Aging : Concepts and Controversies

by Moody, Harry

• ISBN13: 9781412915205
• ISBN10: 1412915201
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-13
• Publisher: Pine Forge Press

Summary

Welcome to the world's most unique and dynamic textbook on aging!Widely praised and adopted in previous editions, the Fifth Edition of Aging once again presents key issues in an engaging and accessible fashion. Organized unlike any other traditional textbook, author Harry R. Moody presents basic concepts followed by controversies, supported by carefully chosen adapted readings. The result is the most captivating introduction to gerontology available today.

Table of Contents

About the Author/Editor	xv
Preface	xvii
Prologue: America as an Aging Society	xxi
Basic Concepts I. A Life Course Perspective on Aging	1	(132)
Age Identification	2	(1)
The Stages of Life	3	(2)
The Life Course and Aging	5	(2)
Life Transitions	5	(2)
Theories of Aging	7	(3)
Modernization Theory	7	(1)
Disengagement Theory	8	(1)
Activity Theory	9	(1)
Influences on the Life Course	10	(3)
Social Class and Life History	11	(1)
Social Institutions and Policies	12	(1)
Aging in the 21st Century	13	(2)
Time and the Life Course	13	(1)
The Moral Economy of the Life Course	14	(1)
The Biology of Aging	15	(1)
The New Science of Longevity	16	(2)
Mechanisms of Physical Aging	18	(2)
Wear and Tear	18	(1)
Free Radicals	19	(1)
The Immune System	19	(1)
Aging and Psychological Functioning	20	(3)
Self-Concept and Social Relationships	20	(1)
Social Roles	21	(1)
Cognitive Functioning	22	(1)
Conclusion	23	(4)
Toward a New Map of Life	24	(3)
Controversy 1. Why Do We Grow Old?	27	(48)
The Process of Biological Aging	29	(1)
Biological Theories of Aging	30	(5)
Wear-and-Tear Theory	31	(1)
Autoimmune Theory	32	(1)
Aging-Clock Theory	32	(1)
Cross-Linkage Theory	33	(1)
Free Radicals	33	(1)
Cellular Theory	34	(1)
Is Aging Inevitable?	35	(1)
Ways to Prolong the Life Span	36	(2)
Environmental Approach	36	(1)
Genetic Approach	37	(1)
Compression or Prolongation of Morbidity?	38	(2)
Focus on Practice: Health Promotion	40	(1)
Readings	41	(29)
Why Do We Live as Long as We Do?	41	(2)
Leonard Hayflick
Vitality and Aging: Implications of the Rectangular Curve	43	(8)
James F. Fries
Lawrence Crapo
Aging, Natural Death, and the Compression of Morbidity: Another View	51	(3)
Edward L. Schneider
Jacob Brody
The Sunny Side of Aging	54	(4)
James F. Fries
The Changing Face of Health Care	58	(8)
Alan M. Garber
Dana P. Goldman
We Will Be Able to Live to 1,000	66	(2)
Aubrey de Grey
Don't Fall for the Cult of Immortality	68	(2)
S. Jay Olshansky
Focus on the Future: ``I Dated a Cyborg!''	70	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	72	(3)
Controversy 2. Does Creativity Decline With Age?	75	(34)
Elements of Cognitive Function	76	(1)
The Classic Aging Pattern	77	(1)
Measures of Late-Life Intelligence	78	(2)
Studies of Age and Cognitive Function	80	(1)
Correlates of Cognitive Stability	81	(2)
Creativity in an Aging Population	83	(1)
Focus on Practice: Older-Adult Education	84	(1)
Readings	85	(20)
Age and Achievement	85	(6)
Harvey Lehman
Age and Achievement: A Critique	91	(4)
Wayne Dennis
Creative Productivity through the Adult Years	95	(5)
Dean Keith Simonton
The Creative Age	100	(3)
Gene Cohen
The Wisdom Paradox	103	(2)
Elkhonon Goldberg
Focus on the Future: Late-Life Learning in the Information Society	105	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	107	(2)
Controversy 3. Does Old Age Have Meaning?	109	(24)
The Meaning of Age	109	(1)
Leisure Activities in Later Life	110	(2)
Changing Leisure Participation Patterns	111	(1)
Explaining Patterns of Leisure	111	(1)
Religion and Spirituality	112	(2)
Religion Over the Life Course	112	(1)
Religion and Well-Being	113	(1)
Spirituality and the Search for Meaning	114	(1)
Social Gerontology and the Meaning of Age	114	(1)
The Meaning of Aging in the 21st Century	115	(1)
Activity or Reflection?	116	(1)
