Social Forces and Aging

by Atchley, Robert C.; Barusch, Amanda

• ISBN13: 9780534536947
• ISBN10: 0534536948
• Edition: 10th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-07-21
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

Part One: SETTING THE STAGE. 1. The Scope of Social Gerontology. What is Gerontology? What is Human Aging? Defining the Aging and the Older Populations. Social Gerontology is a Unique Field of Study. Social Policy Issues. Professional Practice. Careers in the Field of Aging. Summary. 2. The Demography of Aging. Measuring Age Structure. Growth of the older Population. Composition of the Older Population. Geographic Distribution of the Older Population. Living Arrangements. Population Processes and the Older Population. Summary. 3. The History of Aging in America. Modernization Theory. Aging in Colonial America. From the Revolution to the Civil War, The Beginning of Industrialization. Civil War to 1900. 19 00 to 1929. The Great Depression. 1942 to 1965. 1965 to 1980. The 1980's. Modernization. Theory Revisited. Summary. Part Two: BASIC ASPECTS OF INDIVIDUAL AGING. 4. Physical Aging. Why We Grow Older. Physical Consequences of Aging. Summary. 5. Psychological Aspects of Aging. Aging and Specific Psychological Functions. Adult Development: Personality, Self , and Life Structure. Mental Disorders. Summary. 6. Social Aspects of Individual Aging. Defining Social Aging, Social Roles. The Cultural Life Course. Socialization and Acculturation. Role Anticipation and Adaptation. Social Factors in Individual Development. Aging and Changes in Social Context. Lifestyles. Summary. 7. Personal Adaptation to Aging. What is Adaptation? General Ways to Adapt. Specific Adaptations. Escape Rather Than Adaptation. Effective Adaptation. Summary. Part Three: AGING IN DOMAINS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. 8. Family, Friends, and Social Support. Types of Bonding. Family. Friends. Social Support. Summary. 9. Employment and Retirement. Midlife Career Changes. Employment Problems of Older Workers. Bridges to Retirement. Retirement. The Retirement Process. Effects of Retirements on Individuals. Summary. 10. Activities and Lifestyles. Concepts About Activities. Activities in Middle Adulthood. Aging and Changes in Activities. Spheres of Activity. What Activities are Desirable for Older People? Summary. 11. Religion and Spirituality. Concepts and Language. Organized Religion. Attending Religious Services. Informal Religious Behavior. Subjective Elements of Religion and Spirituality. Conceptions for Spiritual Development. Effects of Religion and Spirituality. Research Issues. Summary. 12. Dying, Death, Bereavement, and Widowhood. Defining Death. Dealing with Dying. Bereavement. Death of a Spouse. Summary. Part Four: AGING AFFECTS NEEDS AND RESOURCES. 13. Income and Housing. Income. Housing. Summary. 14. Health and Long-Term Care. Health Care, Health Care Needs. Long-Term Care, Regulation of Health and Long-Term Care. Summary. 15. Community Social Services. Community Facilities That Serve Older People. Services. The Organization and Financing of Social Services. Summary. Part Five: AGING AND SOCIETY. 16. Aging in Contemporary America Society and Culture. The Nature of Society and Culture. Ideas About Aging. Language. Age Prejudice an d Discrimination. Societal Disengagement. Age Stratification. Ethics. Law, and Aging. Summary. 17. Social Inequality. Social Class. Dimensions of Disadvantage. Race. Ethnicity. Gender. Multiple Jeopardy. Summary. 