HLTAGE 1BB3 Midterm Exam Study PDF

HLTAGE 1BB3 Midterm Exam Study Aging as a Social Process Why Study Aging? Better understand diversity in aging experiences Challenge and eliminate myths & stereotypes of aging Learn more about our own aging Support older people in our families and social circles Pr...

HLTAGE 1BB3 Midterm Exam Study Aging as a Social Process Why Study Aging? Better understand diversity in aging experiences Challenge and eliminate myths & stereotypes of aging Learn more about our own aging Support older people in our families and social circles Prepare for work with older adults (in any sector) Understand intergenerational relations Consider how policies and global events affect different groups of older adults Support Canada to become a health, active, and safe country for people of all ages Population aging Older adults (65+) are healthier and more active than ever 7 million Canadians are 65+ Centenarian o Person 100+ Are expected to live for many years after retiring Ways in which we engage with social institutions change: o Family life/Make-up o Health care access and usage o Economy and financial institutions o Labour force participation o Education systems and schooling Adding life to the years Life expectancy has increased Our lifespan ~120 years Lifespan: Examples: o ~20: Dogs o ~85: Elephants o ~120: Humans Life Expectancy Why Are our populations getting older? Decrease in morality rates o Humans preventing death ▪ Sanitation, public health, medicine, etc o HUGE variation across gender, location, education Decrease in fertility rates o Canadians having fewer children o 202: ~10 infants/1,000 o Below “replacement rate” o Population is NOT decreasing Population aging in Canada Will continue to ‘age’ until 2031 when ‘boomers’ will be 65+ o Baby boom (1946-1965) Effects of population aging are felt everywhere: o Policy and planning o Housing section o Economy o Healthcare sector Many factors influence how old we get: Biological, psychological, genetic, social, cultural, societal factors all influence life expectancy Key Terms Median Age o Age at which population divides into equal numbers of younger and older people Life expectancy o After number of years of life remaining for an individual usually at birth o Shaped by social determinants of health; why we see such big differences in life expectancy Birth/death rates o Rates of births/deaths usually captured in a one year period o Populations begin to age as birth and death rates fall o High immigration and low emigration = population growth Sex ratio o Number of males/100 females Total dependency ratio  o Total number of people