Aging : Concepts and Controversies

by Moody, Harry

• ISBN13: 9780761987680
• ISBN10: 0761987681
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-02-01
• Publisher: Pine Forge Press

Summary

Welcome to the world's most unique and dynamic textbook on aging. Widely praised and adopted, Harry "Rick" Moody has again presented the key concepts and controversies in an engaging and accessible fashion, supported with carefully chosen adapted readings, resulting in the most captivating introduction to gerontology available today.From the opening chapter, the author encourages students to see aging not as a fixed period of life but as a process beginning at birth and extending over the entire life course. The pedagogical design of this book focuses on controversies and questions rather than on assimilating facts or coming up with a single "correct" view about aging or older people. The readings are selected to highlight ongoing debates in the field and to stimulate students to think more deeply about what is at stake in the issues presented.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Prologue: America as an Aging Society	xxi
BASIC CONCEPTS I AGING, HEALTH CARE, AND SOCIETY	1	(146)
The Challenge of Longevity	1	(5)
The Case of the Struldbruggs	1	(3)
Normal Aging	4	(1)
Longevity and Disease	4	(2)
Epidemiology of Aging	6	(6)
Major Diseases in Old Age	6	(5)
Responses to the Geriatric Diseases	11	(1)
Economics of Health Care	12	(5)
Reimbursement Systems	13	(3)
Prospects for the Future	16	(1)
Long-Term Care	17	(10)
Housing for the Elderly	17	(3)
Chronic Care in Old Age	20	(2)
Functional Assessment	22	(1)
The Continuum of Care	23	(3)
Paying for Long-Term Care: An American Dilemma	26	(1)
Self-Determined Death	27	(1)
Late-Life Suicide	28	(3)
Conclusion	31	(2)
Should We Ration Health Care for Older People?	33	(30)
Precedents for Health Care Rationing	34	(1)
The Justification for Age-Based Rationing	35	(2)
Rationing as a Cost-Saving Plan	37	(3)
The Impetus for Rationing	40	(1)
Cost Versus Age	40	(2)
Alternative Approaches to Rationing	42	(1)
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide	43	(1)
The Debate Over Age-Based Rationing	44	(1)
Readings
Why We Must Set Limits	45	(6)
Daniel Callahan
Pricing Life: Why It's Time for Health Care Rationing	51	(1)
Peter Ubel
The Pied Piper Returns for the Old Folks	52	(2)
Nat Hentoff
Letting Individuals Decide	54	(1)
Terrie Wetle
Richard W. Besdine
Aim Not Just for Longer Life, but Expanded ``Health Span''	55	(2)
Daniel Perry
Robert Butler
Focus on Practice: Managed Care	57	(2)
Focus on the Future: Scenarios for Rationing: Fiction or Forecast?	59	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	61	(2)
Should Families Provide for Their Own?	63	(30)
Aging and the American Family	63	(2)
Abandonment or Independence?	65	(1)
Family Responsibility	66	(1)
Medicaid and Long-Term Care	67	(1)
Financing Long-Term Care	68	(2)
Medicaid Planning	70	(2)
Readings
Medicaid and Long-Term Care	72	(2)
Peter J. Strauss
Nancy M. Lederman
Shame of the Rich: Making Themselves Poor	74	(1)
Jane Bryant Quinn
The Fallacy of Impoverishment	75	(7)
Stephen Moses
The Family Role in the Context of Long-Term Care	82	(4)
Rhonda J. V. Montgomery
Focus on Practice: Long-Term Care Insurance	86	(2)
Focus on the Future: Genetic Screening for Alzheimer's Disease?	88	(1)
Questions to Ponder	89	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	90	(3)
Should Older People Be Protected From Bad Choices?	93	(28)
The Vulnerabilities of Older People	94	(1)
Interfering When People Make Bad Choices	95	(1)
Elder Abuse and Neglect	96	(1)
Perceptions of Quality of Life	97	(1)
Inappropriate Sexuality	98	(2)
Crime and the Elderly	100	(1)
Intervention in the Lives of the Vulnerable Elderly	101	(3)
Readings
The Right to Freedom From Restraints	104	(2)
Robert N. Brown
Ethical Dilemmas in Elder Abuse	106	(2)
Terrie T. Wetle
Terry T. Fulmer
A Legal Perspective on Elder Abuse	108	(5)
Candace J. Heisler
Mary Joy Quinn
Elder Self-Neglect: A Blurred Concept	113	(2)
