Aging and Diversity: An Active Learning Experience

by Mehrotra; Chandra

• ISBN13: 9780415952149
• ISBN10: 041595214X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2008-12-16
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In a time of growing awareness of the diversity among elders, Mehrotra and Wagner provide an excitingly fresh perspective that helps readers develop a clearer understanding of gerontology and that bridges the gap between students and service providers in the field. Aging and Diversity combines a clear narrative with active learning experiences. The authors invite readers to broaden their works view, enhance culturally relevant skills, understand older adults through a life-course perspective, and view aging from a multi-ethnic perspective. Specific chapters address psychological aging, issues in health and sexuality, caregiving, work and retirement, religion and spirituality, and death and grieving. For ease of use, each chapter includes orienting questions, a narrative that includes and introduction and summary, vignettes, structured orienting questions, a narrative that includes introduction and summary, vignettes, structured individual and group learning experiences,comprehension tests, quizzes, glossary, and an annotated bibliography of suggested readings. Aging and Diversity offers undergraduates and service providers tools that will enable them to understand diversity and its impact on the lives of older adults in the United States. Aging and Diversity will be invaluable to both students and practitioners in the fields of gerontology, psychology and sociology of aging, counseling, adult learning, social work, family studies, and multicultural studies. The book informs gerontologists and students about the interplay between diversity and aging, and will be useful as a text in gerontology, adult development, gerontological nursing, social work, family studies, and health education courses.

Author Biography

Chandra M. Mehrotra, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Dean of Special Projects at The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota Lisa S. Wagner, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of San Francisco

