Lesson 10 - Families and Aging Robert Wonser

2 Gerontology Gerontology is the scientific study of the processes and phenomena of aging and growing old.

3 Estimated Percentage of U.S. Population that will be Elderly 65+, and Non-elderly,

4 The Life Course  Life course is an ideal sequence of events and positions the average person is expected to experience as he/she matures and moves through life.

5 Stages of the Family Life Cycle (FLC) 1.Single young adults leave home 2.The new couple joins their families through marriage or living together 3.Families with young children 4.Families with adolescents 5.Launching children and moving on 6.Families in later life

6 Marital Happiness Over the FLC The U-Curve

7 Ageism  Ageism is the prejudice and discrimination against a person based on his/her chronological age.

8 Parents who are too involved 88FfOaLB8 hide and seek Raymond 0:58

9 United States General Fertility Rates (GFR), Crude Birth Rates (CBR) from 1909 to 2005 with Generation Markers for Baby Boomers; and Generations X, and Y  The red line represents the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) which is the number of births per 1,000 population in a given year.  The Blue line represents the General Fertility Rate (GFR) which is the number of live births per 1,000 women aged

10 Life Expectancy  Life expectancy is the average numbers of years a person born today may expect to live.

11 Global Life Expectancy

12 Parents Disapprove of Partner  Most common reasons:  Don’t like the person  Person has problems  Different from parent’s family  Age difference  Married before  Hurried relationship

13 In-Laws  ¼ of couples have good relationship  Can be significant source of stress throughout marriage  More at first  Usually partner is critical of parents  How to behave when your mother-in-law is over How to behave when your mother-in-law is over

14 Living with Parents or In-Laws  Common due to adult kids’ financial need  Young age at marriage increases chance of living with parents  Less positive if unemployed or just divorced  Stress caused by sharing living space  ↓ time together for the parents

15 Interdependence between Generations  Interdependence the norm  Cooperation  Resources flow ↓  Adult children support parents because:  Ties of affection ♀ (provide more care)  Sense of responsibility ♂

16 Intergenerational Connection Types  Tight-knit (25%)  Sociable (25%)  Obligatory (16%)  Intimate but distant (16%)  Detached (17%)

17 Elder Care  US Census  %=65+  %  %  “Sandwich generation”

18 Adult Siblings Robert and Raymond fighting 0:36

19 Adult Sibling Relationships Longest term relationship Longest term relationship Sibling rivalry diminishes as people mature Sibling rivalry diminishes as people mature Siblings help each other in crises Siblings help each other in crises

20 What Grandparents can do for Grandchildren Help them feel loved and secure Give them a sense of history Provide experiences that parents don’t have time/money for Provide a role model for aging and respect of the aged

21 What Grandchildren can do for Grandparents Immortality Self-esteem Vicarious accomplishment Social contact Physical assistance

22 Problems with grandparents From the perspective of the child Not the grandchild Spoil the children Different standards of childrearing Preach and give unsolicited advice Too possessive Resentment over the relationship between grandparent and grandchild Undermine the parents authority

23 Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren  being the primary parent  Parent(s) not at all or mildly involved  “baby-sit” the grandchildren while the parent(s) at work/school  Reasons  Problems  No standard  Personal satisfaction

24  What theory would you apply to grandparents raising grandchildren?

25 Would you rather die quickly like in a car accident or over time from a disease?

26  Why might you need a will?  Everyone needs to specify  Final remains  Advance directive for end of life care  Why would you need a Durable Power of Attorney (financial)? Wills, Etc.