SOC 100 Aging and the Elderly Chap 13

How do elderly widows and widowers react to death of their significant other?

Differently: elderly widows often do not remarry while elderly widowers do.

What is the basic idea behind disengagement theory?

As people age, they generally withdraw from all forms of society

When elderly people are considered elders and leaders of a group of people, they are functioning under a(n):

Gerontocracy

Which is a social issue that many elderly females discover they are victims of?

Having their medical ailments trivialized by doctors.

What is the dependency ratio?

It is the comparison of working people to non-working people.

Some conflict theorists ascribe to the idea that as time and technology move forward, elderly people are left behind and they lose social standing and power. Which specific theory does this describe?

Modernization theory

Sociologist have adopt the phrase, "the graying of the United States." What does this phrase mean?

The greatest part of the population is reaching the age of 65 and entering old age.

What causes some caretakers to abuse their elderly charges?

Depression

Which is an example of how someone can start proactively planning for their old age?

Pick out a nursing home that provides care foreseeable health needs.

Which three states allow some form of physician-assisted suicide?

Washington State, Oregon, and Montana