Focus on Practice: Reminiscence and Life Review	117	(2)
Readings	119	(9)
The Coming of Age	119	(2)
Simone de Beauvoir
Vital Involvement in Old Age	121	(3)
Erik H. Erikson
Joan M. Erikson
Helen Q. Kivnick
Successful Aging	124	(1)
John Rowe
Robert Kahn
The Measure of My Days	125	(3)
Florida Scott-Maxwell
Focus on the Future: Conscious Aging	128	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	130	(3)
Basic Concepts II. Social and Economic Outlook for an Aging Society	133	(134)
The Varieties of Aging Experience	134	(10)
Social Class	135	(1)
Race and Ethnicity	136	(2)
Gender and Aging	138	(3)
Multiple Jeopardy	141	(1)
Economic Well-Being	142	(2)
The Economic Status of Older Americans	144	(11)
Sources of Retirement Income	146	(7)
Changing Financial Outlook	153	(2)
Public Policy on Aging	155	(6)
The Aging Network	157	(1)
Aging Interest Groups	157	(2)
Trends in Public Policy and Aging	159	(2)
Conclusion	161	(2)
Controversy 4. Should Age or Need Be the Basis for Entitlement?	163	(36)
A Tale of Two Generations	163	(1)
Generational Equity	164	(8)
Poverty Among the Old	165	(1)
Poverty Among Children and Young People	166	(2)
The Dependency Ratio	168	(2)
Taxation and Generational Accounting	170	(1)
Power and Competition for Scarce Resources	171	(1)
The Least-Advantaged Elderly	172	(2)
Help for Those Most in Need	173	(1)
The Targeting Debate	174	(1)
Focus on Practice: Intergenerational Programs	175	(2)
Readings	177	(17)
Growing Older	177	(2)
Lester Thurow
Gray Dawn: Target Benefits on the Basis of Need	179	(2)
Peter G. Peterson
``Generational Equity'' and the New Victim Blaming	181	(10)
Meredith Minkler
The Generational Equity Debate	191	(3)
John B. Williamson
Diane M. Watts-Ray
Eric R. Kingson
Focus on the Future: Walled Retirement Villages?	194	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	196	(3)
Controversy 5. What Is the Future for Social Security?	199	(32)
Main Features of Social Security	200	(1)
Success---and Doubts	201	(1)
Pay as You Go	202	(2)
Social Security Trust Fund	204	(1)
Eligibility	205	(1)
Privatization	206	(2)
Women and Social Security	208	(2)
Debate Over Social Security	210	(1)
Focus on Practice: Investment Decisions for Retirement Income	211	(2)
Readings	213	(15)
How to Save Social Security: A Balanced Approach	213	(5)
Peter Diamond
Peter Orszag
The Necessity and Desirability of Social Security Reform	218	(4)
Ramesh Ponnuru
Social Security Reform and Benefit Adequacy	222	(5)
Lawrence H. Thompson
Social Security for Yesterday's Family?	227	(1)
C. Eugene Steuerle
Melissa Favreault
Focus on the Future: Two Scenarios for the Future of Social Security	228	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	229	(2)
Controversy 6. Is Retirement Obsolete?	231	(36)
History of Retirement	232	(2)
Origins of Late-Life Leisure	234	(3)
Changes in the American Economy	237	(3)
A New View of Retirement	240	(4)
Productive Aging	242	(2)
Debate Over Retirement Policy	244	(1)
Focus on Practice: Preretirement Planning	245	(1)
Readings	246	(17)
Achieving a Productive Aging Society	246	(5)
Francis G. Caro
Scott A. Bass
Yung-Ping Chen
Prime Time	251	(2)
Marc Freedman
The Busy Ethic: Moral Continuity Between Work and Retirement	253	(8)
David J. Ekerdt
Moving Toward a Creative Retirement	261	(2)
Ronald J. Manheimer
Focus on the Future: The U.S. Wisdom Corps?	263	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	265	(2)
Basic Concepts III. Aging, Health Care, and Society	267	(162)
The Challenge of Longevity	267	(4)
The Case of the Struldbruggs	267	(2)
Normal Aging	269	(1)
Longevity and Disease	270	(1)
Epidemiology of Aging	271	(6)
Major Diseases in Old Age	271	(5)
Responses to the Geriatric Diseases	276	(1)
Economics of Health Care	277	(5)
Reimbursement Systems	277	(4)
Prospects for the Future	281	(1)
Long-Term Care	282	(11)
Housing for the Elderly	282	(3)
Chronic Care in Old Age	285	(3)
Functional Assessment	288	(2)
The Continuum of Care	290	(2)
Paying for Long-Term Care: An American Dilemma	292	(1)
