Issues in aging

Machine generated contents note: Why Study Aging? --
Ageism --
Culture as a Source of Ageism --
The Media as a Source of Ageism --
Lack of Knowledge as a Source of Ageism --
Some Facts on Aging Today --
Victimization by Fraud --
Effects of Victimization --
Fear of Crime --
Ageism and the Workplace --
The Ageless Self: Another Form of Ageism --
Ageism and the Third Age --
Responses to Ageism --
Change on the Horizon --
The Media --
The Senior Market: A New Image of Aging --
Education Programs --
Intergenerational Programs --
Legislation and Social Action --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Notes --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
The Study of Aging in the Past --
Gerontology Research Today --
Is Gerontology a Discipline? --
Theories of Aging --
Two Levels of Theories --
Three Theoretical Perspectives --
Interpretive Perspective --
Critique of the Interpretive Perspective --
Functionalist Perspective Note continued: Age Stratification Theory: An Example of the Functionalist Perspective --
Individual Aging --
Societal Change --
Critique of the Functionalist Perspective --
The Life Course Perspective: A More Complex Functionalist Model --
Non-Normative Life Events --
Normative, History-Graded Life Events --
Normative, Age-Graded Life Events --
Summary of the Life Course Perspective --
Conflict Perspective --
Critique of the Conflict Perspective --
New Developments in Theory --
Research Issues and Methods --
APC Effects: A Challenge to Gerontology Researchers --
Experimental Research --
Cross-Sectional Designs --
Longitudinal Designs --
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods --
The Humanities --
Information Literacy: The Challenge of the Internet --
Ethical Issues in Research --
Policy and Programs as the Outcome of Research --
The Future of Gerontological Theory and Methods --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult Note continued: Introduction --
The Challenge of Population Aging --
What Is Population Aging? --
The Demographic Transition --
Three Types of Societies and Population Aging --
The Less Developed Nations --
China: A Case Study of Population Aging in a Developing Nation --
The Least Developed Nations --
Ghana: A Case Study of Population Aging in a Least Developed Nation --
Summary of Aging in Developing and Least Developed Nations --
The Developed Nations --
Japan: A Case Study of Population Aging in a Developed Nation --
Population Aging in the United States --
Increased Numbers of Older People --
Increased Median Age of the Population --
Increased Proportion of Older People --
Measuring Trends --
The Causes of Population Change --
Migration --
Death Rates --
Birth Rates --
The Challenges of an Aging Population --
The Aging of the Older Population --
Ethnic and Racial Variations --
Regional Distribution --
Accumulation --
Recomposition --
Congregation Note continued: Interstate Migration --
Amenity Migration --
Retirement --
Moderate Disability --
Major Chronic Disability --
Urban-Rural Distribution --
Changes in the Sex Ratio --
The Impact of Population Aging --
Support (or Dependency) Ratios --
Critique of Dependency Ratios --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Note --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Biological Aging --
The Effects of Aging on Body Systems --
Musculoskeletal System --
Sensory Changes --
Taste, Smell, and Touch --
Sight --
Hearing --
Personal Health and Illness --
Changes in Health Status --
Limits on Activity Due to Physical Decline --
Coping With Physical Change --
Improvements in Technology --
Computer Technology as a Form of Functional Support --
Assistive Devices as a Form of Functional Support --
Improvements in the Environment --
Improvements in Self-Care --
Improvements in Lifestyle --
Decreased Smoking --
Better Nutrition --
Exercise --
Stress Reduction Note continued: Compression of Morbidity Hypothesis --
Successful Aging --
Rowe and Kahn's Model of Successful Aging --
The SOC Model of Successful Aging --
A Life Course Model of Successful Aging --
Anti-aging Medicine and Science --
Social Inequality and Personal Health --
Health Literacy --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Memory and Intelligence --
Memory --
New Approaches to the Study of Mental Function --
Memory and Everyday Life --
Experience and Mental Function in Later Life --
Memory and Everyday Life: The Study of Reading --
Summary of Memory Research --
Intelligence --
New Models of Mental Ability in Later Life --
Plasticity and Cognitive Reserve --
Stimulating the Brain for Growth in Later Life --
Improving Mental Performance --
A Large-Scale Training Program --
Social Engagement and Mental Function --
Physical Exercise and the Brain --
Summary of Findings on Aging and Mental Potential Note continued: The Study of Wisdom in Later Life --
Creativity --
