Chapter Twelve Aging

Quotes on Aging “When people get old and pearls get yellow, neither are worth much.” Chinese Proverb “The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven’t changed in 70 or 80 years. Your body changes, but you don’t change at all. And that, of course, causes great confusion.” Doris Lessing, The Sunday Times (London) Perhaps being old is having lighted rooms Inside your head, and people in them, acting. People you know, yet can’t quite name. Phillip Larkin, “The Old Fools” “This would be beautiful to an infant—why is it merely tragic in an older person? Our feelings about this show the extent to which we judge adults by their function.” John Mighton “Half Live”

Outline The Social Significance of Age Age and the Life Course in Contemporary Society Inequalities Related to Aging Sociological Perspectives Living Arrangements for Older Adults Death and Dying Aging in the Future

The Social Significance of Aging Trends in Aging Age in an Historical Perspective

The Social Significance of Aging Special Terms: Aging: the physical, psychological, and social processes associated with growing older Chronological age: a person’s age based on date of birth Functional age: observable individual attributes such as physical appearance, mobility, strength, coordination, and mental capacity that are used to assign people to age categories

Trends in Aging Today, older Canadians make up more than 10% of the population This makes Canada’s population one of the oldest in the world

Trends in Aging in Canada

Trends in Aging Additional terms Greying of Canada: the aging of the Canadian population resulted from an increase in life expectancy combined with a decrease in birth rates Life Expectancy: the average length of time a group of individuals of the same age will live Cohort: a group of people born within a specified period of time

Trends in Aging Research on aging has grown substantially in the past 50 years Special Terms: Gerontology: the study of aging and older people Social gerontology: the study of the social aspects of aging Includes: societal consequences of an aging population and the personal experience of aging

Trends in Aging Some highlighted statistics from Figures 12.1: 1900: 5% of the population was >65 1981: 10% of the population was >65 1991: 12% of the population was>65 2031: 22% of the population will be>65

Projected Population By Age 1992-2036 (2003)

Population Age 65> 1901-2031 (2004)

Trends in Aging Figure 12.4 reveals: The Age Pyramid Distribution This figure reflects declining birth rates and increases in life expectancy The result: many more older Canadians and fewer young Canadians

Age in Historical Perspective Theme: people are assigned to different roles and positions based on the age structure and role structure in a particular society. Age Structure: the number of persons at each age structure and role structure in a particular society Role Structure: the number and type of positions available to them

Age in Historical Perspective In non-industrial societies, labour was defined as physical Thus, as people aged, they were less able to contribute to economic well-being of a society In some hunting and gathering societies they were abandoned or killed In the 17th and 18th centuries, older persons helped with work and were respected

Age and the Life Course in Contemporary Society Middle Adulthood Late Adulthood Retirement Special Term: Age stratification: “the inequalities, differences, segregation, or conflict between age groups.”

Middle Adulthood In pre-20th century, the life expectancy of Canadians ranged between 40-65 Thus, there was no concept of “middle adulthood”

Middle Adulthood Meaning and elements of senescence (primary aging): Wrinkles and gray hair Arthritis Dulling of the senses Slowing down of reflexes

Male-Female Senescene Menopause The cessation of the menstrual cycle caused by the gradual decline in the body’s production of female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone (p. 369) Male Climacteric: the decrease of the male hormone testosterone Some evidence that it produces nervousness and depression (p.370)

Middle Adulthood Secondary Aging: “occurs as a result of environmental factors and lifestyle choices.” (p. 370) Elements of Secondary Aging Smoking, drinking, and little physical exercise result in aging Positive elements: Highest level of income and prestige Leave child rearing responsibilities behind The enjoyment of grandchildren

Late Adulthood Age >65 years in Canada Elements: Separation of an individual from paid labour An erosion of an identity based on an occupation Loss of valued status Key concept: Retirement: “the institutional separation of an individual from an occupational position, with continuation of income through a retirement pension based on prior years of service” (p. 370)

Stages of Being Old The Young Old: ages 65-74 The Old Old: 75-85 The Oldest Old: >85

Late Adulthood Elements of late adulthood: Bones become brittle Increase of arthritis Increased chance of disease Some are debilitating: Alzheimer’s Disease (55% of organic mental disorders are caused by Alzheimer’s) Burden of care on Adult children Some can be reversed through exercise

Further Characteristics of the Old Nursing homes: 5% Visual Impairment: 10% Hearing Loss: 50%

Late Adulthood New roles: Grandparenting Stress due to illnesses Most are financially secure: poverty rates have declined for the elderly Intimacy: One study: married people >65 had a higher level of satisfaction with their romantic relationship than married persons of any other age