18. The Economy. Economic Ideology. Economic Structure. The Economic Functions of Retirement. The Economics of Retirement Income. Retirement Income in the Future. Private Enterprise and the Aging Problem. Aging People as Consumers. Economic Exploitation of Elders. Summary. 19. Politics and Government. Overview. Political Activity. Political Influence. Government Response to Issues Concerning Aging. Making Policy. Summary. 20. Epilogue: Aging and the Future. Directions of Social Change. Demographic clues to the future. The Future of Psychological Aging. The Future of Social Aging. Society's Futures Response. The Future of Social Gerontology. Summary. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Part One Setting the Stage
Chapter 1 The Scope of Social Gerontology	2	(22)
What Is Gerontology?	2	(2)
Social Gerontology	3	(1)
What Is Human Aging?	4	(2)
Biological, Psychological, Social Psychological, and Social Aging	4	(1)
The Two Faces of Aging	4	(2)
Defining the Aging and the Older Populations	6	(4)
Chronological Age	6	(1)
Functional Age	7	(1)
Life Stages	8	(2)
Social Gerontology Is a Unique Field of Study	10	(9)
Concepts and Theoretical Perspectives	10	(4)
Factual Information	14	(1)
Research Issues	15	(3)
Diversity in Aging	18	(1)
Social Policy Issues	19	(1)
Professional Practice	20	(1)
Careers in the Field of Aging	20	(1)
Summary	21	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	23	(1)
Chapter 2 The Demography of Aging	24	(20)
Measuring Age Structure	24	(6)
Population Pyramids	24	(2)
Proportion of Older People	26	(1)
Dependency Ratios	27	(1)
Life Expectancy	28	(1)
How Populations Age	29	(1)
Growth of the Older Population	30	(1)
Composition of the Older Population	31	(3)
Age and Sex	31	(1)
Marital Status	32	(1)
Education	32	(1)
Income	33	(1)
Implications	34	(1)
Geographic Distribution of the Older Population	34	(1)
Living Arrangements	34	(2)
Population Processes and the Older Population	36	(6)
Fluctuating Birth Rates	36	(2)
Changes in Mortality	38	(1)
Migration	38	(4)
Summary	42	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	43	(1)
Chapter 3 The History of Aging in America	44	(33)
Modernization Theory	45	(6)
Modernity: Central Ideas	45	(1)
Aging and Modernization	46	(2)
Aging in Colonial America	48	(3)
From the Revolution to the Civil War	51	(5)
The Beginnings of Industrialization	56	(1)
Civil War to 1900	56	(4)
Rise of Science	56	(1)
Ideology of Material Progress	57	(2)
Beginnings of Retirement	59	(1)
Immigration	60	(1)
1900 to 1929	60	(3)
Changing Ways of Doing Work	60	(1)
Age Discrimination and Poverty	61	(2)
The Great Depression	63	(4)
The Spread of Poverty	64	(1)
The New Deal	64	(3)
1942 to 1965	67	(1)
Growth of Programs for Elders	67	(1)
Inequities Amid Affluence	67	(1)
1965 to 1980	68	(1)
Legislation on Behalf of Older People	68	(1)
Research on Aging	69	(1)
The 1980's	69	(2)
The 1990's	71	(1)
Modernization Theory Revisited	72	(2)
Summary	74	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	76	(1)
Part Two Basic Aspects of Individual Aging	77	(110)
Chapter 4 Physical Aging and Health	78	(22)
Why We Grow Older	78	(4)
Genetic Functions	80	(1)
Cross-Links and Free Radicals	80	(1)
The Immune System	81	(1)
Physiological Controls	81	(1)
Summary of Physical Aging	82	(1)
Physical Consequences of Aging	82	(16)
Physical Energy	83	(1)
Changes in Sleep	83	(1)
Stature, Mobility, and Coordination	84	(1)
Physical Appearance	85	(1)
Sensory Processes	86	(4)
The Perceptual Processes	90	(1)
Other Physical Changes	91	(2)
Aging and Physical Health	93	(2)
Health Condition	95	(3)
Summary	98	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	99	(1)
Chapter 5 Psychological Aspects of Aging	100	(37)
