Aging
Concepts and Controversies
9th Edition
Published in 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
608 pages
978-1-5063-2800-3 (ISBN)
Description
Presenting current research in an innovative text-reader format, Aging: Concepts and Controversies, Ninth Edition encourages students to become involved and take an informed stand on the major aging issues we face as a society. Not simply a summary of research literature, Harry R. Moody and Jennifer R. Sasser's text focuses on controversies and questions, rather than on assimilating facts or arriving at a single "correct" view about aging and older people. Drawing on their extensive expertise, the authors first provide an overview of aging in three domains: aging over the life course, health care, and the socioeconomic aspects of aging. Each section is followed by a series of edited readings, offering different perspectives from experts and specialists on that subject.
New readings focus on whether current federal spending on the elderly is sustainable and fair to other groups, how older consumers are reshaping the business landscape, and the challenges of marketing and selling to customers 60 and over.
More emphasis is placed on how social class and inequality earlier in life can shape our final years and the number of older Americans living in poverty.
The section on Aging and Health Care has been thoroughly updated to reflect the latest data about chronic diseases that affect the elderly, government spending on health care, and policy changes to programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
The section on the Social and Economic Outlook for an Aging Society gives the most current picture of the racial and ethnic diversity of older Americans, their participation in the labor force, and their income and wealth.
New readings focus on whether current federal spending on the elderly is sustainable and fair to other groups, how older consumers are reshaping the business landscape, and the challenges of marketing and selling to customers 60 and over.
More emphasis is placed on how social class and inequality earlier in life can shape our final years and the number of older Americans living in poverty.
The section on Aging and Health Care has been thoroughly updated to reflect the latest data about chronic diseases that affect the elderly, government spending on health care, and policy changes to programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
The section on the Social and Economic Outlook for an Aging Society gives the most current picture of the racial and ethnic diversity of older Americans, their participation in the labor force, and their income and wealth.
More details
Edition
9th Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks, CA
United States
Publishing group
SAGE Publications Inc
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 187 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-5063-2800-3 (9781506328003)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
05/2014
8th Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€148.80
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
Preface
Prologue
About the Authors
Basic Concepts I. A Life Course Perspective on Aging
Age Identification
The Stages of Life
The Life Course and Aging
Traditional Theories of Aging
Influences on the Life Course
Aging in the 21st Century
The Biology of Aging
Aging and Psychological Functioning
Conclusion
Controversy 1. Does Old Age Have Meaning?
The Meaning of Age
Leisure Activities in Later Life
Religion and Spirituality
Gerontology and the Meaning of Age
Activity or Reflection?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 2. Why Do Our Bodies Grow Old?
The Process of Biological Aging
Biological Theories of Aging
Is Aging Inevitable?
Ways to Prolong the Life Span
Compression or Prolongation of Morbidity?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 3. Do Intelligence and Creativity Decline With Age?
Elements of Cognitive Function
The Classic Aging Pattern
Measures of Late-Life Intelligence
Studies of Age and Cognitive Function
Correlates of Cognitive Stability
Creativity in an Aging Population
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Basic Concepts II. Aging, Health Care, and Society
The Challenge of Longevity
Epidemiology of Aging
Economics of Health Care
Long-Term Care
Self-Determined Death
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-Saving Plan
The Impetus for Rationing
Cost Versus Age
Alternative Approaches to Rationing
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
The Debate Over Age-Based Rationing
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
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 Adults
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 7. Should People Have the Choice to End Their Lives?
Depression and Suicide
The "Right to Die"
Outlook for the Future
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Basic Concepts III. Social and Economic Outlook for an Aging Society
The Varieties of Aging Experience
The Economic Status of Older Americans
Public Policy on Aging
Conclusion
Controversy 8. Should Age or Need Be the Basis for Entitlement?
A Tale of Two Generations
Justice Between Generations
The Least-Advantaged Older Adults
Help for Those Most in Need
The Targeting Debate
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 9. What Is the Future for Social Security?
Main Features of Social Security
Success-and Doubt
Pay as You Go
Social Security Trust Fund
Eligibility
Privatization
Women and Social Security
Debate Over 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
Debate Over Retirement Policy
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 11. Aging Boomers: Boom or Bust?
Who Are the Boomers?
What Is a Generation? Age-Period-Cohort Analysis
Social Construction of the Boomer Phenomenon
Boomers in the Years Ahead
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 12. The New Aging Marketplace: Hope or Hype?
The New Customer Majority
Market Sectors Likely to Grow
What Do Older Consumers Want?
Limits of the Marketplace Model
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Epilogue: Finding Your Place in an Aging Society
Appendix: How to Research a Term Paper in Gerontology
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Prologue
About the Authors
Basic Concepts I. A Life Course Perspective on Aging
Age Identification
The Stages of Life
The Life Course and Aging
Traditional Theories of Aging
Influences on the Life Course
Aging in the 21st Century
The Biology of Aging
Aging and Psychological Functioning
Conclusion
Controversy 1. Does Old Age Have Meaning?
The Meaning of Age
Leisure Activities in Later Life
Religion and Spirituality
Gerontology and the Meaning of Age
Activity or Reflection?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 2. Why Do Our Bodies Grow Old?
The Process of Biological Aging
Biological Theories of Aging
Is Aging Inevitable?
Ways to Prolong the Life Span
Compression or Prolongation of Morbidity?
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 3. Do Intelligence and Creativity Decline With Age?
Elements of Cognitive Function
The Classic Aging Pattern
Measures of Late-Life Intelligence
Studies of Age and Cognitive Function
Correlates of Cognitive Stability
Creativity in an Aging Population
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Basic Concepts II. Aging, Health Care, and Society
The Challenge of Longevity
Epidemiology of Aging
Economics of Health Care
Long-Term Care
Self-Determined Death
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-Saving Plan
The Impetus for Rationing
Cost Versus Age
Alternative Approaches to Rationing
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
The Debate Over Age-Based Rationing
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
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 Adults
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 7. Should People Have the Choice to End Their Lives?
Depression and Suicide
The "Right to Die"
Outlook for the Future
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Basic Concepts III. Social and Economic Outlook for an Aging Society
The Varieties of Aging Experience
The Economic Status of Older Americans
Public Policy on Aging
Conclusion
Controversy 8. Should Age or Need Be the Basis for Entitlement?
A Tale of Two Generations
Justice Between Generations
The Least-Advantaged Older Adults
Help for Those Most in Need
The Targeting Debate
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 9. What Is the Future for Social Security?
Main Features of Social Security
Success-and Doubt
Pay as You Go
Social Security Trust Fund
Eligibility
Privatization
Women and Social Security
Debate Over 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
Debate Over Retirement Policy
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 11. Aging Boomers: Boom or Bust?
Who Are the Boomers?
What Is a Generation? Age-Period-Cohort Analysis
Social Construction of the Boomer Phenomenon
Boomers in the Years Ahead
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Controversy 12. The New Aging Marketplace: Hope or Hype?
The New Customer Majority
Market Sectors Likely to Grow
What Do Older Consumers Want?
Limits of the Marketplace Model
Questions for Writing, Reflection, and Debate
Epilogue: Finding Your Place in an Aging Society
Appendix: How to Research a Term Paper in Gerontology
Glossary
Bibliography
Index