1
Q
When was the term ageism coined?
A
1969
2
Q
Ageism is dependent on what?
A
Time and culture
3
Q
What is gerontology?
A
- Broad study of the aging process
- Multidisciplinary concepts and approaches
- Academic areas (Biological aging - Longevity and body changes; psychological aging - adaptive capabilities; social aging- roles and expectations)
4
Q
What is geriatrics?
A
Speciality focusing on medical problems.
5
Q
Define: Social Gerontology
A
Study of the social processes issues, practices, and policies associated with age and aging.
6
Q
What are 3 issues that should be considered when studying aging processes and population aging?
A
- Aging is not an illness or a disease state - avoid this medicalization view of aging.
- Individual and population aging are linked and co-exist.
- Population aging will not necessarily weaken society.
7
Q
What do older Canadian adults view as important issues?
A
- To be recognized as active, engaged citizens in our society
- To have the right to age in the place of their choice
- To be viewed as an opportunity for Canada
8
Q
What are some negative stereotypes of aging?
A
- Being grumpy
- Bad Drivers
- Losing memory
9
Q
What are some positive stereotypes of aging?
A
- Being wise
10
Q
What are 3 facets of successful aging?
A
- Avoiding disease and disability
- Engagement with life
- High cognitive and physical function
11
Q
What are 3 goals for successful population aging?
A
- Re-engineering core societal institutions
- Adopting a life course perspective
- Focusing on human capital
12
Q
What are some examples of ageism and age discrimination at the individual level?
A
- Internalized ageism
- Elderspeak (Honey/sweetie; baby talk)
- “New ageism”
13
Q
What are some examples of ageism and age discrimination at the institutional level?
A
- “senior” discounts
- Anti-aging Market
- Media
14
Q
Which of the following statements regarding the anti-aging movement is true?
a. Anti-aging methods are a recent development in human history
b. The commercial market for anti-aging products is small and focused on younger age groups
c. Many anti-aging products and treatments are available in the offices of medical professionals.
d. The anti-aging movement does not promote ageism
A
c. Many anti-aging products and treatments are available in the offices of medical professionals.
15
Q
What are three principles of symbolic interactionism? (Blumer 1969)
A
- People act toward things based on the meaning those things have for them.
- Meanings emerge (occur) from (and through) social interaction.
- Meanings that arise from social interaction are further modified (changed) through interpretation.
16
Q
Define: Gerontophobia
A
- a fear of growing older and/or hate/fear of older persons.
17
Q
What are some weaknesses of activity theory?
A
- not clear what constitutes “activity”
- Does not consider that people’s activities and interests change over time
- Does not consider the different meanings that people attributes to activity
- Ignored SES
- Leveraged to blame others for inactivity
18
Q
Janet has recently turned 85 and has notices a change in advertisements for products related to aging over the past several decades. Notably, Janet observes that advertisements no longer only depict seniors as grumpy and diseased. The ads she sees today are stating to show seniors engaging in more active lifestyles (Add more from slides)
A
Ageing-related stereotypes are fluid and the increase in baby boomers may be driving portrayals of seniors as healthy and active.
19
Q
T or F: Ageism is just an issue for older persons.
A
False: Ageism is NOT just an issue for older persons, but everyone in society.
20
Q
Why are overly ambitious conceptions of active aging problematic?
A
“Overly ambitious conceptions of active aging are problematic, as they may generate a form of ‘new ageism’, in which the generalized fear of aging is replaced by fear of aging with disability and in which dependent older adults suffer from discrimination” (Boudiny, 2013: 1093)
21
Q
Why is it important to understand intergenerational strain?
a. When intergenerational strain decreases, it could lead to cohort effects or social disintegration.
b. When intergenerational strain arises, it could lead to generation gaps or inequities.
c. When intergenerational strain arises, it could lead to societal harmony or equality.
d. When intergenerational strain increases, it could lead to cohort effects and social disintegration.
A
b. When intergenerational strain arises, it could lead to generation gaps or inequities.
22
Q
Which of the following statements regarding major changes in family and kinship structures is false?
a. There has been a shift from an “age-condensed” structure to an “age-gapped” structure in some extended families.
b. There has been an emergence of truncated families in which a specific family lineage eventually disappears when the youngest generation is childless by choice or by chance.
c. The kinship system has become shorter, resulting in less complex family relationships.
d. The number of reconstituted or blended families as a result of remarriage following divorce or widowhood has increased.
e. The propensity for older adults to cohabit as partners has increased.