Aging and Specific Psychological Function	100	(20)
Psychomotor Performance	101	(2)
Mental Functioning	103	(8)
Practical Implications of Research into Mental Functioning	111	(5)
Drives, Motives, and Emotions	116	(2)
Orientations: Time and Control	118	(2)
Adult Development: Personality, Self, and Life Structure	120	(11)
Stage Theories	120	(3)
Process Theories	123	(3)
Age Changes in Personality	126	(1)
Age Changes in the Self	127	(1)
Defending Personality and the Self	128	(1)
When Defenses Fail	129	(2)
Mental Disorders	131	(2)
Summary	133	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	135	(2)
Chapter 6 Social Aspects of Individual Aging	137	(26)
Defining Social Aging	137	(1)
Social Roles	137	(3)
How Aging Affects Social Roles	138	(2)
The Cultural Life Course	140	(6)
Dimensions of the Life Course	142	(2)
Age Norms	144	(1)
Decision Demands	145	(1)
Socialization and Acculturation	146	(1)
Role Anticipation and Adaptation	147	(1)
Social Factors in Individual Development	148	(1)
Aging and Changes in Social Context	149	(8)
Role Changes	149	(7)
Changes in Groups	156	(1)
Changes in Environments	156	(1)
Lifestyles	157	(3)
Summary	160	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	162	(1)
Chapter 7 Adaptation to Aging	163	(24)
What Is Adaptation?	163	(1)
General Ways to Adapt	164	(4)
General Strategies for Coping	167	(1)
Specific Adaptations	168	(8)
Adapting to Changes on the Job	168	(1)
Adapting to Less Income	168	(1)
Adapting to Chronic Illness and Disability	169	(2)
Adapting to Increased Dependency	171	(1)
Adapting to Lost Roles or Activities	171	(3)
Coping with Threats to Self-Concept and Self-Esteem	174	(2)
Adapting to Positive Changes in Roles and Life Goals	176	(1)
Escape Rather Than Adaptation	176	(4)
Isolation	177	(1)
Use of Alcohol	178	(1)
Drug Abuse	179	(1)
Suicide	179	(1)
Effective Adaptation	180	(3)
Summary	183	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	185	(2)
Part Three Aging in Domains of Everyday Life	187	(150)
Chapter 8 Family, Friends, and Social Support	188	(47)
Types of Bonding	188	(1)
Family	189	(37)
Demographic Factors	191	(2)
Couplehood	193	(8)
Other Types of Couples	201	(1)
Older People Not in Couples	201	(1)
Older Parents and Adult Children	202	(10)
Adult Children as Caregivers	212	(5)
Siblings and Other Kin	217	(2)
Family Caregiving	219	(3)
Grandparenthood	222	(4)
Friends	226	(4)
Factors Influencing Friendship	226	(1)
Approaches to Friendship	227	(1)
Changes in Friendship	228	(2)
Social Support	230	(2)
Summary	232	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	234	(1)
Chapter 9 Employment and Retirement	235	(36)
Declining Labor Force Participation in Middle and Later Life	236	(2)
Employment Problems of Older Workers	238	(5)
Age Discrimination	239	(3)
Labor Market Problems	242	(1)
Disability	243	(1)
Bridges to Retirement	244	(1)
Retirement	244	(3)
The Changing Link Between People and Jobs	245	(1)
The Evolution and Institutionalization of Retirement	246	(1)
The Retirement Process	247	(14)
Aging and Attitudes Toward Jobs and Employment	247	(2)
Attitudes Toward Retirement	249	(1)
Retirement Preparation	249	(2)
The Decision to Retire	251	(5)
Who Does Not Retire?	256	(1)
Retirement as an Event	257	(1)
Retirement as a Role	257	(1)
Phases of Retirement	258	(3)
Effects of Retirement on Individuals	261	(6)
Situational Consequences	263	(2)
Personal Adjustment	265	(1)
Differences by Race and Gender	266	(1)
Summary	267	(3)
Suggestions for Further Reading	270	(1)
Chapter 10 Activities and Lifestyles	271	(23)
Concepts about Activities	272	(3)
Continuity and Activities	273	(2)
Activities in Middle Adulthood	275	(2)