Dorothy R. Fabian
Eloise Rathbone-McCuan
Focus on Practice: Adult Protective Services	115	(2)
Focus on the Future: Inheritance in an Aging Society	117	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	118	(3)
Should People Have the Choice to End Their Lives?	121	(26)
Depression and Suicide	122	(2)
The ``Right to Die''	124	(4)
Outlook for the Future	128	(2)
Readings
In Defense of Voluntary Euthanasia	130	(2)
Sidney Hook
A Time to Die: The Place for Physician Assistance	132	(2)
Charles F. McKhann
Last Rights: Aunty's Story	134	(1)
Sue Woodman
Neither for Love nor Money: Why Doctors Must Not Kill	135	(6)
Leon Kass
Focus on Practice: Advance Directives	141	(2)
Focus on the Future: Neighborhood Suicide Clinics?	143	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	144	(3)
BASIC CONCEPTS II SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR AN AGING SOCIETY	147	(142)
The Varieties of Aging Experience	148	(11)
Social Class	150	(1)
Race and Ethnicity	151	(2)
Gender and Aging	153	(2)
Multiple Jeopardy	155	(1)
Economic Well-Being	156	(3)
The Economic Status of Older Americans	159	(10)
Sources of Retirement Income	160	(6)
Changing Financial Outlook	166	(3)
Public Policy on Aging	169	(8)
The Aging Network	170	(2)
Aging Interest Groups	172	(2)
Trends in Public Policy and Aging	174	(3)
Conclusion	177	(2)
Should Age or Need Be the Basis for Entitlement?	179	(36)
A Tale of Two Generations	179	(1)
Generational Equity	180	(8)
Poverty Among the Old	181	(2)
Poverty Among Children and Young People	183	(1)
The Dependency Ratio	184	(1)
Taxation and Generational Accounting	185	(2)
Power and Competition for Scarce Resources	187	(1)
The Least Advantaged Elderly	188	(2)
Help for Those Most in Need	189	(1)
The Targeting Debate	190	(1)
Readings
Growing Older	191	(2)
Lester Thurow
Gray Dawn: Target Benefits on the Basis of Need	193	(2)
Peter G. Peterson
``Generational Equity'' and the New Victim Blaming	195	(10)
Meredith Minkler
The Generational Equity Debate	205	(3)
John B. Williamson
Diane M. Watts-Ray
Eric R. Kingson
Focus on Practice: Intergenerational Programs	208	(2)
Focus on the Future: Walled Retirement Villages?	210	(3)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	213	(2)
What is the Future for Social Security?	215	(36)
Main Features of Social Security	216	(1)
Success-and Doubts	217	(1)
Pay as You Go	218	(1)
Social Security Trust Fund	219	(2)
Eligibility	221	(1)
Privatization	222	(2)
Women and Social Security	224	(2)
Debate Over Social Security	226	(1)
Readings
Private Accounts: Putting Retirement at Risk	227	(2)
Gary Burtless
Private Accounts: Political vs. Market Risk	229	(3)
Carolyn L. Weaver
Should a Portion of Social Security Funds Be Invested in the Stock Market? No: Possible Advantages Not Worth the Risk	232	(1)
Robert J. Myers
Should a Portion of Social Security Funds Be Invested in the Stock Market? Yes: It Means Higher Future Benefits	233	(1)
Henry Aaron
The Housewife and Social Security Reform: A Feminist Perspective	234	(4)
Barbara R. Bergmann
Incremental Change in Social Security Needed to Result in Equal and Fair Treatment of Men and Women	238	(6)
Robert J. Myers
Focus on Practice: Investment Decisions for Retirement Income	244	(3)
Focus on the Future: Two Scenarios for the Future of Social Security	247	(1)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	248	(3)
Is Retirement Obsolete?	251	(38)
History of Retirement	252	(2)
Origins of Late-Life Leisure	254	(4)
Changes in the American Economy	258	(2)
A New View of Retirement	260	(4)
Productive Aging	262	(2)
Debate Over Retirement Policy	264	(1)
Readings
Achieving a Productive Aging Society	265	(5)
Francis G. Caro
Scott A. Bass
Yung-Ping Chen
Prime Time	270	(2)
Marc Freedman
The Busy Ethic: Moral Continuity Between Work and Retirement	272	(8)
David J. Ekerdt
Moving Toward a Creative Retirement	280	(2)
Ronald J. Manheimer
Focus on Practice: Preretirement Planning	282	(2)
Focus on the Future: The U.S. Wisdom Corps?	284	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	286	(3)
