FAD3343 Ch. 1

Describe *late adulthood* (65+). What are *primary* & *secondary* aging?

(*R*eally *A*wesome *C*ats *P*urr *S*oftly.) • Late adulthood is a time characterized by reflecting on the past, accepting one's life as lived, accepting one's mortality, and making amends with those they have wronged. • Most adults report that they are in "good health", despite struggling with chronic health issues, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, & arthritis. • *Primary aging* is the biological aging that we all experience over time; it is something we cannot change. • *Secondary aging* is the aging that is caused by bad habits; we can control this through our lifestyle.

Describe *middle adulthood* (40-65).

(Remember: *R*eally *G*iant *R*ainstorms, *G*o *A*way *P*lease.) • Middle adulthood is a time characterized by review and reflection as individuals approach the midpoint of their lives. - They may be concerned about being "generative" & leaving a legacy. - They become less focused on career & more focused on relationships. • There is a *gender crossover* during middle adulthood; the things that are important to individuals become less feminine & masculine and more gender neutral. • Most people are generally healthy, but individuals begin to show signs of physical aging, as well as preliminary signs of chronic issues (e.g. heart disease, diabetes). • The leading cause of death is *cancer*.

What is *geriatrics*?

*Geriatrics* is concerned with preventing & managing later-in-life illnesses.

What is *gerontology*?

*Gerontology* is the multidisciplinary study of the human aging process from maturity to old age, and the study of the older adult as a special population.

What is *senescence*?

*Senescence* is age-related loss of function.

What are the two periods that Fischer divided U.S. history into? What does Fischer suggest about the future of age relationships?

1. *1600-1800*: an era of growing *gerontophilia*. Old age was exalted & venerated. 2. *1800-present*: an era of growing *gerontophobia*. Americans glorify youth, and older people are victims of negative attitudes & poor social arrangements. ✭ Fischer suggests that we may eventually enter another period of age relationships that will create better conditions for older adults.

Which three lenses do gerontologists view aging through?

1. *Biological perspective* • Examines the effects of diet & exercise (lifestyle effects) on longevity. • Examines the field of genetics. • Genes only influence 1/4 of longevity. The rest is up to lifestyle & social environment. 2. *Social perspective* • Examines the *structure of society*; in other words, its norms & values and their influence on how a person perceives & reacts to aging. • Focuses on *groups of individuals* - rather than individuals - and the cultural context in which they age. ✭ Context is huge; a society that gives its older population a higher status has more positive outcomes for its aging population, & a society that gives the aged a lower status has more negative outcomes. 3. *Psychological perspective* • Focuses on the individual • Examines the aging mind - how perception, motor skills, memory, & emotions change over time. • Also examines motivation, adaptability, & self-efficacy.

Which characteristics of modernization contributed to lower status for adults?

1. Health technology (prolonged adult life) 2. Scientific technology (created jobs that don't depend on skills or knowledge accumulated) 3. Education (targeted toward young people)

What are 3 social implications of an aging population?

1. More families will be made up of 4 generations. 2. More children will grow up with the support of older relatives. 3. More people in their 60s will be called on to care for their 80-90 year old parents.

Which state has the highest proportion of older adults 65+?

Florida has the highest proportion of older adults 65+.

What is *ageism*?

• *Ageism* is the prejudiced behavior against older adults, based on negative stereotypes.

What is *aging*? How do we usually think of aging?

• *Aging* refers to the progressive changes during the adult years. • We usually think of aging as what happens to you when you're older; however, aging is a lifelong process.

What are the four different types of aging?

• *Chronological aging* - The number of years since birth. • *Biological aging* - The changes reducing the efficiency of organ systems. • *Social aging* - Social roles, relationships, & the social context in which we age. • *Psychological aging* - Memory, learning, adaptive capacity, personality, & mental functioning.

What is *Detroit syndrome*?

• *Detroit syndrome* describes older adults in terms of the obsolescence of old cars. When a new car with GPS & self-parking features is released, you see it as a better version than your used car. This is how society has come to view older adults. When younger, faster, stronger workers with newly acquired knowledge are available, employers tend to replace (rather than retrain) older workers. *As a result, older people are often devalued & discounted*.

Describe *emerging adulthood* & *young adulthood* (20-40).

• *Emerging adulthood* is a subset of time during young adulthood. This takes place around 18, but focuses on the early 20s. It can last until 25-30, depending on the individual. - Emerging adulthood is seen in Western societies rather than developing societies; we have more resources and more time to focus on ourselves. (Remember: *P*lease *C*ome *I*n *A*nd *P*lay.) • Young adulthood is a time characterized by personal growth & development. It involves finding a job/career, and creating intimate relationships (finding a life partner). • The leading cause of death in young adulthood is accidents, as opposed to chronic health issues. • Most people are generally healthy, but may have poor health habits (e.g. drinking, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, lack of sleep).

What is *modernization theory*?

• *Modernization theory* suggests that the industrial revolution was key to the decline in the status of older adults. • When physical strength & energy began to decline, older workers were less able to contribute to the economy. They either died on the job or were retired from work. • *The role of older people shifted from participant in an exchange of resources to one of dependence on a younger generation*.