The Meaning of Activity	275	(1)
Activity Competence	276	(1)
Gender, Social Class, and Ethnicity	276	(1)
Aging and Changes in Activities	277	(5)
Completion of Child Rearing	278	(1)
Retirement	279	(1)
Widowhood	280	(1)
Physical Aging	280	(1)
Increasing Disability	281	(1)
A Move to Congregate Housing	281	(1)
Institutionalization	282	(1)
Spheres of Activity	282	(9)
The Job	282	(1)
Community Organizations	282	(3)
Education	285	(4)
The Home	289	(1)
Special Activities	290	(1)
What Activities Are Desirable for Older People?	291	(1)
Summary	292	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	293	(1)
Chapter 11 Religion and Spirituality	294	(22)
Concepts and Language	296	(2)
Organized Religion	298	(2)
Attending Religious Services	300	(1)
Informal Religious Behavior	301	(1)
Subjective Elements of Religion and Spirituality	302	(3)
Conceptions of Spiritual Development	305	(3)
Effects of Religion and Spirituality	308	(5)
Summary	313	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	314	(2)
Chapter 12 Dying, Death, Bereavement, and Widowhood	316	(21)
Defining Death	317	(3)
The Meaning of Death	318	(2)
Dealing with Dying	320	(4)
The Role of the Dying Person	320	(1)
The Process of Dying	320	(2)
Needs and Tasks of the Dying Person	322	(1)
Permitting People to Die	322	(1)
Living Will Directive	323	(1)
Care of the Dying	324	(2)
Bereavement	326	(2)
Anticipatory Grief	328	(1)
Death of a Spouse	328	(6)
Being a Widow	329	(4)
Being a Widower	333	(1)
Comparisons Between Widows and Widowers	333	(1)
Summary	334	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	335	(2)
Part Four Aging Affects Needs and Resources	337	(86)
Chapter 13 Income and Housing	339	(29)
Income	339	(14)
Income Distribution	339	(1)
Income Needs	340	(3)
Income Sources	343	(6)
Income Problems and Aging	349	(4)
What Can Be Done?	353	(1)
Housing	353	(12)
Aging in Place	354	(1)
Relocation	355	(2)
Housing Alternatives	357	(3)
Relocation Problems	360	(1)
Retirement Housing	361	(1)
Retirement Nomads	362	(1)
Housing Problems	363	(1)
Who Has Housing Problems?	364	(1)
Summary	365	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	367	(1)
Chapter 14 Health Care and Long-Term Care	368	(36)
Health Care	368	(6)
Health-Care Needs	369	(2)
Types of Health-Care Problems	371	(1)
Who Has Health-Care Problems?	372	(1)
Mental Health Care	372	(1)
Medication Management Problems	373	(1)
Financing Health Care	374	(12)
Medicare	374	(3)
Medicare Diagnostic Related Groups	377	(1)
Medicare Managed Care	378	(2)
Medicaid	380	(2)
Private Health Plans	382	(3)
Gaps in Financing for Health Care	385	(1)
Long-Term Care (Personal Care)	386	(4)
Who Has Problems?	387	(2)
The Future of Personal Care Service Delivery	389	(1)
Health and Personal Care Service Integration	390	(1)
Models of Service	390	(2)
Regulation of Health Care and Long-Term Care	392	(4)
Regulating the Quality of Care	392	(2)
Regulating the Cost of Care	394	(2)
Health Care: An Agenda for Change	396	(4)
Patient and Client Flow	396	(2)
The Structure of Advocacy	398	(2)
Summary	400	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	402	(2)
Chapter 15 Community Social Services	404	(19)
The Organization and Financing of Social Services	405	(1)
The Older Americans Act (OAA)	405	(4)
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)	409	(1)
Older Americans Act Services	410	(3)
Information and Access Services	410	(1)
Assessment and Case Management Services	410	(1)
Community-Based Services	411	(1)
In-Home Services	411	(1)
Services to Protect Elders' Rights	412	(1)
Private Social Service Programs	413	(1)
Challenges in Social Service Delivery	413	(8)
