Aging

About the Author/Editor
Preface
Prologue
Note to Students
BASIC CONCEPTS I: A LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON AGING
Age Identification
The Stages of Life
The Life Course and Aging
Life Transitions
Theories of Aging
Modernization Theory
Disengagement Theory
Activity Theory
Influences on the Life Course
Social Class and Life History
Social Institutions and Policies
Aging in the 21st Century
Time and the Life Course
The Moral Economy of the Life Course
The Biology of Aging
The New Science of Longevity
Mechanisms of Physical Aging
Wear and Tear
Free Radicals
The Immune System
Aging and Psychological Functioning
Self-concept and Social Relationships
Social Roles
Cognitive Functioning
Conclusion
Toward a New Map of Life
CONTROVERSY 1: DOES OLD AGE HAVE MEANING?
The Meaning of Age
Leisure Activities in Later Life
Changing Leisure Participation Patterns
Explaining Patterns of Leisure
Religion and Spirituality
Spiritual Practice and Religious Participation Over the Life Course
Spiritual Belief, Religious Participation, and Well-Being
Spirituality and the Search for Meaning
Social Gerontology and the Meaning of Age
The Meaning of Aging in the 21st Century
Activity or Reflection?
Focus on Practice: Reminiscence and Life Review
Readings
The Coming of Age by Simone de Beauvoir
Vital Involvement in Old Age by Erik H. Erikson, Joan M. Erikson, and Helen Q. Kivnick
Successful Aging by John Rowe and Robert Kahn
The Measure of My Days by Florida Scott-Maxwell
CONTROVERSY 2: WHY DO OUR BODIES AGE?
The Process of Biological Aging
Biological Theories of Aging
Wear-and-Tear Theory
Autoimmune Theory
Aging-Clock Theory
Cross-Linkage Theory
Free Radicals
Cellular Theory
Is Aging Inevitable?
Ways to Prolong the Life Span
Environmental Approach
Genetic Approach
Compression or Prolongation of Morbidity?
Focus on Practice: Health Promotion
Readings
Why Do We Live As Long As We Do? by Leonard Hayflick
Vitality and Aging: Implications of the Rectangular Curve by James F. Fries and Lawrence Crapo
We Will Be Able to Live to 1,000 by Aubrey de Grey
Don't Fall for the Cult of Immortality by S. Jay Olshansky
The Compression of Morbidity Hypothesis: A Review of Research and Prospects for the Furure by Vincent Mor
Health Trends in the Elderly Population: Getting Better and Getting Worse by Marti G. Parker and Mats Thorslund
Focus on the Future: "I Dated a Cyborg!"
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
CONTROVERSY 3: DOES INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING CHANGE WITH AGE?
Elements of Cognitive Functioning
The Classic Aging Pattern
Measures of Intelligence in Later Life
Studies of Age and Cognitive Function
Memory and Aging
Correlates of Cognitive Stability
Mature Cognition
Focus on Practice: Older-Adult Education
Readings
Age and Achievement by Harvey Lehman
Age and Achievement: A Critique by Wayne Dennis
Growing Old or Living Long: Take Your Pick by Laura L. Cartensen
The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain by Gene Cohen
Aging by Becca Levy and Ellen Langer
Focus on the Future: Late-life Learning in the Information Society
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
BASIC CONCEPTS II: AGING, HEALTH CARE, AND SOCIETY
The Challenge of Longevity
The Case of the Struldbruggs
Normal Aging
Longevity and Disease
Epidemiology of Aging
Major Diseases in Old Age
Responses to the Geriatric Diseases
Economics of Health Care
Reimbursement Systems
Prospects for the Future
Long-term Care
Housing for Older Adults
Chronic Care in Old Age
Functional Assessment
The Continuum of Care
Paying for Long-term Care: An American Dilemma
Self-Determined Death
Late-Life Suicide
Conclusion
CONTROVERSY 4: SHOULD WE RATION HEALTH CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE?
Precedents for Health Care Rationing
The Justification for Age-Based Rationing
Rationing as a Cost-Savings Plan
The Impetus for Rationing
Cost Versus Age
Alternative Approaches to Rationing
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
The Debate Over Age-Based Rationing
Focus on Practice: Managed Care
Readings
Why We Must Set Limits by Daniel Callahan
Pricing Life: Why It's Time for Health Care Rationing by Peter Ubel
The Pied Piper Returns for the Old Folks by Nat Hentoff
Letting Individuals Decide by Terrie Wetle and Richard W. Besdine
Aim Not Just for Longer Life, but Expanded "Health Span" by Daniel Perry and Robert Butler
Focus on the Future: Scenarios for Rationing: Fiction or Forecast?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
CONTROVERSY 5: SHOULD FAMILIES PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN?
Aging and the American Family
Abandonment or Independence?