What are the two kinds of aging proposed by Alex Comfort?

• *Physical aging* (aging caused by natural biological processes) • *Sociogenic aging* (aging imposed by the folklore, stereotypes, & prejudices about older adults in our society)

What do *population pyramids* depict? How do they illustrate an aging population?

• *Population pyramids* show the effects of a population's age & gender composition on the structure of a nation's population. • Lower birth rates & lower death rates (indicating fewer young people & more older people) reshapes the pyramid into a box.

What are *historical cohorts*?

• A *historical cohort* is a population of people who were around the same age during a major historical event, and share the effects on their opportunities, challenges, & development.

How many years should a child born in 2011 expect to live?

• A child born in 2011 can expect to live to be *78.7*; this is 30 years longer than a child born in the 1900s.

How are S.S. & Medicare payments apt to change with the aging population?

• A larger amount of older adults requires more S.S. & Medicare payments, which means higher taxes for taxpayers.

What did Fischer believe shifted the status of older adults?

• According to Fischer, change throughout the 1800s altered the system of age relationships in a negative way. - The most fundamental change took place in political ideology. The principles in the Declaration (e.g. equality for all) eradicated the hierarchy of age. - The U.S. became more industrialized. This led to diminished parental control over family, wealth, & possessions. - As such, old age became a burden to those who lived it & a social problem to those who analyzed it.

What is *environmental press*?

• Eventually, the individual's ability to adapt to the environment becomes insufficient. When the *environmental press* (e.g. cooking, cleaning, bathing) becomes too great for the individual to manage alone, the family, community, or state must provide resources.

Where do gerontologists apply their specialty? What is happening to gerontology as a business?

• Gerontologists apply their speciality in medicine, dentistry, economics, social work, mental health, religion, education, & recreation. • Gerontology is becoming a booming business. With the aging population continuing to grow, there is a pressing need for individuals in these jobs.

What was the status of older adults related to pre-industrialization? What was the cultural norm? How did this change with industrialization?

• Historically, the status of older adults was related to property ownership. • The cultural norm was that older adults were cared for in their later years in exchange for the inheritance of property by their children. • However, with industrialization, farming & property ownership became less central to a family's wellbeing. Therefore, the status of older adults declined.

How does Western culture view adults?

• In Western culture, we don't value older adults like other cultures do. • Western cultures believes that *work* & *financial success* establish individual worth. When an individual is no longer productive or up-to-date on social, technological, & industrial change, we no longer see them as useful to society.

What did Fischer believe about the status of older adults in the early colonial days?

• In colonial times, old age was associated with power & prestige. The elderly were venerated by society & selected for the most important positions in the community. • Older adults were believed to be in favor with God; their long life was an outward sign that they would be "called" to heaven. • The elders owned & controlled their own land, which they did not pass to their sons until they died. Therefore, sons had financial reason to show respect for their fathers.

How do we stabilize the population? What is the *near-zero population birthrate* in America, and what is the actual birthrate? How does this compare to the global birthrate?

• In order to stabilize the population, we need to keep live births equal to deaths. This is called a *near-zero population birthrate*. • In America, the near-zero population birthrate is *2.1*. However, one year ago, the U.S. had a birthrate of *1.8*. • The global birthrate is slightly higher, which shows that America is an aging nation.

When did life expectancy in the U.S. begin increasing? Why did it begin increasing?

• Life expectancy in the U.S. has increased throughout the 19th-20th centuries & continues to do so. • A dramatic increase in life expectancy occurred in the 1920s as a result of *reduced infant mortality*, *health care advances*, & *improved nutrition*.

How is the fear of aging expressed? What might it lead to?

• Men & women want to keep their age a secret. • They hope that their appearance denies their age. • They suffer a "crisis" at 30 & repeat it every decade thereafter. • They may use humor (e.g. greeting cards) to deal with their fear. ✭ *The fear of aging can damage psychologically wellbeing & lead us to shun older people*.

Which experiences are more likely to be had by older adults than young adults?

• Older adults may experience some issues more so than the younger population: retirement, widowhood, chronic health problems, & the death of loved ones. • *When these things happen at a younger age, they are considered unusual. When they happen in old age, they are treated normatively*.

What are some other aspects of ageism?

• Other aspects of ageism are inequality in income, education, & occupation. - New generations receive an education attuned to a highly technical society, and are therefore better qualified for jobs. - Income inequality is caused by (1) younger groups haven more extensive education & (2) employment discrimination.

How does social change contribute to ageism?

• Rapid social change may cause our vales to be different from our parents' & grandparents'. • Unfortunately, communicating & understanding across generations is made difficult when values are different.

Which region has the largest number of counties with higher than average proportions of people 65+? Which region has the smallest number of counties?

• The *Midwest* has the largest number of counties with higher than average proportions of people 65+; the *West* has the lowest number of counties.

What is the *age-dependency ratio*? What is our current age-dependency ratio?

• The *age-dependency ratio* is the number of people 65+ relative to the working population. If the number of people 65+ grows faster than the working population, the cost to the taxpayer for providing for the aged population rises. • Today, the percentage of older adults relative to the working population has increased. Therefore, they are fewer employed adults to support older, retired adults.

