Sociology of Aging and Social Structures

Social Structures & Social Inequality

• Aging factors into social stratification by ranking individuals based on characteristics like age, gender, ethnicity, and social class.
• Age structures are social relations among individuals affecting their lives as they age.
• Social position in social structures (age, gender, class) influences life chances & lifestyles (e.g., health, opportunities, education).
• Economic inequalities increase over the life course, strongly linked to childhood SES and later life health.
• Gender & age intersect to create gendered social processes where women are generally more disadvantaged than men, especially older women. Women are more likely to experience poverty, lower income, and greater responsibilities for unpaid labor.

Social Processes and Age Structures

• Cohort analysis: studying the characteristics of a specific birth cohort to study social change and stability.
• Generational analysis: comparing adjacent birth cohorts to understand how cohorts maintain continuity in social order.
• Lineage effects: examining similarities, differences, and conflicts among generations in an extended family.

Age Grading & Age Norms

• Age grading: how chronological age influences social life elements like positions, roles, norms, and relationships.
• Age grades define expected rights, behaviours, and responsibilities of an individual at a particular age.

Age Structures - Segregated or Integrated

• Moving towards age-integrated societies (more prestige among middle-aged individuals rather than older men).

Aging and Social Change

• Structural lag: Policies and programs lag behind the evolving needs of older adults (e.g., employment opportunities for those over 65).
• Cohorts and generations age differently and can introduce social change, specifically considering older cohorts' increased involvement in advocating for age-related issues and activism.

The Lived Environment

• Public policy accommodates needs of older adults by adjusting built environments (buildings, sidewalks, etc.) to meet older people's needs and be more age-friendly.

Aging in Rural or Remote Communities

• Advantages: proximity to food, family, and community.
• Disadvantages: lower income opportunities, lack of public transit, and fewer social & health services.

Overhousing

• Older adults may live in homes too large for their needs, often because they're attached to their long-term residences.

Gentrification

• It is an inner-city revitalization process that raises housing costs and pushes some residents out.

An Ecological Model of Aging

• Ecological model explains links between individuals and their environment, specifically considering aging.
• Individual competence includes an individual's physical and cognitive functioning.
• Environmental press is a wide concept and an assessment of personal and physical environments.

Falls and Injuries

• Falls are a leading cause of injuries for older adults, with 20% of falls resulting in serious injuries (e.g., hip fractures).
• Risk factors include personal, home, and community issues (e.g., poor lighting, construction).

Private and Public Transportation

• Accessible and affordable transportation supports older people's independence and quality of life.
• Policies regarding older people's driving licenses are important considerations. Addressing potential issues in rural & remote communities is important.

Technology Use

• Mechanical and technological aids improve functional environments for older people (e.g., Zoom calls with doctors).

Homelessness among Older Adults

• Increasing numbers of older adults experiencing homelessness (often exacerbated in urban centers).

Living Arrangements in Later Life

• Older adults often live with family members or alone, and ethnicity, gender, and immigration status can influence their living arrangements.

Housing Alternatives in Later Life

• Housing options vary from independent living to long-term care. Several options exist and can be categorized as age-integrated or age-segregated.

Independent/Supportive Housing

• Supportive living combines shelter with services like meals, housecleaning, and personal care, offering a mid-point between independent living and long-term care.

Dependent/Institutional Living

• Long-term care facilities are an important option for those with diverse health and mobility needs. This segment is larger in Canada than retirement homes.

Work and Retirement

• Baby boomers have experienced economic losses impacting economic security in retirement, causing changes to workforce transition (entry and exit) and meanings of work.
• Work trajectories have become less permanent and more complex. This is reflected in intermittent employment and non standard work. Older people are working longer and labor shortages may be influenced by aging demographics.

A Changing and Greying Labour Force

• Early retirement trends have reversed, with people working longer. The workforce is increasingly composed of older workers.

Women and Work Histories

• Women are more likely to leave the workforce to care for family members or experience other family responsibilities. This creates significant economic gaps in later life.

Retirement

• The transition from work to retirement is becoming blurred. Some people continue working in the workforce or in contingent labor.

Sliding into Retirement

• Women reach retirement with fewer resources and less preparation than men, leading to poorer economic security.

Economic Security in Later Life

• Economic security is achieved through employment trajectories and social programs (e.g., public pensions and social subsidies).

Retirement Income in Canada

• The Canadian pension system replaces only about 70% of pre-retirement income, and individual factors like education, work history, and gender significantly influence economic security in later life.

Health

• Holistic approach: physical, psychological, and social dimensions of health are essential for comprehensive health.
• Acute vs/ Chronic illnesses: Acute illnesses affect people in a shorter timeframe, chronic illnesses are conditions that affect people long term.
• Multimorbidity or the presence of multiple chronic conditions is an important health consideration for older adults

Health Promotion Model (HPM)

• Focus: prevention and promotion of health for the population/communities, including individual and inter-personal factors.

Models of Healthcare

• Medical model focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases, with interventions occurring largely within the clinical setting.
• Social model emphasizes the integration of social factors beyond the individual (i.e.: cultural norms, personal relationships, social supports, and community environments) as critical factors in determining an individual's/population's health experience.

Mental Health

• Mental health encompasses feelings, thoughts, and behaviors for those with healthy functioning. Mental illness can include significant distress and impaired functioning. Different aspects of mental illness/health can change over the life course and mental health issues differ between men and women, as well as across ethnicities/cultures.

Aging, Wellbeing, & Community

• Older people in Canada, especially those with financial and social resources, desire to live independently but have support systems from organizations like community centres; care facilities, and formal and/or informal support systems.

Family Ties, Relationships, & Transitions

• Family structures and dynamics are highly varied in today's society. Important issues are the types of relationships (e.g. siblings, couples, parents/children), the size/type of networks, and how interactions between family members change over time. This is a topic related to aging and experiences of different generations, including the complexities and challenges of families of different compositions.

Changing Family & Kinship Structures

• Family structures have become more diversified and complex. The types & composition of family relationships differ greatly by race, ethnicity, social class, and geographical conditions.

Marital Status & Marital Relationships

• The proportions of married/unmarried individuals/couples in later life differs by gender and other demographic categories. Factors like economic and social factors, lifestyle choices, and living arrangements all impact the diversity of marital experiences in later life.

Loneliness & Social Isolation

• Loneliness is a subjective feeling of lacking relationships, while social isolation is an objective lack of relationships/social connection. Both are significant determinants of well-being and quality of life for older adults, and important for healthcare professionals to consider.

Social Connection, Participation, & Leisure

• Social isolation/loneliness and social participation / engagement are significant to consider with aging, and in later life.

Volunteerism, Civic, & Religious Participation

• Factors that influence participation in voluntary associations, civic engagement, or religious activities.

Media Consumption

• Older people engage with media to stay connected and informed. Media provides opportunities for social connection and support.

Lifelong Learning & Social Participation

• Lifelong learning, related to social participation and technological advancements, is critical for older adults.

Travel and Tourism

• Travel and tourism opportunities contribute to maintaining health. The reasons and experiences of travelling in later life include motivations, health needs, and social supports.

End of Life

• Transitions, caregiving, needs of diverse groups. End of life issues are complex for individuals and their families

Ideal Continuum of Care

• Optimal path for older adults who are approaching death. It involves multiple levels of assistance, from informal support to formalized care.

Explore how social positions and socioeconomic status shape lifestyles, health outcomes, and experiences for older adults. This quiz delves into critical issues such as cumulative disadvantages, the impact of ethnicity and race, and the challenges faced by older women within social frameworks.