Aging and Society: Key Issues and Concepts

Aging as a Social Process

• On average, the world is getting older
• Older adults (over 65) are healthier and more active than before
• Older adults expect to live for many years after retirement
• Family life, health care access, labor force participation, economy, and education systems change as people age

Population Aging: Adding Life to Years

• People are living longer and are healthier than in previous decades
• Life expectancy has increased substantially
• Estimated lifespan is approximately 120 years
• Mortality rates decreased due to sanitation, public health, medicine and other factors

Why are Populations Getting Older?

• Decrease in mortality rates; humans preventing deaths (sanitation, public health, medicine, etc.)
• Increase in life expectancy; Example for Canada in 2020 was 80 years
• Decrease in fertility rates; Number of births per woman is decreasing; Canadians having fewer children
• Fewer babies are being born, leading to a higher proportion of older adults in the population

Stereotypes about Aging

• Aging-related stereotypes and misconceptions
• Stereotypes exaggerate attributes of a group of individuals
• Stereotypes contribute to discrimination and prejudice
• Stereotypes are reproduced in media (TV, film, ads, etc)
• Ageism: systematic stereotyping and discrimination against older adults

Gerontology

• Multidisciplinary study of aging and issues related to later life
• Scientific (biological, behavioral, social) study of aging processes
• Goes hand in hand with geriatrics (medicine)

Life Course Theory

• Social theory allowing gerontologists to study aging
• Focuses on life histories, pathways, agency and social structure
• Analyzing different cohorts born around the same time

Historical and Cultural Diversity of Aging

• Biological aging is mostly universal, but aging experiences are vastly different across cultures
• Definitions of "old age" vary across cultures and history
• Comparisons of aging across global North and South

Implications for Health Care Policy

• Cultural differences in later life create challenges for healthcare
• Importance of tailoring healthcare to diverse cultural contexts; consider language needs, health literacy, cultural beliefs about illness and death etc.

Post-Colonial and Indigenous Theories

• Used to understand the role and effects of colonialism
• Understand residential school experiences; Loss of culture and land for Indigenous peoples
• Essential to consider the legacies of colonialism in Canada

The Modernization Hypothesis

• In pre-industrial revolution times there were two societies: Hunting and gathering (older members valuable source of knowledge); and Agrarian.
• Family heads controlled land, and Elders had influence in social, political, and religious aspects of life.

Subculture

• Homogenous communities distinct from mainstream society
• Examples include Chinatown communities, Indigenous communities, and different ethnic neighborhoods

Population Aging - Context

• Population data and census data are useful insights on what citizens need (Healthcare, housing, employment status, education needs, social and financial support, pension needs.)
• Demographic data helps understand changes in populations; this includes fertility, mortality, migration, and relationships between these factors
• Demographic transitions (changes in population sizes and structures) are important to consider, specifically population explosion and implications for the future.

Impacts of Population Aging on a Global Scale

• Impacts include slowdown of economic growth, decrease in workforce due to increase in retirement age, potentially decrease in worker capacity and reduced productivity.
• Possible decrease in birth rate, and declining fertility = more women in workforce

When did Canada's Population Start to Age?

• Population aging in Canada is linked to factors like the baby boom generation aging and the increase in centenarians.

Demographic Change (Key Terms)

• Median age: where the population is divided into equal numbers of younger and older people. A higher value indicates the population's growing older.
• Life Expectancy: Average number of years of life remaining at a given age (usually at birth).

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods

• Quantitative research: uses numbers and statistics, common in large group studies; often relies on random sampling.
• Qualitative research: uses words, commonly for individual insight, often relies on convenience sampling.
• Methodological considerations and challenges in aging research including age effects, cohort effects, and period effects.
• Importance of longitudinal studies in order to collect data over time and eliminate some of the issues associated with cross-sectional data.

Integrating Physical, Psychological, and Social Change in Aging

• Aging is a heterogeneous experience, with changes across biological, physical, psychological, and social domains.
• Normal changes associated with aging may include a decline in physical health and ability, though this does not mean decline is inevitable.
• Aging is not a disease or disability, but rather a natural process of change.

Changes in Physiological Systems With Age

• Changes in muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems; this influences everyday activities of daily living, mobility, and interactions.

Sensory Processes and Changes

• Vision, hearing, taste, touch, and smell abilities change with age. Changes can impact social interactions, communication and overall quality of life.
• Sensory loss can be offset by corrective devices.

Cognitive Processes and Changes

• Cognitive processes (like memory and learning) can change as people age. Changes might include decline in processing speed, some forms of recall of knowledge, and response times.
• Fluid intelligence (neurological capacity) generally declines with age, while crystallized intelligence (knowledge, experience) tends to remain relatively stable or improve.

Learning and Memory

• Learning and memory are susceptible to age related changes.
• Creativity, wisdom and personality traits and behaviors also change with age.

This quiz explores important themes related to aging, societal recognition, and the diversity of experiences among older adults. It covers various aspects of aging, including cultural perspectives, intelligence changes, and the impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples. Test your knowledge on these significant issues affecting older individuals in society.