Creativity as Measured by Great Works --
Creativity as Personal Expression --
Self- Development in Later Life --
Spirituality: The Search for Meaning in Later Life --
Social Psychological Change --
Disengagement Theory --
Activity Theory --
Continuity Theory --
Psychological Disorders: Abnormal Aging --
Organic Brain Disorders --
Intellectual And Developmental Disability --
Cognitive Impairment in Later Life --
Functional Disorders --
Loneliness --
Depression and Suicide --
Depression --
Suicide --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Who Are the Minority Elderly? --
Why Study Minority Aging? --
Demographic Characteristics of Dominant and Minority Group Elders --
Whites: The Dominant Group Older Population --
Diversity of the Minority Population --
Aging of the Minority Population --
Three Theories on Minority Group Aging --
Multiple Jeopardy Note continued: Critique of Multiple Jeopardy Theory --
Leveling Perspective --
The Life Course Perspective --
Institutional Completeness: An Example of Life Course Differences --
Structured Inequality and Personal History --
The Impact of Minority Group Membership on Aging --
A Look at Four Minority Groups --
African Americans --
Health --
Income --
Family And Community Life --
Social Support --
African American Men --
The Future Of African American Aging --
Hispanic Americans --
Health --
Elderly Hispanics: The Paradox Of Poverty, Good Health, And Long Life --
Income --
Poverty --
Family And Community Life --
The Future Of Hispanic American Aging --
Asian Americans --
Health --
Income And Poverty --
In Dollars --
Family And Community Life --
The Future Of Asian American Aging --
American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AIAN) --
Health And Income --
Family And Community Life --
The Future Of American Indian Aging --
Responses to Minority Group Aging --
Future Issues Note continued: Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Notes --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Three Models of Health Care --
The Medical Model --
The Social Model --
The Health Promotion Model --
The U.S. Health Care System Today --
Medicare --
The Structure Of The Program --
Medicare Costs And Funding --
Medicaid --
Employer-Sponsored Health Care Plans --
Medigap and Long-Term Care Insurance --
The Health Care System and the Cost of Care --
Cost of Care and the Older Population --
Medicare Costs --
Medicaid Costs --
The Rising Personal Cost of Health Care --
Public Dissatisfaction --
Health Care Reform: National Legislative Action 2010 --
Summary of the Legislation --
Structural Flaws in the System --
Long-Term Care: A Response to Older People's Needs --
Institutional Care --
Community-Based Services --
Adult Day Care --
Respite Services --
Home Health Care Programs --
Changes in Funding to Control Costs Note continued: Managed Care: Alternative Delivery Methods --
Managed Care With A Medical Focus --
Managed Care With a Community Focus --
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion --
Beyond Fitness and Personal Health Promotion --
Future Issues in Health Care --
Availability --
Accessibility --
Coordination --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Notes --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Introduction --
Historical Development of the U.S. Pension System --
The U.S. Retirement Income System Today --
Level One: Social Security --
Who Gets Social Security? --
A Privatized Retirement Income System: The Cure Worse Than the Disease? --
Supplemental Security Income --
Level Two: Employment Pensions --
Individual Pension Plans --
Defined Contribution Pension Plans --
The Cost of Living (a Long Time) --
Level Three: Personal Assets and Other Income --
The Impact of the Retirement Income System on Older People's Incomes --
Inequality in Later Life Note continued: Age Differences and Income --
Gender and Income --
Marital Status and Income --
Minority Status and Income --
Further Effects of Poverty --
Pension Reform --
Social Security Reform --
Family Care --
Spousal Pensions --
Widows' Benefits --
Income Limits --
Supplemental Security Income Reform --
Improved Benefits --
Improved State Supplements --
Higher Enrollment Rates --
Private Pension Reform --
Vesting --
Portability and Indexing --
Better Private Plan Insurance --
The Future --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
The Social Origins of Retirement --
Retirement in the United States Today --
A Note on Retirement and the Great Recession --
Labor Force Participation --
Women and Retirement --
Minorities and Retirement --
Alternatives to Retirement --
Early Retirement --
Partial Retirement --
Second Careers --
Encore Careers --
Personal Responses to Retirement --
Preretirement Planning (PRE) Note continued: Social Structures and Retirement --
The Dual Economy --
Displaced Workers --
The Challenge of Workforce Reentry --