Self-Determined Death	293	(1)
Late-Life Suicide	294	(3)
Conclusion	297	(2)
Controversy 7. Should We Ration Health Care for Older People?	299	(30)
Precedents for Health Care Rationing	300	(1)
The Justification for Age-Based Rationing	301	(2)
Rationing as a Cost-Saving Plan	303	(4)
The Impetus for Rationing	307	(1)
Cost Versus Age	307	(2)
Alternative Approaches to Rationing	309	(1)
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide	310	(1)
The Debate Over Age-Based Rationing	310	(1)
Focus on Practice: Managed Care	311	(3)
Readings	314	(12)
Why We Must Set Limits	314	(6)
Daniel Callahan
Pricing Life: Why It's Time for Health Care Rationing	320	(2)
Peter Ubel
The Pied Piper Returns for the Old Folks	322	(1)
Nat Hentoff
Letting Individuals Decide	323	(2)
Terrie Wetle
Richard W. Besdine
Aim Not Just for Longer Life, but Expanded ``Health Span''	325	(1)
Daniel Perry
Robert Butler
Focus on the Future: Scenarios for Rationing: Fiction or Forecast?	326	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	327	(2)
Controversy 8. Should Families Provide for Their Own?	329	(34)
Aging and the American Family	329	(2)
Abandonment or Independence?	331	(1)
Family Responsibility	332	(1)
Medicaid and Long-Term Care	333	(1)
Financing Long-Term Care	333	(2)
Medicaid Planning	335	(2)
Focus on Practice Long-Term Care Insurance	337	(2)
Readings	339	(20)
Medicaid and Long-Term Care	339	(2)
Peter J. Strauss
Nancy M. Lederman
Shame of the Rich: Making Themselves Poor	341	(2)
Jane Bryant Quinn
The Fallacy of Impoverishment	343	(7)
Stephen Moses
The Case Against Paying Family Caregivers: Ethical and Practical Issues	350	(4)
C. Jean Blaser
For Love and Money: Paying Family Caregivers	354	(5)
Suzanne R. Kunkel
Robert A. Applebaum
Ian M. Nelson
Focus on the Future: Genetic Screening for Alzheimer's Disease?	359	(1)
Questions to Ponder	359	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	361	(2)
Controversy 9. Should Older People Be Protected From Bad Choices?	363	(26)
The Vulnerabilities of Older People	364	(1)
Interfering When People Make Bad Choices	365	(1)
Elder Abuse and Neglect	366	(1)
Perceptions of Quality of Life	367	(1)
Inappropriate Sexuality	368	(1)
Crime and the Elderly	369	(1)
Intervention in the Lives of the Vulnerable Elderly	370	(2)
Focus on Practice: Adult Protective Services	372	(2)
Readings	374	(11)
The Right to Freedom From Restraints	374	(2)
Robert N. Brown
Ethical Dilemmas in Elder Abuse	376	(2)
Terrie T. Wetle
Terry T. Fulmer
A Legal Perspective on Elder Abuse	378	(5)
Candace J. Heisler
Mary Joy Quinn
Elder Self-Neglect: A Blurred Concept	383	(2)
Dorothy R. Fabian
Eloise Rathbone-McCuan
Focus on the Future: Inheritance in an Aging Society	385	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	386	(3)
Controversy 10. Should People Have the Choice to End Their Lives?	389	(40)
Depression and Suicide	390	(2)
The ``Right to Die''	392	(4)
Outlook for the Future	396	(1)
Focus on Practice: Advance Directives	397	(2)
Readings	399	(16)
Why Do People Seek Physician-Assisted Death?	399	(7)
Robert A. Pearlman
Helene Starks
A Time to Die: The Place for Physician Assistance	406	(2)
Charles F. McKhann
Last Rights: Aunty's Story	408	(1)
Sue Woodman
Neither for Love nor Money: Why Doctors Must Not Kill	409	(6)
Leon Kass
Focus on the Future: Neighborhood Suicide Clinics?	415	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	416	(3)
APPENDIXES
How to Research a Term Paper in Gerontology	419	(9)
Defining Your Topic	420	(1)
Starting Your Search	420	(2)
Eight Steps for Carrying Out Library Research	422	(1)
Ending the Search	423	(1)
Resources for Papers in Gerontology	423	(1)
Encyclopedias and Handbooks	423	(1)
Abstracts and Databases	424	(1)
Statistics	424	(1)
Guides to Research and Information	425	(1)
Other Valuable Reference Works	425	(1)
Textbooks	426	(1)
Important Journals and Other Periodicals	426	(2)
Internet Resources on Aging	428	(1)
Bibliography	429	(30)
Glossary/Index	459