Topic 13: ageing

Question 1

Define demographic transition

Answer 1

• Change in % of population of age groups
• E.g small % of old > large % + large % of young > small %

Question 2

What are the statistics of demographic transition?

Answer 2

• 1951= 5 mil 65+
• 2012 = 9.4 mil 65+
• 2017 = 17% 65+
• 2035 = 23% 65+

Question 3

Why are societies ageing?

Answer 3

• Babies from baby boom = after WW2 increase in births due to economic + political stability = grown older
• Decrease in fertility rates
• Decrease in mortality rates

Question 4

Why is there a decrease in fertility rates?

Answer 4

• People delay childbirth = higher education + career
• Children not labour = supported by parents until 20s

Question 5

Why is there a decrease in mortality rates?

Answer 5

• Diseases = medically treated
• Better life conditions
• Advances in biomedicine = diseases become chronic

Question 6

Compare life expectancies in 1840 + 2013

Answer 6

1840:
- At birth men = 40
- At birth women = 42
- Survival to 55 = 40%
- Survival to 75 = 15%
2013:
- At birth men = 79.2
- At birth women = 82.9
- Survival to 55 = 95%
- Survival to 75 = 68%

Question 7

Describe elderly struggle with chronic illnesses

Answer 7

• 65 + = 40% have condition/disability
• Co-morbidities

Question 8

Common chronic illnesses in elderly

Answer 8

• Cardiovascular
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Osteoarthritis
• Diabetes
• Mental illness
• Due to falls

Question 9

Common social conditions in elderly

Answer 9

• Poverty
• Living alone
• Ageism
• Difficulty with transportation
• Social isolation
• Dependency

Question 10

Factors associated with good health in elderly

Answer 10

• Physical activity
• Religion
• Work
• Volunteering

Question 11

Define lifecourse

Answer 11

• Understands age as not staged but as course
• Variation + continuities in social statuses
• Focuses on various life domains from birth > death
• Emphasizes dynamic social roles = older people have multiple

Question 12

Why are social roles important?

Answer 12

• People find meaning + self-esteem + construct identity

Question 13

What is the importance of lifecourse in medical consultations?

Answer 13

• Tackles stereotypes
• Helps understand older people as active individuals
• Helps explore depths in patient social history = better support

Question 14

Define cultures of ageing

Answer 14

• New way of life promoted = anti-ageing
• Technology to reconstruct bodies
• Adopt new life styles to look younger

Question 15

Define informal care

Answer 15

• Care provided by people not under formal healthcare
• E.g. spouse + sibling + children
• Provide care due to kinship + familial obligations

Question 16

Challenges faced by informal carers

Answer 16

• Burnout = need assistance
• Social isolation
• Daily support = shopping etc
• Psychological support = may get depressed
• Financial support
• Scientific support