Family and Social Supports As We Age  Goals  To explore how family impacts us as we age  To understand issues around social support and isolation

How Does Family Influence Us As We Age?  Family Characteristics  Grandparenting  Styles:  Formal/Individualized  Remote  Involved  Authrotiative/Influential

What About Social Supports?  Formal vs. informal social supports  Social isolation  Elder abuse

Grandparent Narratives Read your assigned narratives, and in your group, discuss the following questions. Have someone take notes, and put names on the paper. 1. Do you think this person was following any universal “age norms?” Were there any historical or cultural influences on the person’s life course? (more general norms) 1.Was the person’s sequencing of life events taking place in a predictable manner or were they out of sequence? What influenced the pattern? (more specific patterns) 1.What was this person’s social support system like (include friends, partner, children, social services, etc.)? 1.What were intergenerational patterns like for this person? 1.Can you identify which category of grandparenting this person may be in?

Annual Editions Unit 2 Review Building the foundation for active aging; The arts and health project; and Age and gender effects on the assessment of spirituality. Get into groups and discuss the following questions:  How do organizations, programs, and societal expectations support (or not) the well being of older adults with regard to social support?  In what ways might religion/sprituality help or hinder well being in older age?