What is the *critical perspective*? What is *cumulative damage*?

• The *critical perspective* in gerontology draws attention to inequalities in U.S. society, addressing broad & fundamental social structures (e.g. class system, economic system, race/gender issues, age-related roles) • This approach addresses *cumulative damages*, the negative effects of inequality on wealth, status, & opportunity over the lifetime. Gerontologists use this approach to understand aging in a broad sense.

What is the *person-environment approach*? What is the *reciprocity of change*?

• The *person-environment approach* views the environment as a continually changing context to which individuals adapt, as they also adjust to age-related changes. • The model deals with the *reciprocity of change*: the context changes so the individual must change; the individual's changes then impact the context; and the context further changes the individual.

What is the *survival curve*? What is the *rectangularization of the survival curve*?

• The *survival curve* shows the extension of the lifespan between 1900-2000. • As a birth cohort ages, a certain number of people die along the way. However, less people died at young ages between 1900-2000. This is called the *rectangularization of the survival curve*.

How are cultural values in the U.S. currently changing?

• The U.S. might be presently undergoing a shift in cultural values toward greater status for older people. • Social status in America is related to health, wealth, & education - and older people today are better off in these categories than were previous generations.

What is *gerontophobia*? Why does the U.S. suffer from gerontophobia? How do some people view the increasing number of older adults?

• The U.S. suffers from *gerontophobia*, the fear of aging, or the fear or hatred of older adults. • We clearly identify as a youth-oriented nation, and respect for the old is not embedded. • In fact, some people view the increasing number of older adults as a burden on society, referring to the economic burden of providing care for unemployed older adults.

How does age influence the interpretation of major historical events?

• The age of a person during a major historical event profoundly influences the meaning they attribute to that event. • For example, children, adolescents, & young adults all experienced 9/11 differently.

Which experiences of the aging population are similar to the experiences of the younger population?

• The aging population experiences some of the issues that the younger population experiences: mental health disorders, divorce (the divorce rates in the older population are increasing), & poverty/financial hardships.

When did birthrate in the U.S. begin declining? What are the implications for the population?

• The birth rate has been declining since the 18th century, with a temporary increase during the baby boom. • When the birthrate declines, the number of young people decreases in proportion to the number of old people.

How is our "youth culture" in the U.S. changing?

• The large number of older persons may be eroding the youth culture in the U.S. • As the baby boomers make demands on the market, our culture will modify to accommodate an older population.

What are the projections for the growth of the aging population?

• The largest jump in the 65+ population will occur between *2010-2030*, when the *baby boom generation* reaches 65. • By *2030*, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will be 65+.

What is *selection for survival*?

• The longer a person has lived, the greater is that person's statistical life expectancy. • This is due to *selection for survival*, wherein the members of a population are selected for survival based on their resistance to common causes of death.

How is the population of older adults in the U.S. changing?

• The population of older adults 65+ has greatly exceeded the growth of the population as a whole. • The oldest-old are the most rapidly growing age group.

Why is the term "older people" flawed?

• The term "older people" may refer to people from their 50s to their 90s. However, several *age cohorts* exist within the elder population. For example, there is an enormous difference between a cohort of 65-year-olds & 85-year-olds, although these are both "older people"

How does gerontology include the study of *spirituality*, *philosophy*?

• Theories suggest that the central task of later adulthood is to gain a deeper understanding of our life & our approaching death.

What is *cultural competence*?

• Those who work with the elderly must develop *cultural competence*, the ability to respect the styles, attitudes, behaviors, & beliefs of individuals, families, & staff. • They must recognize that individuals & groups experience aging differently based on race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, gender, religion, occupational status, relationship status, presence of children, personality, & health.

What were the "social issues" of older adults in the 17th & 18th centuries? Who was responsible for their care? How were they viewed?

• Until the 1900's, only the illnesses related to old age (not actually being old) were seen as problems. • During the 17th & 18th centuries, the issues of old age were the responsibility of *families*. • Generally, grandparents were respected. This is due to the scarce amount of elders in society, the belief that they were in favor with God, & their control of property.

What is global aging? Which regions have the most rapidly growing aging population? What can global aging be attributed to?

• We are a part of a worldwide revolution called global aging; there is a huge population of older adults emerging. • East & Southeast Asia have the most rapidly growing aging populations. • Global aging can be attributed to the modernization of medicine, thus leading to an *increased life expectancy* & a *declining birthrate*.

What were the "social issues" of older adults during the 1930s-1940s (post-industrialization)? Who was responsible for their care? How were they viewed?

• With industrialization, issues related to old age were reconceptualized. • By 1930-1940, decreasing birthrates & increasing longevity formed an identifiable category of "older" people. This group's physical & social problems called for collective action (e.g. decent income at retirement). As a result, the issues of old age became the responsibility of both families *&* society. • Unfortunately, this caused society to view older adults as helpless & dependent.

Who is the young-old, old-old, and oldest-old?

• Young-old: 65-74 • Old-old: 75-84 • Oldest-old: 85+