The Effectiveness' of Nursing Home Ombudsman Programs	413	(1)
Utilization of Senior Centers	414	(1)
The Complex Problems of Elder Abuse and Neglect	414	(3)
Guardianship and Conservatorship	417	(1)
Access and Equity in the Allocation of Scarce Resources	418	(1)
Unmet Needs	418	(3)
Summary	421	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	422	(1)
Part Five Aging and Society	423	(128)
Chapter 16 Aging in Contemporary American Society and Culture	424	(26)
The Nature of Society and Culture	424	(2)
Ideas about Aging	426	(13)
Language	426	(1)
Values	427	(1)
Beliefs	428	(2)
Stereotypes	430	(3)
Aging as Portrayed in Mass Media	433	(6)
Age Prejudice and Discrimination	439	(3)
Exchange Theory and Age Discrimination	441	(1)
Societal Disengagement	442	(1)
Atrophy of Opportunity	443	(1)
Age Stratification	443	(3)
Ethics, Law, and Aging	446	(2)
Biomedical Ethics	446	(2)
Summary	448	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	449	(1)
Chapter 17 The Economy	450	(25)
Economic Ideology	450	(1)
Economic Structure	451	(1)
The Economic Functions of Retirement	452	(1)
The Economics of Retirement Income	453	(1)
Sources of Retirement Income	453	(6)
Retirement Income Issues	455	(3)
The Tax System and Older Adults	458	(1)
Retirement Income in the Future	459	(3)
Is Population Aging Responsible for Today's Economic Woes?	461	(1)
Financing Social Security	462	(2)
Productivity and Older Adults	464	(1)
Private Enterprise and the Aging Population	465	(3)
Aging People as Employees	465	(1)
Aging People as Consumers	465	(3)
Economic Exploitation of Elders	468	(3)
Aging People with Limited Resources	471	(1)
Summary	472	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	473	(2)
Chapter 18 Social Inequality	475	(23)
Social Class	475	(1)
Inequality	476	(2)
Defining Inequality	476	(1)
Trends in Inequality	476	(2)
Class Status	478	(3)
Class Mobility and Income Redistribution	481	(2)
Dimensions of Disadvantage	483	(11)
Poverty's Multiple Impacts	483	(1)
Race	484	(6)
Ethnicity	490	(1)
Women and Men	491	(2)
Immigrants	493	(1)
The Changing Composition of America's Older Population	494	(1)
Multiple Jeopardy	494	(1)
Future Implications of Current Trends	495	(1)
Summary	495	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	496	(2)
Chapter 19 Politics and Government	498	(27)
Overview of the U.S. Government	498	(3)
The Nature of Political Activity	501	(4)
Political Opinions	501	(1)
Voting	502	(1)
Party Affiliation	503	(1)
Holding Political Office	504	(1)
Political Influence	505	(15)
Older People as an Interest Group	505	(2)
Advocacy for Older People	507	(3)
Political Legitimacy and Utility	510	(1)
Political Trends	511	(4)
Social Insurance	515	(1)
The Politics of Social Security	516	(4)
Making Policy	520	(2)
Summary	522	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	524	(1)
Chapter 20 Epilogue: Aging and the Future	525	(26)
Directions of Social Change	525	(4)
Demographic Clues About the Future	529	(2)
Aging of the Baby Boom Population	531	(1)
The Future of Physical Aging	532	(3)
The Impact of Biomedical Research	532	(1)
Changing Patterns of Death and Illness	532	(1)
Impact of the Wellness Movement	533	(2)
The Future of Psychological Aging	535	(2)
The Future of Social Aging	537	(4)
Society's Future Response	541	(5)
Major Policy Issues for the Future	542	(4)
The Future of Social Gerontology	546	(3)
The Need for Ongoing Research	546	(1)
Education and Training	547	(1)
Jobs in the Field of Gerontology	548	(1)
Summary	549	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	550	(1)
Glossary	551	(4)
Bibliography	555	(34)
Photo Credits	589	(1)
Index	590