A
c. The kinship system has become shorter, resulting in less complex family relationships.
23
Q
What are some factors of disengagement theory?
A
- mutual withdrawal of individual and society to restore balance to the system
- Rooted in structural functionalism
- Total disengagement = death
24
Q
What are some weaknesses of the disengagement theory?
A
- Has not been supported empirically
- Justifies policies of mandatory retirement
- Ignores that different types of disengagement exist and that disengagement has different meaning for individuals
25
What is the legacy of disengagement theory in social gerontology?
- The process of aging is problematic for society, especially the role loss that is part of aging (e.g. retirement, widowhood)
- Adjusting to aging for individuals may be difficult
26
What are the ontological positions?
1. Normative Perspective (functionalism) --> tried to find things out that are universal in truth
2. Interpretive Perspective (inc. Symbolic interactionism) --> wha't true is subjective; how we interpret the world is what is meaningful to us; situational
3. Conflict Perspective --> The way our society changes over time is a product of groups competing
27
How are perspectives and theories related?
Under a perspective, there are multiple theories that try to explain it. (Ex. Under conflict perspective there are three theories: feminist, political economy, cultural)
28
Describe social systems theory
Looks at social systems the same way we would look at body systems (what is the function, what is the role, what does it do, is it working the way it should)
29
Describe Internal Continuity
As we get older we try to maintain internal continuity (trying to maintain control over what we can for ourselves- internal consistency values)
30
Describe External Continuity
The things that we used to do, activities, people we hang out with: we want to keep it the same (roles are similar, activities we engage in are similar.
31
Define: Successful Aging
Avoidance of disease and disability
32
What are the three outcomes of the aging process?
- Successful aging
- Usual Aging
- Disease and Decline
33
What are some criteria of "success" at the societal/population level? (MacArthur Research Network on an Aging Society)
- Productivity and engagement, (labour force and/or volunteerism)
- Cohesion (intergenerational and between socioeconomic classes) --> Relationships between older adults and younger adults
- Balance (pertaining to the risks and benefits of population aging)
- Resilience, (defined as the - capacity to respond effectively to stress)
- Sustainability (defined as the capacity to maintain high function over time)
34
What are three themes of successful aging according to the Rozanova article?
1. Successful aging as an individual choice (this is forgetting things like financial means, genetics, etc)
2. Individual responsibilities for unsuccessful aging (you are blamed if you don't age successfully)
3. How to age successfully by staying engaged.
35
What are the two main causes of population aging?
1. Mortality rate decrease (we have better healthcare, better water, people are having less children)
2. Fertility rates decrease (rate is currently below "replacement rate" needed to replenish the population)
36
The population will rapidly age until _____ - the year all boomers will be 65+ - then level off
2031
37
What are the three major components of demography?
mortality, fertility, and migration
38
In 2011, 16.5% of the population of _______ was over age 65, but only 3.2% in Nunavut
Nova Scotia
39
What does cohort research typically investigate?
Cohort research typically investigates the effect of cohort size and distribution in a population. This sort of analysis has become particularly important in gerontology, as the baby boomers move closer to retirement age
40
What age group population is growing the fastest?
80+
41
How does the ethnic composition of a population affect the aging process?
The ethnic composition of a population affects aging processes in a number of significant ways because of the importance of ethnic culture on attitudes, values, and behaviours (The place of birth of Canada’s immigrants has changed over the last half century. - used to be europe, now they are more likely to come from other places)
42
What is the perceived upper limit on human life?
LIFESPAN: 120 years
- Presently appears to be a fixed number
- The maximum that someone can live for
43
What is the word used to describe the expected length of life (based on historical time and culture)?
Longevity
44
What is the word used to describe the number of years of life remaining for a cohort?
Life expectanty
Average number of years a person can expect to live based on current age
How long you can expect
Has increased in the past 50 years
Increase through improvements in sanitation, public health, health care
In Canada: 83 years for women, 79 years for men
Varies by gender, culture, geographic region, race, education, lifestyle, and birth cohort
The number of years where you can expect to be active/independent, number of years free from a disability (active life expectancy – also disability free life expectancy)
45
What is the average life expectancy for men and women in Canada?