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xiii
About the Authors	p. xv
Introduction to the Second Edition	p. xvii
Aging and Diversity	p. 1
What Do We Mean by Diversity?	p. 2
Why Should We Focus on Diversity and Aging?	p. 3
What Elements of Diversity Will We Include in This Book?	p. 5
What Do We Mean by Race or Ethnicity?	p. 6
Ethnicity	p. 7
Other Categorizations	p. 7
Interactional Nature of Elements of Diversity and Aging	p. 7
Changing Nature of Groups	p. 9
Within-Group and Between-Group Differences	p. 9
Acculturation	p. 10
Demographics of American Elders	p. 12
What Is the Race or Ethnicity of These Older Adults?	p. 13
What Is the Gender Distribution Among Older Adults?	p. 18
What Is the Socioeconomic Status of Older Adults?	p. 18
What Proportion of Older People Live in Rural Settings?	p. 19
How Many Elders Are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender?	p. 21
A Note on Terminology for Diverse Groups	p. 22
Summary	p. 23
Glossary	p. 25
Suggested Readings	p. 25
Audiovisual Resources	p. 27
References	p. 29
Research Methods	p. 33
Why Focus on Research Methods?	p. 35
How Do We Understand People and Their Behavior?	p. 35
What Disciplines Study Aging?	p. 35
What Disciplines Study Issues of Diversity?	p. 37
Are There Disciplines That Study Both Aging and Diversity?	p. 38
A Brief History of Research on Aging and Diversity	p. 38
Overview of the Research Process	p. 40
How Diversity Can Affect the Research Process	p. 41
Identifying the Research Question or Problem	p. 42
Theory and Conceptual Models	p. 45
Conducting the Research	p. 46
How to Improve Research with Elders from Diverse Groups	p. 57
Issues of Trust	p. 57
Bright Lights for Aging and Diversity Research	p. 62
Community-Based Participatory Research	p. 62
Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research	p. 64
Chapter Summary	p. 65
Glossary	p. 67
Suggested Readings	p. 69
Audiovisual Resources	p. 71
References	p. 74
Psychology and Aging	p. 77
Aging, Sensation, Perception, and Cognition	p. 78
Sensory and Perceptual Changes	p. 79
Sensory Changes and Diversity	p. 82
Cognitive Changes	p. 84
Culture and Cognition	p. 90
Culture, Aging, and Cognition	p. 92
Attitudes Toward Aging and Older People	p. 93
Defining Terms	p. 93
Attitudes About the Aging Process Across Cultures	p. 93
Older People: Attitudes Toward Elders Across Cultures	p. 102
Discrimination and Ageism	p. 111
Summary	p. 111
Glossary	p. 113
Suggested Readings	p. 114
Audiovisual Resources	p. 115
References	p. 118
Health Beliefs, Behaviors, and Services	p. 123
Health Beliefs and Behaviors	p. 124
What Is Health?	p. 124
How Do Behaviors Influence Health?	p. 131
How Do Elements of Diversity Affect These Health-Related Behaviors?	p. 134
Health Care Services and Diverse Elders	p. 141
Health Insurance	p. 142
Service Providers	p. 148
Summary	p. 152
Glossary	p. 154
Suggested Readings	p. 155
Audiovisual Resources	p. 157
References	p. 158
Inequalities in Health	p. 161
Illness and Aging	p. 163
Common Conditions That Affect Older Adults in General	p. 163
Mental Illness and Aging	p. 166
Health Inequalities	p. 168
Mental Health Inequalities	p. 185
Mortality and Diversity	p. 189
Race/Ethnicity and Mortality	p. 191
Mortality and Socioeconomic Status	p. 192
Gender and Mortality	p. 192
Chapter Summary	p. 192
Glossary	p. 194
Suggested Readings	p. 195
Audiovisual Resources	p. 198
References	p. 200
Informal and Formal Care for Older Persons	p. 205
Living Arrangements	p. 206
Informal Care	p. 209
Gender of Caregivers	p. 211
Informal Caregiving Among Blacks	p. 214
Informal Caregiving Among Hispanics	p. 216
Informal Caregiving Among Asian/Pacific Islanders	p. 218
Informal Caregiving Among Native Americans	p. 219
Informal Caregiving Among Elders Who Are Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual	p. 221
Formal Care	p. 222
Adult Day Care	p. 224
Assisted Living Facilities	p. 225
Nursing Homes	p. 226
Barriers Hindering the Use of Formal Care	p. 228
Programs and Services	p. 231
Culturally Sensitive Care	p. 231
Interventions for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health	p. 233
Technology to Help Older Persons and Their Family Caregivers	p. 235
Summary	p. 240
Glossary	p. 242
Suggested Readings	p. 242
Audiovisual Resources	p. 244
References	p. 247
Work, Retirement, and Leisure	p. 253
Gender and Ethnic Differences in the Older Workforce	p. 256
Increase in Labor Force Participation	p. 256
Gender Differences	p. 259
Ethnicity and Labor Force Participation	p. 261
Barriers to Employment	p. 273
Age Discrimination	p. 273
Discrimination Against Individuals with Disabilities	p. 276
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation	p. 278
Negative Stereotypes	p. 279
Individual and Job Obsolescence	p. 280
Creating New Opportunities for Work	p. 281
Retirement	p. 283
Diversity and Retirement	p. 283
Variations of Retirement	p. 285
Need for Retirement Planning	p. 287
Retirement Planning Programs	p. 288
Adjustment to Retirement	p. 292
Leisure Pursuits	p. 295
Senior Centers	p. 296
Volunteering	p. 297
Religious Participation	p. 298
Lifelong Learning	p. 298
Summary	p. 300
Glossary	p. 303
Suggested Readings	p. 304
Audiovisual Resources	p. 306
References	p. 311
Religious Affiliation and Spirituality	p. 317
Defining Spirituality and Religion	p. 318
Conceptualization and Measurement of Religiousness and Spirituality	p. 319
Quantitative Methods	p. 319
Qualitative Methods	p. 321
Religious Participation Among African Americans	p. 323
Organizational Religious Participation	p. 324
Nonorganizational Religious Involvement	p. 325
Impact of Religion on Mental Health and Well-Being	p. 327
Impact of Religion on Physical Health	p. 327
Religious Participation Among Hispanics	p. 330
Organizational Religious Practices	p. 330
Nonorganizational Religious Practices	p. 331
Faith	p. 331
Impact of Religiousness on Health and Well-Being	p. 331
Religious Participation Among Native Americans	p. 332
Religious Traditions Among Asian Americans	p. 335
Islamic or Muslim Tradition	p. 336
Hindu Tradition	p. 339
Buddhist Tradition	p. 343
Summary	p. 347
Glossary	p. 349
Suggested Readings	p. 350
References	p. 353
Death, Dying, and Bereavement	p. 357
U.S. "Mainstream" Approach to Life and Death	p. 359
What Do We Mean by Mainstream Group?	p. 359
Beliefs About Life and Death	p. 359
End-of-Life Practices	p. 362
Bereavement and Coping	p. 370
Approaches to Life and Death from Diverse Cultural Groups in the United States	p. 373
African Americans	p. 374
Hispanic Americans	p. 378
American Indians and Alaska Natives	p. 381
Asian Americans	p. 383
Summary	p. 397
Glossary	p. 399
Suggested Readings	p. 400
Audiovisual Resources	p. 402
References	p. 404
Epilogue	p. 407
Bringing It All Together	p. 407
Note to Instructors	p. 409
Index	p. 411
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