08 27 2014 What is Gerontology Gerontology Scientific study of aging and aging process Relatively new discipline How old is old Age is subjective Older Adults Young old 55 85 Old old 85 and older Centenarians 100 years old and over Meaning of Age Chronological age calendar age Perceived age age you think of yourself as Biological age functioning of vital systems Psychological age functioning of your psychological abilities Natural limit of human lifespan 120 Increased Life Expectancy Due To Reduction in Acute Disease o Medical and Public Health Advancements Reduction in infant mortality Reduction in female mortality at childbirth Treatment advances in Chronic Diseases o Lifestyle Life Expectancy The number of years that will probably be lived by the average person born in a given year Average life expectancy is 78 years 80 years for women 75 years for men Related to o Gender o Genetics o Lifestyle Demography term for shifts in the age distribution of the Population aging population toward older ages Cohort Why do you care group of people born in the same year o Population changes affect families social policy economics and well being Change from Pyramid to a Rectangle population aging 2000 almost a pyramid 2025 population as a whole is more of a rectangle Change in Age Structure of US related to Increase in average life expectancy Change in immigration patterns Change in fertility patterns across cohorts Ethnic and Racial Variations Gender Variations Entire population much more ethnically diverse in 2050 Increase in female life expectancy The majority of older women are single o Single women highest poverty rate among the aged o More likely to be institutionalized compared to men Baby Boomers Born 1946 1964 1 4 of US population Blamed for nation s problems successes Profound effects on society from childhood through adulthood Higher levels of education than previous cohorts Experienced social change civil rights movement sexual revolution Characterized by heterogeneity Leading edge vs trailing edge Changes in work and family implications for population aging Baby boomers were better educated than previous cohorts Better jobs Mentally healthy longer Lots of siblings Had fewer children Implications of Population Aging Potential implications of population aging o More jobs o Changes in available jobs o Expenses dealing with Medicare and Medicaid o Where people live o Costs of end of life planning o Learning understanding and research for illness Aging and the Environment Structural changes in society o Transportation o Consumer patterns and marketing o Housing o Technology Challenge Changing Family Structure Fewer children fewer caregivers Changes in divorced parents Childlessness Remember majority of oldest old are female Shifts in Work and Retirement Increase in the years spent retired Will Baby Boomers remain in the workforce longer Increases in retirement age retraining Opportunity Evolving Social Insurance Systems Raising age eligible for Social Security o US ages 62 65 increasing to 67 Strain on social programs for older adults Dependency ratio proportion of employed to dependent portions of population Challenge Growing Burden of Chronic Disease Chronic diseases heart disease cancer diabetes Alzheimer s disease Age 85 Oldest Old Multiple chronic conditions High disability rates 1 5 of total population use 16 1 of Medicare Use most long term care services Predicted increase in long term care services in the future Compression of morbidity o Decrease as life expectancy increases Expansion of morbidity o Increase as life expectancy increases Evidence supports compression of morbidity Opportunity New Roles for Older Adults Older adults have what everyone else lacks TIME The Aging Opportunity o Match btw older adults time and society s needs SUMMARY Medical and technological advances challenges Changing family structure and caregiving Shifts in work and retirement Evolving social insurance systems New roles for older adults Defining Ageism 08 27 2014 Systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they are old similar to racism or sexism Ageism occurs when there is any prejudice or discrimination against or in favor of an age group Attitudinal o Stereotypes and beliefs o All elderly people are Older adults may internalize these attitudes Behavioral o Discrimination o Inappropriate negative treatment At some point we will all be vulnerable to the effects of ageism Theoretical Basis of Ageism Fear of death in Western society Emphasis on the youth culture Emphasis on productivity Manner in which aging originally researched Problems with Ageism Prevents full participation in o Social networks o Occupation o Families Intersects with other systems of inequality Outcomes of Ageism Isolation from the community Inadequate housing and income Unnecessary institutionalization Untreated mental and physical illness New Ageism help Ageism takes many forms o Media o Relationships o Healthcare o Workplace Ageism in the Media Tendency to help older adults because all older people must need Images have improved over time but older adults remain underrepresented in films TV Anti aging ads o Pressure to hide signs of aging o Justify ageism Gender and the Media o Women Appearance o Men Performance Ageism and Relationships Interactions with family members can be demoralizing to older adults Too much care promote excessive dependence Often excuse patronizing behavior of family Examples of Medical Ageism Physicians and older patients o Limit number of older patients o Invest less time with older patients o Older women s concerns trivialized Mental Health Prescriptions vs therapy Geriatrics Poorly reimbursed Long term care Options and funding Ageism and Employment Age based employment discrimination More entrenched than other types of discrimination Fastest growing form of complaints for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Negative stereotypes about aging and productivity Older workers perceived as o Disinterested in promotion o Less flexible o Expensive for the organization o Slow learners Ageism and Public Policy Criticized as benefiting the old at the expense of the young Example Healthcare utilization Strategies to Reduce Ageism Reducing individual ageism models of successful aging Changing social structures o Slogans benefits of aging media personal contact and o Economy family housing e g residential segregation Combating Ageism Challenge Reluctance to cite ageism Education