(sociology) chapter 13 Aging and the Elderly

Kübler-Ross' stages

-Denial -Anger -Bargaining -Depression -Acceptanc

secondary aging

Aging that occurs due to controllablefactors such as lack of physical exercise and poor diet is calle

Primary aging

Biological factors such as molecular and cellular changes are called

Activity Theory (Functionalist Perspective)

Elderly people need to find replacement roles for those they've lost, is addressed anew activity levels and social involvement are key to this process, and key to happiness

Social security

Response to age inequalities Designed to provide economic security for the aged and poor. Focuses on providing social insurance rather than social assistance.(welfare assistance). Includes monthly payments one receives after retiring unemployment insurance, aid to dependent children, and state grants to provide medical care.

Disparagement Theory (Functionalist Perspective)

Suggests that withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of growing old 1) because everyone expects to die one day, and because we experience physical and mental decline as we approach death, it is natural to withdraw from individuals and society 2) as the elderly withdraw, they receive less reinforcement to conform to social norms. Therefore, this withdrawal allows a greater freedom from the pressure to conform. 3)s ocial withdrawal is gendered, it is experienced differently by men and women. Because men focus on work and women focus on marriage and family, when they withdraw they will be unhappy and directionless until they adopt a role to replace their accustomed role that is compatible with the disengaged state

gerontocracy,

a type of social structure wherein the power is held by a society's oldest members.

Hospice

a type of health care that treats terminally ill people when "cure-oriented treatments" are no longer an option

Filial piety

deference and respect to one's parents and ancestors in all things

Subculture of aging theory (Symbolic Interactionism)

focuses on the shared community created by the elderly when they are excluded (due to age), voluntarily or involuntarily, from participating in other groups. This theory suggests that elders will disengage from society and develop new patterns of interaction with peers who share common backgrounds and interests.

Selective optimization with compensation theory (Symbolic Interactionism)

idea that successful personal development throughout the life course and subsequent mastery of the challenges associated with everyday life are based on the components of selection, optimization, and compensation. in the field of gerontology, researchers focus attention on balancing the losses associated with aging with the gains stemming from the same.

Gerontology

is a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older

Ageism

is discrimination (when someone acts on a prejudice) based on age

age stratification theory (Conflict Perspective)

members of society might be stratified by age, just as they are stratified by race, class, and gender. Because age serves as a basis of social control, different age groups will have varying access to social resources such as political and economic power

Super-centenarians

people living to 110 years or more.

Centenarians

people living to be 100 years old,

senescence

refers to the aging process, including biological, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual changes.

Modernization theory (Conflict Perspective)

suggests that the primary cause of the elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization. As societies modernize, the status of elders decreases, and they are increasingly likely to experience social exclusion.

Life expectancy

the average number of years a person born today may expect to live

Baby boomers

the cohort born between 1946 and 1964 and just now reaching age 6

Dependency ratio:

the number of productive working citizens to non-productive (young, disabled, elderly)

Physician-assisted suicide

the voluntary or physician-assisted use of lethal medication provided by a medical doctor to end one's life

exchange theory (Conflict Perspective)

we experience an increased dependence as we age and must increasingly submit to the will of others because we have fewer ways of compelling others to submit to us.

Thanatology

The systematic study of death and dying

Cohort

is a group of people who share a statistical or demographic trait. People belonging to the same age cohort were born in the same time frame

life course

is the period from birth to death, including a sequence of predictable life events such as physical maturation

Elder abuse

occurs when a caretaker intentionally deprives an older person of care or harms the person in his or her charge. Caregivers may be family members, relatives, friends, health professionals, or employees of senior housing or nursing care. The elderly may be subject to many different types of abuse.

Social gerontology

refers to a specialized field of gerontology that examines the social (and sociological) aspects of aging

continuity theory (Functionalist Perspective)

the elderly make specific choices to maintain consistency in internal (personality structure, beliefs) and external structures (relationships), remaining active and involved throughout their elder years. This is an attempt to maintain social equilibrium and stability by making future decisions on the basis of already developed social roles

gerotranscendence (Symbolic Interactionism)

the idea that as people age, they transcend the limited views of life they held in earlier times.