Chapter 12-Aging

Graying

indicate that an increasing proportion of a society’s population is over 65

Older adults

adults ages 65 and older

Population aging

the relatively faster growth of the older population compared to the younger population and the resulting shifts in the age distribution of the population toward older ages

Social gerontology

study of aging and older adults

Aging

the combination of biological, psychological, and social processes that affect people as they grow older

Alzheimer’s disease

a degenerative disease of the brain resulting in progressive loss of mental capacity

Social aging

the norms, values, and roles that are culturally associated with a particular chronological age

Disengagement theory

a functionalist theory of aging that holds that is is functional for society to remove people from their traditional roles when they become older adults, thereby freeing up those roles for others

Socioemotional selectivity theory

theory that adults maintain fewer relationships as they age, but that those relationships are of higher quality

Activity theory

a functionalist theory of aging that holds that busy, engaged people are more likely to lead fulfilling and productive lives

Continuity theory

older adults’ well-being is enhanced when their activities are consistent with their personality, preferences, and activities earlier in life

Conflict theories of aging

arguments that emphasize the ways in which the larger social structures helps to shape the opportunities available to older adults

Life course

the various transitions and stages people experience during their lives

young old

sociological term for persons age 65 to 74

old

sociological term for persons age 75 to 84

oldest old

sociological term for persons age 85 and older

Cohort

a group of individuals who were born during the same time period, and thus share a similar pattern of historical experiences from childhood to adult life

Social security

a federal program in the U.S. that provides retirement benefits and disability income to qualified people and their spouses, children, and survivors

Medicare

a program under the U.S. Social Security Administration that reimburses hospitals and physicians for medical care provided to qualifying people over 65 years old

Ageism

discrimination or prejudice against a person on the grounds of age

Old-age dependency ratio

the number of people ages 65 and older divided by the number of persons ages 18 to 64

AARP

U.S. advocacy group for people age 50 and over, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons