Issues in Aging

Mark Novak is Dean and Associate Vice President of the Department of International and Extended Studies at San Jose State University. He has a taught a course in Aging and Society for over 20 years.

IN THIS SECTION:

1.) BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS

2.) FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

Chapter 1:   Aging Today 

Chapter 2:   Theories and Methods  

Chapter 3:   Demography  

Chapter 4:   Personal Health and Well-Being  

Chapter 5:   The Life Course 

Chapter 6:   Race and Ethnicity  

Chapter 7:   Retirement and Work  

Chapter 8: Housing and Transportation 

Chapter 9: Leisure, Recreation, and Education  

Chapter 10: Family Life and Social Support  

Chapter 11: Social Support  

Chapter 12: Death and Dying  

 

 

 

FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

Chapter 1: Aging Today 

Why Study Aging?  

Ageism 

Culture as A Source of Ageism  

The Media as a Source of Ageism 

Lack of Knowledge as a Source of Ageism  

Some Facts on Aging Today  

Victimization by Fraud  

Effects of Victimization  

Fear of Crime 

The Ageless Self: Another Form of Ageism  

Responses to Ageism  

Change on the Horizon

The Media  

The Senior Market: A New Image of Aging  

Education Programs  

Intergenerational Programs  

Legislation and Social Action 

Conclusion 

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult 

 

Chapter 2: Theories and Methods  

The Study of Aging: Past and Present

Early Developments in Research

Gerontology Research Today

Is Gerontology A Discipline?

Theories of Aging  

Two Levels of Theories  

Three Theoretical Perspectives  

Interpretive Perspective  

Critique of the Interpretive Perspective

Functionalist Perspective  

Age Stratification Theory: An Example of the Functionalist Perspective 

Individual Aging 

Societal Change 

Critique of the Functionalist Perspective  

Conflict Perspective  

Critique of the Conflict Perspective  

New Developments in Theory

Experimental Designs  

Cross-Sectional Designs  

Longitudinal Designs  

Quantitative and Qualitative Methods  

The Humanities  

Information Literacy: The Challenge of the Internet  

Ethical Issues in Research  

The Future of Gerontological Theory and Methods  

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 3: Demography  

The Challenge of Population Aging 

What Is Population Aging  

The Demographic Transition

Three Types of Societies and Population Aging  

The Less Developed Nations  

China: A Case study of Population Aging in a Developing Nation 

The Least Developed Nations 

Ghana: A Case Study of Population Aging in a Least Developed Nation 

Summary of Aging in Developing and Least Developed Nations  

The developed nations 

Japan: A Case Study of Population Aging in a Developed Nation  

Population Aging in the United States  

Increased Numbers of Older People  

Increased Proportion of Older People  

The Causes of Population change 

Migration  

Death Rates 

Birth Rates 

The Challenges of an Aging Population 

The Aging of the Older Population 

Ethnic and Racial Variations 

Regional Distribution 

Accumulation 

Recomposition 

Congregation 

Interstate Migration 

Amenity Migration 

Retirement 

Moderate Disability 

Major Chronic Disability 

Urban–Rural Distribution  

Changes in the Sex Ratio 

The Impact of Population Aging 

Support (or Dependency Ratios)

Critique of Dependency Ratios

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 4: Personal Health and Well-Being  