Men: 79 Years
Women: 83 Years
46
What is this phenomenon called: As a population ages, leading causes of death change from acute/infectious to chronic/degenerative diseases
Epidemiological transition
47
When does epidemiological transition begin?
once there are improvements in food distribution, nutrition, water quality, personal hygiene, public sanitation, education, and economic development.
48
Why are we going to see population aging rapidly increase in some of the developing countries?
survival rates in the early years are increasing dramatically with improvements in nutrition, sanitation, and access to food and medicine.
49
Define: Age effects
consequence of growing older
50
Define: Cohort Effects
Social experiences at similar stages
51
Define: Period Effects
Due to historical events
52
Define: Birth Cohorts
shared life experiences and some shared characteristics.
53
What do apocalyptic interpretations of aging argue?
that older people, as the fastest-growing segment of the population, are becoming a burden to society
54
What are four concerns surrounding the onset of population aging and the loss of generational equity?
1. Risking cost of health and elder care borne by younger generations (it's not older adults that's why health care is increasing, it's actually due to technology)
2. Decline in economic status of young people due to high unemployment and underemployment. (young people looking for better paying jobs)
3. Unequal distribution of wealth favours small segment of middle and oldest generations.
4. Shift in government policy where responsibility for social welfare and health care has changed from being a "public issue" to a "private trouble"
55
T or F: There is growing feeling among younger generations that benefits older people receive from publicly funded programs are disproportionate to their current/past contributions or to their real need.
True
56
Define: Apocalyptic Demography
Idea of vilifying population aging in a way that tries to look at how social resources are distributes and creating conflict between people of different generations
57
What is Eugeric Aging?
Primary aging; what would normally occur for an individual. (ie. wrinkles, grey hair)
58
What is Pathogeric Aging?
Secondary Aging; What happens as we age due to disease and conditions.
59
Define: Chronological Age
Looking for a number based on the year you were born
| - “when you reach above 60… (chronological)
60
Define: Biological Age:
Looking at the primary agin aspect; how old are your systems, how old are you biologically? More internal
61
Define: Physiological / Functional Age
- More external (Ex: Alzheimer’s – physical structural damage to the brain, brain might be old but physiologically when they can’t do things like driving anymore, they aren’t functioning in the same way as people of their age)
- When they start to show symptoms
- “as you age, your motor skills… (physiological/functional)
62
Define: Psychological Age
How well you are adapting, how old you feel
| - “aging to me is… (psychological)
63
Define: Social Age
Age you are supposed to retire, become grandparent, etc.
- Someone who is a grandparent in their 40s has an older social age.
- “retiring at the age of 69… (social)
64
Define: Subjective Age
Subjective age may differ on cultural and social age
| - I might be a senior but I still feel like I'm middle age
65
A gerontologist is conducting a study on the physiological factors that may contribute to longevity in older adults. In which area of gerontology is this scientist most likely working?
a. chronological aging
b. psychological aging
c. biological aging
d. social aging
c. Biological Aging (a biological gerontologist would say this)
66
Define: Young-Old
65-74 Years
| - Need meaningful roles after retirement
67
Define: Middle-Old
75 to 84 Years
| - Sometimes referred to as Old-Old
68
Define: Oldest-Old
_> 85 years
- Need support and protection
- Fastest-growing segment
69
Which age group is the fastest-growing?
Oldest Old (85+)
70
Define: Third Age
- Free from responsibilities of mid-life
- Retired, leisure time
- You can only be in the third age if you are free from disease and disability
71
Define: Fourth Age
Disease and Disability
72
Stanley just turned 65 years old. Which age category would a gerontologist likely assign to Stanley?
- Young old
| - Third Age
73
T or F: Separate Processes such as chronological aging, biological aging, psychological aging, and social aging, do not interact.
False
74
Define: Cohort Flow
flow of succession (when there are people retiring there are also people coming into the workplace)
75
Define: Cohort Centrism
Seeing things through the lens of your own generation (ex. what kids listen to these days, that's not music, we had real music).
76
Discuss the Oakland Study:
- Older Cohort
- A way to remember is O symbolizing Old for Oakland study
- Entered military service after their careers had already been started (faced a lot of career interruptions)
77
Discuss the Berkely Study:
(Younger Cohort)
- Entered military service after the completion of high school
- careers were not interrupted (had a lot of training)
- Being born at the right time in terms of a more favourable outcome.
