Aging and the Life Course Chapter 1 Social Gerontology

Chapter Outline

• field of gerontology

• conceptual issues in research on aging

• ageism

• profile of older Americans

• careers in social gerontology

Gerontology

• gerontology: scientific study of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging; term coined by immunologist Elie Metchnikoff in 1904

• social gerontology: subfield that focuses on social aspects of aging, such as family relationships, health, retirement, widowhood, and care of the frail elderly

Successful Aging

• factors that promote successful aging

  • prevention of disease/disability

  • attainment of peak physical/psychological functioning

  • participation in rewarding/productive activities

  • social resources

• shifting from a negative approach surrounding aging

• components of successful aging

  • setting goals and making plans

  • participating in meaningful activities

  • staying actively engaged with life

Old Age Defined

• chronological age: commonly used marker for age; poor indicator since people can feel younger or older than their chronological age due to various factors such as health, lifestyle, and social engagement; problematic since it brings together people of widely varying generations into a single category

  • in U.S., 65 is marker for old age

  • young-old: 65-74

  • middle-old: 75-84

  • oldest-old: 85+

• social roles: based on different social roles that people play, such as being a grandparent or a retiree

• functional age: based on how people look and what they can do; measured by normal physical changes and potentially appearance; categories based on functional capacities

  • well elderly

  • somewhat impaired elderly

  • frail elderly

• subjective age: influenced by social class and gender; variability exists; activity level and health important factors

Cohort and Generation

• cohort: aggregate of individuals who experience the same event within the same time interval, i.e. college freshmen

• cohort aging: continuous advancement of a cohort from one age category to another over the lifespan

• generation: sometimes used interchangeably with cohort; studies of family processes; kinship linkages

• cohorts based on historical eras; important ways that lives were shaped via life choices, political preferences, and values

  • silent generation: 1928-1945; lost opportunities for education/employment

  • baby boomers: 1946-1964; several social movements

  • generation x: 1965-1980

  • millennials: 1981-1996; highly educated and racially diverse

  • generation z: 1997-2017; constantly connected through social media and on-demand entertainment

• cohort compositional differences vary in racial/gender/ethnic composition; vary based on demographic factors like family size/structure

Ageism

• ageism: set of beliefs about the aged

  • prejudice: negative stereotypes

  • discrimination: acting upon negative stereotypes; people being denied opportunities

• age discrimination: occurs when people act on basis of negative stereotypes and ageist beliefs; i.e. elderly received different standards of care from doctors or older workers are not given as many opportunities for advancement

• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA): employers may not fire, demote, or reduce salaries of older workers without good cause

• in the media, few characters are old, and when they are, they are often depicted negatively

• education can reduce ageism/negative stereotypes by informing people about the actual condition of aging; leads to more positive attitudes and less ageism

Myths about Age

• most retirees are lonely and depressed

  • most retirees are busy, active, and satisfied with their lives

• most older people are poor

  • more than 88% of people 65+ have incomes above the poverty level

• older people are isolated from family members

  • vast majority of older people have regular contact with family and see at least one child per week

• most older people are disabled

  • older men and women spend more than 80% of their lives free of disability

• people become more mellow as they grow old

  • personality is stable and does not tend to change with age

• nearly a third of people 65+ are in nursing homes

  • fewer than 5% of people 65+ are in nursing homes

• older people are politically powerful

  • politicians do take senior citizens into account, but this is usually in regard to whether or not to cut Social Security benefits

• in the past, older parents commonly lived with their children and grandchildren

  • in the U.S., it has never been common for three generations to live together

• welfare is for the poor

  • Social Security and Medicare account for more than half of all federal social welfare expenditures

Health of Older Americans

• only about 1% of those age 65-74 are in nursing homes

• people age 80+ have poorer health; 71% have at least one disability and 30% need assistance with daily activities; 13% of those 85+ reside in nursing homes

Racial and Ethnic Composition of Older Generations

• less diverse than younger people

• in 2016, 23% of those 65+ were ethnic minorities

Marital Status of Older People

• Administration on Community Living (2018) states that women are much less likely to be married, women are much more likely to be widowed, rates of divorce/separation are similar, and likelihood of never being married is similar

• women live longer on average

• widowed men seven times more likely to remarry than widowed women

Income and Poverty of Older People

• in 1965, nearly one third of those 65+ had incomes below poverty level

• economic conditions for older people have improved significantly and poverty rates have declined

• older women are more likely to be poor than older men

Education

• each succeeding generation has been better educated

Careers in Social Gerontology

• older population creates numerous demands on society

• gerontological specialists: provide aging services

  • direct care to frail elderly in a variety of settings

  • counseling to older people and families

  • advice about estate planning and investments

  • development/implementation/evaluation of programs for older people

  • oversee operations of agencies/organizations that serve elderly

  • assess and address needs of older people

  • encourage govt and private sector to be responsive to needs of older people

  • continuously educated/trained on new developments

  • conduct research on issues

• gerontologists: concerned with physical, mental, and social aspects of aging and several chronic conditions

• geriatricians: concerned with medical care and rehabilitation

• financial planning for baby boomers

• geriatric social work

• services for chronic illnesses

• information technology

• travel/hospitality