The Future of Retirement --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Introduction --
Living Arrangements --
An Ecological Model of Housing --
Housing Options --
Single-Family Homes --
Home Modification --
Home Equity Conversion Loans (Reverse Mortgages) --
Apartment Living --
Age Segregation vs. Age Integration --
Normal Design vs. Special Design --
Congregate Housing and Assisted (Apartment) Living --
Congregate Housing --
Assisted Living Apartments --
Subsidized Housing --
Single Room Occupancy --
Supportive Housing --
Board and Care Homes --
Nursing Homes --
Accessory Dwelling Units --
Home Sharing --
Retirement Communities --
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCS) --
Planned Retirement Communities --
Cohousing --
Continuing Care Retirement Communities Note continued: Low-Income, Rural, and Minority Housing --
Homelessness --
The Future of Housing --
Transportation --
Public Transportation --
Private Transportation --
Age-friendly Communities --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Note --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Introduction --
Leisure --
Age and Leisure --
Gender and Leisure --
Minority Status and Leisure --
Leisure Education --
New Activities in Old Age --
Outdoor Recreation --
Fitness, Health, and Well- Being --
Programs That Overcome Barriers to Active Living --
Masters Athletes and the Senior Olympics --
Senior Centers --
Education --
Formal Higher Education --
Informal Educational Options --
Road Scholar (Elderhostel) --
Lifelong Learning Institutes --
The Future of Education for Older People --
Community Service and Volunteer Work --
Volunteer Opportunities --
The Senior Corps --
The Peace Corps --
The Experience Corps --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions Note continued: Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Marriage and Widowhood --
Marital Status --
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Marriage --
Remarriage --
Common-Law Unions and Cohabitation --
Divorce --
Lifelong Singlehood --
Widowhood --
Male and Female Responses to Widowhood --
Future Research Questions --
Dating --
Sexuality --
Sexuality in Long-Term Care Settings --
Physical Changes and Sexual Adaptations --
Gay and Lesbian Older Adults --
Grandparenting --
The Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship --
Grandparenting and New Family Structures --
Grandparents as Surrogate Parents --
The Future of the Family --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
What Is Informal Social Support? --
Family Life and Family Supports --
Informal Supports for Older People --
Three Models of Informal Support --
The Role of Formal Supports --
Community Care --
Spousal Support --
Adult Children as a Source of Support Note continued: Siblings as a Source of Informal Support --
Supports for Childless Older People --
Friends and Neighbors --
Pets as a Source of Social Support --
Minority Differences in Social Support --
Technology and Social Support --
Caregiving --
Gender Roles and the Challenge of Caregiving --
Caregiver Burden --
The Rewards of Caregiving --
Care for the Caregiver --
The Future of Informal Support --
Eldercare and the Workplace --
Older People as Family Supporters --
The Future of Social Supports --
Elder Abuse and Mistreatment --
Theories of Abuse and Risk Factors --
Elder Abuse Interventions and Policies --
Future Issues in Elder Abuse --
The Future of Social Supports --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Death and Society --
Death in Old Age --
The Experience of Dying in Old Age --
Institutional Death --
Changes in the Treatment of the Dying --
Stages of Death and Dying --
Hospice Care Note continued: Hospice Program Goals --
Palliative Care --
Palliative Care for the Elderly --
Ethical Issues --
Advance Directives --
Minorities and Advance Directives --
Beyond Advance Directives: The Importance of Communication --
New Methods of Communication --
Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide --
Mourning and Grief --
Widowhood and Bereavement --
Supports for Widows and Widowers --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult --
Voting --
Participation Trends Among Older Voters --
Will Older People Form a Voting Bloc? --
Holding Political Office --
Advocacy --
The Limits of Advocacy --
The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act and the Medicare Modernization Act: Two Case Studies in Senior Advocacy --
The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act --
The Medicare Modernization Act --
Activism --
Government and Aging Policy --
The Older Americans Act --
Generational Equity --
Conflict Ahead? --
Ideology and Aging Policy Note continued: Civic Engagement --
The Future of Aging, Politics, and Policy --
Conclusion --
Summary --
Discussion Questions --
Suggested Reading --
Websites to Consult.