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Aging and the Elderly

Aging and the Elderly. Take a piece of paper and number it from one to ten. On it write down ten characteristics of an elderly person. Write your answers in the order they occur to you.

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Aging and the Elderly

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  1. Aging and the Elderly • Take a piece of paper and number it from one to ten. On it write down ten characteristics of an elderly person. Write your answers in the order they occur to you. • On the remaining space of the paper, number it from one to ten. Now, think of yourself at the old age and answer this question. “I am an old person. Who am I?”

  2. Aging involves a set of social definitions regarding appropriate behavior for different ages. • Sociologists are interested in how people make transitions to new age related status and roles.

  3. Graying of America -- refers to increasing proportion of older people in the U.S. population who are over 65 years of age. • Why graying of America? a) aging baby boomers b) Increasing life expectancy • What are the consequences of graying of America?

  4. Gerontology -- study of aging and the elderly. • Age stratification -- unequal distribution of wealth, power and prestige among people of different ages. • Gerontocracy-- social organization where the elderly have more power, prestige, and wealth. Found in pre-industrial societies. Japan is the exception.

  5. Ageism -- prejudice and discrimination against the elderly. Problems of Aging • Different personality types a) Disinterested and disorganized personalities b) Passive-dependent personalities c) Defended personalities d) Integrated personalities

  6. Social Isolation -- due to retirement and death of spouse. • Retirement -- reduced income, low social prestige, loss of purpose in life. • Poverty -- reduced income and heavy medical expenditures • Abuse -- especially in institutions where they are confined.

  7. Theoretical Analysis of Aging • Structural Functionalism -- examine how those people who are retiring and those who replace them make mutual adjustments for the good of society. • Disengagement theory -- society enhances orderly operation by disengaging people, as they reach old age from positions of responsibility.

  8. Social Conflict -- struggle between the young and the old. The elderly suffer discrimination at the hands of more powerful groups. • Symbolic interactionism -- looks at how symbols associated with age affect our perception.

  9. Death and Dying • Euthanasia -- assisted death of a person suffering from incurable disease.

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