Biological Aging  

Theories of Biological Aging  

Programmed Theories  

Programmed Senescence  

Endocrine and Immunological Theory

Error Theories

Somatic Mutation Theory

Cross-Linking Theory

Free Radicals Theory

Other Theories  

The Effects of Aging on Body Systems 

Musculoskeletal System  

Sensory Changes  

Taste, Smell, and Touch 

Sight  

Hearing

Personal Health and Illness 

Changes in Health Status 

Limits on Activity Due to Physical Decline  

Coping with Physical Change

Improvements in Technology 

Improvements in the Environment  

Improvements in Self-Care 

Improvements in Lifestyle  

Compression of Morbidity Hypothesis 

Successful Aging  

Rowe and Kahn’s Model of Successful Aging 

The SOC Model of Successful Aging  

A Life Course Model of Successful Aging  

Anti-Aging Medicine and Science  

Social Inequality and Personal Health  

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 5: The Life course 

Memory and Intelligence 

Experience and Mental Function in Later Life: The Study of Reading

Summary of Memory Research

Intelligence 

New Models of Mental Ability in Later Life  

The Study of Wisdom in Later Life

Creativity  

Personality Development and the Self  

Self-Development in Later Life 

Spirituality: The Search for Meaning in Later Life

Social Psychological Change 

Disengagement Theory  

Activity Theory 

Continuity Theory  

The Life Course Perspective  

The Structure of the Life Course  

Life Events  

Psychological disorders: abnormal aging 

Organic Disorders: Cognitive Impairment in Later Life 

Functional Disorders 

Loneliness 

Social Breakdown and Reconstruction  

Conclusion  

Summary 

Discussion Questions 

Suggested Reading 

Websites to Consult 

 

Chapter 6: Race and Ethnicity  

Who Are the Minority Elderly?  

Why Study Minority Aging?  

Demographic Characteristics of Dominant and Minority Group Elders 

Whites: The Dominant Group Older Population  

The Minority Older Population 

Diversity of the Minority Population 

Aging of the Minority Population 

Three Theories on Minority Group Aging 

Multiple Jeopardy  

Critique of Multiple Jeopardy Theory  

Leveling  

The Life Course Perspective  

Institutional Completeness: An Example of Life Course Differences  

Structured Inequality and Personal History 

The Impact of Minority Group Membership on Aging 

A Look at Four Minority Groups  

African Americans  

Hispanic Americans  

Asian Americans  

American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AIAN) 

Responses to Minority Group Aging  

Future Issues  

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  



Chapter 7: Retirement and Work  

The Social Origins of Retirement  

Retirement in the United States Today  

Women and Retirement  

Minorities and Retirement  

Alternatives to Retirement  

Early Retirement  

Partial Retirement  

Second Careers  

Personal Responses to Retirement  

Social Structures and Retirement  

The Dual Economy  

Displaced Workers  

The Future of Retirement 

Conclusion 

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading 

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 8: Housing and Transportation 

Living Arrangements  

An Ecological Model of Housing  

Housing Options  

Single-Family Homes  

Apartment Living  

Congregate Housing and Assisted (Apartment) Living  

Subsidized Housing 

Single Room Occupancy (SRO)  

Supportive Housing  

Accessory Dwelling Units  

Home Sharing  

Retirement Communities  

Continuing Care Retirement Communities  

Low-Income, Rural, and Minority Housing  

Homelessness  

The Future of Housing  

Transportation  

Public Transportation  

Private Transportation  

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 9: Leisure, Recreation, and Education  

Leisure  

Age and Leisure  

Gender and Leisure 

Minority Status and Leisure 

Leisure Education  

New Activities in Old Age  

Outdoor Recreation  

Fitness, Health, and Well-Being  

Senior Centers  

Education  

Formal Higher Education  

Informal Educational Options  

Elderhostel  

Lifelong Learning Institutes 

The Future of Education for Older People  

Community Service and Volunteer Work  

Volunteer Opportunities  

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions 

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 10: Family Life and Social Support  

Marriage and Widowhood  

Marital Status  

Widowhood  

Sexuality  

Grandparenting

The Future of the Family

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 11: Social Support  

What is Informal Social Support?

Family Life and Family Supports  

Informal Supports for Older People 

The Role of Formal Supports  

Supports for Childless Older People  

Minority Differences in Social Support  

Websites to Consult 

Caregiving  

Gender Roles and the Challenge of Caregiving 

The Future of Informal Support

Eldercare and the Workplace  

Older People as Family Supporters  

 Elder Abuse

The Future of Social Supports

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

 

Chapter 12: Death and Dying  

Death and Society 

Death in Old Age  

The Experience of Dying 

Institutional Death  

Changes in the Treatment of the Dying 

Stages of Death and Dying  

Hospice Care  

Palliative Care 

Ethical Issues  

Advance Directives  

Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide 

Mourning and Grief  

Conclusion  

Summary  

Discussion Questions  

Suggested Reading  

Websites to Consult  

  

Works Consulted  

Glossary of Terms  

Index