BASIC CONCEPTS III A LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON AGING	289	(140)
Age Identification	290	(2)
The Stages of Life	292	(1)
The Life Course and Aging	293	(3)
Life Transitions	294	(2)
Theories of Aging	296	(4)
Modernization Theory	296	(1)
Disengagement Theory	297	(2)
Activity Theory	299	(1)
Influences on the Life Course	300	(2)
Social Class and Life History	300	(1)
Social Institutions and Policies	301	(1)
Aging in Postindustrial Society	302	(3)
Time and the Life Course	303	(1)
The Moral Economy of the Life Course	304	(1)
The Biology of Aging	305	(1)
The Science of Longevity	306	(2)
Mechanisms of Physical Aging	308	(3)
Wear and Tear	309	(1)
Free Radicals	309	(1)
The Immune System	310	(1)
Aging and Psychological Functioning	311	(3)
Self-Concept and Social Relationships	311	(1)
Social Roles	312	(1)
Cognitive Functioning	313	(1)
Conclusion	314	(3)
Toward a New Map of Life	315	(2)
Why Do We Grow Old?	317	(42)
The Process of Biological Aging	319	(2)
Biological Theories of Aging	321	(5)
Wear-and-Tear Theory	321	(2)
Autoimmune Theory	323	(1)
Aging Clock Theory	323	(1)
Cross-Linkage Theory	324	(1)
Free Radicals	324	(1)
Cellular Theory	325	(1)
The Inevitability of Aging	326	(1)
Ways to Prolong the Life Span	327	(3)
Environmental Approach	327	(2)
Genetic Approach	329	(1)
Compression or Prolongation of Morbidity?	330	(1)
Readings
Why Do We Live as Long as We Do?	331	(2)
Leonard Hayflick
Vitality and Aging: Implications of the Rectangular Curve	333	(8)
James F. Fries
Lawrence Crapo
Aging, Natural Death, and the Compression of Morbidity: Another View	341	(3)
Edward L. Schneider
Jacob Brody
The Sunny Side of Aging	344	(4)
James F. Fries
Changing Concepts of Morbidity and Mortality in the Elderly Population	348	(4)
Kenneth G. Manton
Focus on Practice: Health Promotion	352	(2)
Focus on the Future: ``I Dated a Cyborg!''	354	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	356	(3)
Does Creativity Decline with Age?	359	(32)
Elements of Cognitive Function	360	(2)
The Classic Aging Pattern	362	(1)
Measures of Late-Life Intelligence	362	(2)
Studies of Age and Cognitive Function	364	(2)
Correlates of Cognitive Stability	366	(1)
Creativity in an Aging Population	367	(1)
Readings
Age and Achievement	368	(6)
Harvey Lehman
Age and Achievement: A Critique	374	(4)
Wayne Dennis
Creative Productivity Through the Adult Years	378	(5)
Dean Keith Simonton
The Creative Age	383	(2)
Gene Cohen
Focus on Practice: Older Adult Education	385	(1)
Focus on the Future: Late-Life Learning in the Information Society	386	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	388	(3)
Does Old Age Have Meaning?	391	(38)
The Meaning of Age	391	(1)
Leisure Activities in Later Life	392	(2)
Changing Leisure Participation Patterns	393	(1)
Explaining Patterns of Leisure	394	(1)
Religion and Spirituality	394	(3)
Religion Over the Life Course	395	(1)
Religion and Well-Being	396	(1)
Spirituality and the Search for Meaning	396	(1)
Social Gerontology and the Meaning of Age	397	(1)
The Meaning of Aging in the 21st Century	398	(1)
Activity or Reflection?	399	(1)
Readings
The Coming of Age	400	(2)
Simone de Beauvoir
Vital Involvement in Old Age	402	(3)
Erik H. Erikson
Joan M. Erikson
Helen Q. Kivnick
Successful Aging	405	(1)
John Rowe
Robert Kahn
The Measure of My Days	406	(3)
Florida Scott-Maxwell
Focus on Practice: Reminiscence and Life Review	409	(2)
Focus on the Future: Conscious Aging	411	(2)
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate	413	(4)
APPENDIXES
A. How to Research a Term Paper in Gerontology	417	(10)
Defining Your Topic	418	(1)
Starting Your Search	418	(2)
Eight Steps for Carrying Out Library Research	420	(1)
Ending the Search	421	(1)
Resources for Papers in Gerontology	422	(1)
Encyclopedias and Handbooks	422	(1)
Abstracts and Databases	423	(1)
Statistics	423	(1)
Guides to Research and Information	424	(1)
Other Valuable Reference Works	424	(1)
Textbooks	425	(1)
Important Journals and Other Periodicals	425	(2)
B. Internet Resources on Aging	427	(2)
References	429	(34)
Glossary/Index	463