Ch. 13- The Elderly Aging is socially constructed Aging is socially constructed The Tiwi The Tiwi The Abkhasians The Abkhasians Attitudes towards the aged differ from one social group to another Attitudes towards the aged differ from one social group to another Gerontology- the study of aging and the elderly in this/other societies Gerontology- the study of aging and the elderly in this/other societies

Effects of Industrialization More people reach older ages More people reach older ages Social security taxes Social security taxes Life expectancy- the # of years one can expect to live (1900->1950->2000) Life expectancy- the # of years one can expect to live (1900->1950->2000) The Graying of America The Graying of America The increasing percentage of older people in the U.S. population (4%-> 13%) The increasing percentage of older people in the U.S. population (4%-> 13%)

Global perspective (life expectancy) Global perspective (life expectancy) Elderly populations differ by states Elderly populations differ by states Elderly populations differ by race-ethnicity Elderly populations differ by race-ethnicity Maximum length of life possible is LIFE SPAN Maximum length of life possible is LIFE SPAN

Symbolic interactionist perspective The label “old” The label “old” Factors that lead people to apply the “old” label to themselves Factors that lead people to apply the “old” label to themselves Biology- signs of aging Biology- signs of aging Personal history- biography Personal history- biography Gender age- the relative values of men’s and women’s ages in a particular culture Gender age- the relative values of men’s and women’s ages in a particular culture Timetables- signals to inform old age has begun Timetables- signals to inform old age has begun

Gerontocracy- society or group run by the elderly Gerontocracy- society or group run by the elderly Ageism- prejudice, discrimination, and hostility directed against people b/c of their age Ageism- prejudice, discrimination, and hostility directed against people b/c of their age Senior advantage? Senior advantage? Mass media Mass media Media influence our ideas of the elderly Media influence our ideas of the elderly

China: Changing sentiment about the elderly China: Changing sentiment about the elderly High status of elderly Chinese High status of elderly Chinese One child policy One child policy No national social security No national social security Support agreements Support agreements

Functionalist perspective Age cohorts significantly affect our lives Age cohorts significantly affect our lives Disengagement theory Disengagement theory Society prevents disruption by having the elderly disengage from their positions of responsibility so the younger generations can step into their shoes Society prevents disruption by having the elderly disengage from their positions of responsibility so the younger generations can step into their shoes

Activity theory Activity theory Satisfaction during old age is related to a persons amount and quality of activity Satisfaction during old age is related to a persons amount and quality of activity Continuity theory Continuity theory How people adjust to change by continuing some aspect of their lives How people adjust to change by continuing some aspect of their lives

Conflict perspective Competition, disequilibrium, and change applied to age groups Competition, disequilibrium, and change applied to age groups Social security legislation Social security legislation Intergenerational conflict Intergenerational conflict Social security Social security Shift in dependency ratio Shift in dependency ratio

Problems of dependency Isolation and gender Isolation and gender Nursing homes Nursing homes Only 4% of nation’s elderly in homes Only 4% of nation’s elderly in homes Residents typically 85+, memory loss Residents typically 85+, memory loss Expensive! Expensive! Elder abuse Elder abuse 40% of staff admit psychological abuse 40% of staff admit psychological abuse 10% admit physical abuse 10% admit physical abuse Most abusers are family members Most abusers are family members

The elderly poor The elderly poor Gender and poverty Gender and poverty Decline in poverty Decline in poverty Anti poverty programs Anti poverty programs Larger social security checks Larger social security checks

Sociology of death and dying Sociology of death and dying Culture shapes the way people experience death Culture shapes the way people experience death Industrialization and the new technology Industrialization and the new technology Death as a process- denial, anger, negotiation, depression, acceptance Death as a process- denial, anger, negotiation, depression, acceptance Hospices (home care) Hospices (home care) Suicide and age Suicide and age