds., Depression in nursing homes
and residential care. New York: Springer, 1997.
Quality of life – quality of death in long-term care (R. Rubinstein and M. Moss).
Quality of life in long-term care. Baltimore: HCFA, 1997.
Introduction. In LE Thomas and S. Eisenhandler, eds., Religion, belief and spirituality
in later life. New York: Springer, 1998.
The phenomenology of housing for the elderly. In PG Windley and R Scheidt, eds.,
Environment and aging theory: A focus on housing. Westport: Greenwood, 1998.
Resident satisfaction, quality of life, and the “lived experience”: as domains to be
assessed in long-term care. In J. Cohen-Mansfield, FK Ejaz and P. Werner, eds.,
Consumer satisfaction in the nursing home.
The ethnography of the end of life: the nursing home and other residential settings. In
MP Lawton, ed., The annual review of gerontology and geriatrics. New York: Springer,
2000.
The life review, reminiscence and meaning contexts of the Third Age. In RS Weiss
and S. Bass, eds., A meaningful age. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
The qualitative interview with the older informant. Some key questions. In GD Rowles
and N. Schoenberg, eds. Qualitative aging research. New York: Springer, 2002.
Reminiscence, personal meaning, themes and “object relations” of older people. In J.
Webster, ed., New York: Springer, 2002
The self, environment and aging. R. Rubinstein and K. de Medeiros. Annual Review
of Gerontology and Geriatrics. H. W. Wahl, ed. New York: Springer. 2003
Home, self, identity. R. Rubinstein and K. Demedeiros. In . G. Rowles and H.
Chaudhury, eds. Coming home: International perspectives on place, time and identity in
old age. New York: Springer. 2004
Culture and aging skin. Robert L. Rubinstein and Sarah L. Canham. In Nava Dyan,
ed., Aging skin. New York: Andrews. 2008
Home environments of older people. Robert L. Rubinstein, Kate de Medeiros and
Patrick Doyle. In G. Rowles, ed., Environments and aging. New York: Springer. In press,
2011.
Manuscripts:
Reconstructing end-of-life for the oldest old in an assisted living facility: Multiple
voices (J.E. Kilbride and R.L. Rubinstein)
Metaphors we die by: Underlying constructs about death and dying in American
nursing homes. (R. L. Rubinstein, H. Black, S.Z. Moss and M.S. Moss)
Family as protector and voice for the assisted living resident with dementia:
Transition and end-of-life concerns. (J. E. Kilbride, R. L. Rubinstein)
A model of autonomy in residential care and assisted living: A press-competence
approach. (R. L. Rubinstein, J. K. Eckert)
The successful aging paradigm: A critique. (K. de Medeiros, R. L. Rubinstein)
Edited journal issues:
Guest editor, special issue of the Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, on Childless
Elders, January, 1987.
Professional organizations:
Association for Anthropology and Gerontology, Corresponding secretary, 1985-86;
President elect, 1987; President, 1988. Executive board, 1989. Active 2006Qualitative interest group, GSA, Co-convener, 1986-1990; member 2006Scientific consultant, Task force on research, DHHS, 1993-1995.
Research reviews:
Human development and aging study section, NIH, 1989-1995 and 1998
Risk prevention and behavior-4, NIH, 1998-2003
Social science, nursing, epidemiology and methods, NIH, 1998-2002
Community influences on health behavior, NIH, 2002-2006
NIH Program on Illness and Stigma, 2003, Reviewer
Nursing science and aging study section, NIH, 2005-2008
Editorial boards:
Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology, 1989-1994
Journal of Aging Studies, 1989-1998
Journal of Gerontology, Social Sciences, 1990-1994, 2001-2005
Journal of Applied Gerontology, 1995-2003
Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 2007- 2010