78
Describe: Principle of human development and aging
the experiences that people have early in life are linked to later life opportunities and experiences
79
Describe: Principle of Historical time:
the life course of individuals is embedded in and shaped by the historical times and geographical places they experience throughout their life time
80
Describe: Principles of timing in lives
the developmental impact of a life event depends on when it occurs in a person's life. This results in either culminating advantage or disadvantage
81
Describe: Principle of linked lives
the actions of one person affect the lives of other persons in relation to social and historical influences
82
Describe: Principle of human action within constraint:
People construct their own life course through their choices and actions, which are contingent upon the social and historical experiences in which they find themselves.
83
What are some details surrounding the Oakland Study?
- Older Cohort
- Born in 1920-21
- Young adults during the worst years of the depression
- Entered military service after their careers had already started (interruption)
84
What are some details surrounding the Berkeley Study?
- Younger cohort
- Born 1928-29
- were Children in the later years of the depression
- Entered military service after the completion of high school (gaining skills)
85
Describe the Life Course Theory:
- Gerontology
- Studies the influence of history, place, and social time on people's development
- Assesses "development in-context" (ie. changing times/places, changing lives, and changing development)
86
Describe the Life Span Theory:
- Psychology
- Assumes that attributes and abilities mature over time
- Identifies generalizable patterns in regards to people's age-related development
- Assesses "development out of context"
87
Define: Life Transition
- Refers to change that happens in one's life
- People can experience life transition in both patterned and individualized ways
- depends on context and timing
88
Define: Life Trajectory
Our lives move forward also because society has a plan for us, ideas ab how our lives should unfold
There are external things (physical laws) that can impact trajectory
One trajectory can influence another trajectory
89
Define: Turning Point
Events or experiences that results in a change in the direction of a trajectory
- eg. Ellie and Carl couldn't have kids
90
Define: Intergenerational Transfers
Transfer of money, property, formal services, or "in kind" donations (child or parent care, housework) is a long-standing tradition on family units.
91
What can examples of transfers be?
- directed to the oldest generation or to the youngest
- compulsory or voluntary
- applied to everyone in an age cohort or only to those who can demonstrate need
- taxed or tax free
92
What are four criteria for evaluating and understanding intergenerational transfers?
1. The direction of the transfer
2. The sector
3. The content of the transfer
4. The nature of the transfer
93
What are the pros and cons of privatization?
Pros:
- Shorter wait times (b/c there are more options)
- Different regulations around it (potentially more standardization)
Cons:
- Might not be accessible to everyone (Price, location)
- Quality of care can be comprimised
94
What is the difference between critical thinking and criticism?
Critical thinking:
- looks at structure (what's working, what's lacking?)
Criticism:
- Tends to be what's lacking (this is a problem)
95
Fatima needs a manicure and books an appointment at a local spa in her neighbourhood. While waiting for her appointment to begin, Fatima notices that all of the brochures in the waiting room advertise anti-aging products and services. These ads promise to “turn back the clock” to give users a more youthful appearance. What is Fatima seeing evidence of in her spa’s waiting room?
a. Social stratification
b. The medicalization of aging
c. the problematization of youth
d. gerontology
b. The Medicalization of Aging
96
Define: Civic Engagement
- Voting
- Volunteering at polls
- Running for office
- Activism
- Membership in political organizations
- Writing to representatives or protesting
97
Define: Passive Engagement
- Reading or watching the news
| - Current affairs
98
T or F: People become more conservative, politically as they age.
False; this is ageism
99
T or F: Not all older adults are lonely, socially isolated, or "unproductive members of society."
True
100
Social networks are typically described in terms of what?
- Type (family, friendship, work, etc)
- Size (number in the network)
- Heterogeneity (diversity of members)
- Composition (number in each type)
- Density (degree individuals in network interact with one another)
101
What are Canadian Seniors' social networks made up of?
- 45% immediate family
- 30% friends and extended family
- 15% neighbours
102
Define: Active leisure lifestyle
a type of lifestyle that directly benefits health and helps to buffer the influence of life events and illness by regular participation in physical activities.
103
Define: Aging Enterprise
anything that is making money off of/making a business from aging
104
Define: Social Structure
Social structure pertains to those elements of social life and society that constrain, promote, and shape human behaviour.
FRHD 3060
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