Fulfilling Ageing (eBook)

Preface 7
Acknowledgments 10
Contents 15
About the Authors 19
Chapter 1: Introduction 20
1.1 The Multiple Dimensions of Ageing: An Overview 27
References 65
Chapter 2: Old Ages in History 76
2.1 The Ages of Life 78
2.2 Retirement Age and Old Age Pension 86
2.3 Before Greece and Rome 89
2.4 Ancient Greece and Rome 90
2.5 Middle Ages and Renaissance 98
2.6 The Seventeenth–Eighteenth Centuries 105
2.7 The Nineteenth Century 110
2.8 The Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries 115
2.9 The Safety Net 122
2.10 Older Ages and New Meanings of Life 124
2.11 Conclusions 131
References 132
Chapter 3: Old People Across Cultures 138
3.1 The Cultural Context of Old Age 141
3.2 Fulfilling Ageing Across Cultures 146
3.3 Inter-Generational Relationships Across Cultures 156
3.4 Perceptions of Old People’s Health Across Cultures 162
3.5 Old-Age Stereotypes: A Cross-Cultural View 170
3.6 The Ethnic Dimension of Elder Abuse and Neglect 174
3.7 Caring for Older People 178
3.8 Food Choices of the Elders 183
3.9 Life After Retirement 189
3.10 Old Age and End of Life Across Cultures 202
3.11 Conclusions 207
References 208
Chapter 4: Ageing in Better Mental Health 220
4.1 Body Changes with Age 221
4.2 Plasticity of the Ageing Brain 225
4.3 Mental Health 234
4.4 Mental Disorders in the Elderly 245
4.5 Neurocognitive Disorders: Causes, Prevention, and Psychological Interventions 257
4.6 Ageing, Gender, and Sexual Life 289
4.7 Ageing with a Disability 310
4.8 Physical Disabilities 312
4.9 Intellectual Disabilities 315
4.10 Reaching Very Old Ages 320
4.11 Conclusions 341
References 341
Chapter 5: The Psychology of Older Ages 374
5.1 Psychological Ageing 374
5.2 Self-Identity 378
5.3 The Emotional Dimension 387
5.4 The Cognitive Dimension 400
5.5 Memory 411
5.6 Personality and Ageing 423
5.7 Ageing and Psychological Stress 433
5.8 Retirement and Fulfilling Life 439
5.8.1 Preparing for Retirement 447
5.8.2 Transition to Retirement 449
5.8.3 Post-Transition Adjustment 450
5.8.4 Gender and Retirement 453
5.9 Conclusions 456
References 457
Chapter 6: The Social Dimension of Older Ages 480
6.1 Social Integration of the Elderly 481
6.2 Loneliness 495
6.3 Abuse 506
6.4 Family 512
6.5 Community 523
6.6 The Ethics of Ageing: Stereotypes, Stigma, and Ageism 533
6.6.1 Old Age and Ethics 533
6.6.2 Stereotypes of Old Age 536
6.6.3 Stigma 545
6.6.4 Ageism and Discrimination 551
6.7 Oldest-Old in Society 559
6.8 Older Immigrants 565
6.9 Older Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual/Transgender(trans), and Intersex People 577
6.10 Ageing Prison Inmates 591
6.11 Caring for Older People and Caregiver Burden 599
6.11.1 Caring for Older People 599
6.11.2 Caregiver Burden 606
6.12 Conclusions 618
References 619
Chapter 7: Language and Communication 652
7.1 Ageing and Communication: An Overview 653
7.2 A Cross-Cultural Perspective on Communication in Old People 666
7.3 Intra-Generational Communication 673
7.4 Inter-Generational Communication 676
7.4.1 Improving Inter-Generational Communication: Intervention Programmes 687
7.5 Narratives of the Elders 696
7.6 Elderly and the Media 717
7.7 Translating and Interpreting for Older Immigrants 718
7.8 Doctor–Patient Communication in the Elderly 723
7.9 Conclusions 727
References 727
Chapter 8: Journey Towards the End of Life 740
8.1 The Existential Dimension 747
8.2 Life Meaning and Legacy 753
8.2.1 Life Meaning 754
8.2.2 The Study of Meaning 764
8.2.3 Meaning and Life Satisfaction 768
8.2.4 Life Meaning and Life Traumas 772
8.2.5 Meaning Making 777
8.2.6 Legacy 787
8.3 Fear of Death and Death Anxiety 793
8.3.1 Factors Affecting Fear of Death and Death Anxiety 805
8.3.2 Decreasing Fear of Death and Death Anxiety 809
8.4 Religion and Spirituality 816
8.5 Hastening Own Death: Euthanasia and Suicide 831
8.5.1 Euthanasia 838
8.5.2 Euthanasia, Life Fatigue, and Existential Suffering 844
8.5.3 Suicide 847
8.5.4 Will to Live and Suicide 861
8.5.5 Attempted Suicide, Protective Factors, and Interventions 864
8.6 End of Life in Multicultural Societies 867
8.7 End-of-Life Care 875
8.8 Conclusions 883
References 884
Chapter 9: Ageing in Evolutionary Perspective 910
9.1 Evolution and Lifespan 915
9.2 Evolution and Senescence 921
9.2.1 Evolution, Sex, and Ageing 926
9.2.2 Kin Selection and Ageing 931
9.3 Neoteny 940
9.4 Conclusions 946
References 946
Chapter 10: Fulfilling Ageing 956
10.1 Experiencing Fulfilling Ageing 957
10.2 Spontaneous Personal and Community Initiatives 959
10.3 Institutional and Professionally Guided Initiatives 961
References 963
Index 965