Family Responsibility
Medicaid and Long-Term Care
Financing Long-Term Care
Medicaid Planning
Focus on Practice: Long-Term Care Insurance
Readings
Medicaid and Long-Term Care by Peter J. Strauss and Nancy M. Lederman
Shame of the Rich: Making Themselves Poor by Jane Bryant Quinn
The Fallacy of Impoverishment by Stephen Moses
The Case Against Paying Family Caregivers: Ethical and Practical Issues by C. Jean Blaser
For Love and Money: Paying Family Caregivers by Suzanne R. Kunkel, Robert A. Applebaum, and Ian M. Nelson
Focus on the Future: Genetic Screening for Alzheimer's Disease?
Questions to Ponder
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
CONTROVERSY 6: SHOULD OLDER PEOPLE BE PROTECTED FROM BAD CHOICES?
The Vulnerabilities of Older People
Interfering When People Make Bad Choices
Elder Abuse and Neglect
Perceptions of Quality of Life
Sexuality in Later Life
Crime and Older Adults
Intervention in the Lives of Vulnerable Older People
Focus on Practice: Adult Protective Services
Readings
The Right to Freedom From Restraints by Robert N. Brown
Ethical Dilemmas in Elder Abuse by Terrie T. Wetle and Terry T. Fulmer
A Legal Perspective on Elder Abuse by Candace J. Heisler and Mary Joy Quinn
Elder Self-Neglect: A Blurred Concept by Dorothy R. Fabian and Eloise Rathbone-McCuan
Focus on the Future: Inheritance in an Aging Society
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
CONTROVERSY 7: SHOULD OLDER PEOPLE HAVE THE CHOICE TO END THEIR LIVES?
Depression and Suicide
The "Right to Die"
Outlook on the Future
Focus on Practice: Advanced Directives
Readings
Why Do People Seek Physician-Assisted Death? by Robert A. Pearlman and Helene Starks
A Time to Die: The Place for Physican Assistance by Charles F. McKhann
Last Rights: Aunty's Story by Sue Woodman
Neither for Love or Money: Why Doctors Must Not Kill by Leon Kass
Focus on the Future: Neighborhood Suicide Clinics?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
BASIC CONCEPTS III: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR AN AGING SOCIETY
The Varieties of Aging Experience
Social Class
Race and Ethnicity
Gender and Aging
Multiple Jeopardy
Economic Well-Being
The Economic Status of Older Americans
Sources of Retirement Income
Changing Financial Outlook
Public Policy on Aging
The Aging Network
Aging Interest Groups
Trends in Public Policy and Aging
Conclusion
CONTROVERSY 8: SHOULD AGE OR NEED BE THE BASIS FOR ENTITLEMENT?
A Tale of Two Generations
Generational Equity
Poverty Among the Old
Poverty Among Children and Young People
The Dependency Ratio
Taxation and Generational Accounting
Power and Competition for Scarce Resources
The Least-Advantaged in the Older Population
Help for Those Most in Need
The Targeting Debate
Focus on Practice: Intergenerational Programs
Readings
Growing Older by Lester Thurow
Gray Dawn: Target Benefits on the Basis of Need by Peter G. Peterson
"Generational Equity" and the New Victim Blaming by Meredith Minkler
The Generational Equity Debate by John B. Williamson, Diane M. Watts-Ray, and Eric R. Kingson
Focus on the Future: Walled Retirement Villages?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
CONTROVERSY 9: WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY?
Main Features of Social Security
Success-and Doubts
Pay as You Go
Social Security Trust Fund
Eligibility
Privatization
Women and Social Security
Debate Over Security
Focus on Practice: Investment Decisions For Retirement Income
Readings
How to Save Social Security: A Balanced Approach by Peter Diamond and Peter Orszag
The Necessity and Desirability of Social Security Reform by Ramesh Ponnuru
Social Security Reform and Benefit Adequacy by Lawrence H. Thompson
Social Security for Yesterday's Family? by C. Eugene Steuerle and Melissa Favreault
Focus on the Future: Two Scenarios for the Future of Social Security
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
CONTROVERSY 10: IS RETIREMENT OBSOLETE?
History of Retirement
Origins of Late-Life Leisure
Changes in the American Economy
A New View of Retirement
Productive Aging
Debate Over Retirement Policy
Focus on Practice: Pre-retirement Planning
Readings
Achieving a Productive Aging Society by Francis G. Caro, Scott A. Bass, and Yung-Ping Chen
Prime Time by Marc Freedman
The Busy Ethic: Moral Continuity Between Work and Retirement by David J. Ekerdt
Moving Toward a Creative Retirement by Ronald J. Manheimer
Focus on the Future: The U.S. Wisdom Corps?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
CONTROVERSY 11: AGING BOOMERS: BOOM OR BUST?
Who are the Boomers?
What is a Generation?
Social Constructions of the Boomer Phenomenon
Boomers in the Years Ahead
Focus on Practice: Marketing to Aging Boomers
Readings
Boomsday by Christopher Buckley
No Country for Young Men by Megan McArdle
The Longevity Revolution: As Boomers Become Elders by Theodore Roszak
The Long Baby Boom: An Optimistic Vision for a Graying Generation by Jeff Goldsmith
Focus on the Future
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Epilogue
Appendices
A: How to Research a Term Paper in Gerontology
B: Internet Resources on Aging
C:
Bibliography
Glossary/Index