Retirement Defined: the institutional separation of an individual from an occupational position, with a continuation of income through a retirement pension based on prior years of service With new laws, there has been a shift of dependency of the old from their families to the state

Retirement In Canada, all those in paid work contribute to and have access to payments after 65 In addition, about 1.4 million elderly have additional state benefits because of low incomes There has been a reduction of poverty among the elderly because of this

Retirement Effects: New activities Loss of income Loss of identity Change of lifestyle Change of friends New activities Volunteer organizations Hobbies Some return to work

Retirement Problems: Only a few Canadians have their own pension funds (RRSP). In 1999, a poll showed that only 11% of Canadians actually expected to finance their retirement through lottery winnings Many retired persons are continuing to work (between 1996 and 2001, twice as many seniors have continued to work than the actual rate of growth of the older population) Poor Heath: major effects: loss of freedom, becoming isolated

Inequalities Related to Aging Ageism Wealth, Poverty, and Aging Elder Abuse

Ageism Related to similar concepts such as prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age, particularly when they are older persons (p. 375) Sources of stereotypes (some are from the media): People are unattractive Unintelligent Asexual Unemployment Mentally incompetent

Ageism Effects of these stereotypes Difficulty in finding work if needed Negative self image

Wealth, Poverty, and Aging Has the economic situation of older Canadians improved? Yes The income of those >65 and over rose by 18% between 1981 to 1997 Will they be able to maintain a satisfactory standard of living? Yes Older people have less income but more wealth Still, 15% have low incomes

Wealth, Poverty, and Aging Feminization of poverty: Poverty rate for elderly women is double the poverty rate for elderly men Unattached elderly women are at risk of poverty In 2000, 43% of women living alone had incomes below the low-income cut-off, compared to 31% of men

Wealth, Poverty, and Aging Feminization of poverty: Gender was more directly related to poverty in older persons than ethnicity or race Others who are more likely to experience poverty: those whose language is not English or French, those with limited education, Aboriginals, people in small towns and unattached persons.

Elder Abuse Defined: the physical abuse, the psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and medical abuse or neglect of people >65 Known as the “Hidden victims.” 1999 survey: about 4000 were surveyed: 7% reported abuse from an adult child, caregiver, or spouse Emotional abuse was the most common

Elder Abuse Police records: About 25% of reported offences were from family members Kinds: Assault Uttering threats Robbery Financial abuse Older people report fear of crime Effects: more serious as they are more vulnerable

Sociological Perspectives Functionalist Symbolic Interactionist Conflict Feminist Postmodernist

Functionalist Theme: how older persons adjust to the changing roles in society...to devalue the elderly is dysfunctional for society Theory: disengagement theory: older persons make a normal and healthy adjustment to aging when they detach themselves from their social roles and prepare for their eventual death Functional both for the person and the society

Symbolic Interactionist Theme: how people deal with the aging process and how this experience can vary under different circumstances Activity theory: states that people tend to shift gears in late middle age and find substitutes for previous statuses, roles, and activities

Symbolic Interactionist Hypothesis: Healthy people who remain active have a higher level of life satisfaction than those who are inactive or in ill health Continuity: people attempt to maintain their self-esteem and lifelong principles and practices and that they simply adjust to the feedback from and needs of others as they grow older

Symbolic Interactionist Problem: the elderly are not valued for their long experiences Exchange: older people can exchange their knowledge for deference and respect from younger people

Conflict Theme: in capitalist societies, as people age they lose control and power Visible minority elderly have additional challenges Aboriginal peoples suffer more Yet, in many Aboriginal peoples elders have a higher status than among other Canadians

Feminist Perspectives A major problem for women: During their potential for earnings, it was a expectation that women were stay at home mothers (1950-1965)…thus they gained little independent incomes with relevant retirement plans Nearly half of women over age sixty-five are widowed and living alone on fixed incomes

Feminist Perspectives Gender was more directly related to poverty in older persons than was ethnicity, educational background, or occupational status Many middle-age women are working but make less than men and thus have less to save for retirement and less monies in pension funds

Postmodern Perspectives Focus: a new social construction of the elderly in the light of: Erosion of aging stages Labour demands can be met by the elderly Technology is creating “age-less” elderly Examples: breast implants, face-lifts, hormone replacement therapies Less and less demands for retirement at 65

Postmodern Perspectives Focus: a new social construction of the elderly in the light of: Increased health for the elderly Increased recreation Question: How far can we go to “undo” primary aging mechanisms?

Living Arrangements for Older Adults Growth of institutionalization of the elderly Yet, only 10% of women and 5% of men are in these facilities Extensions of care: Homemaker services Daycare centres Family Social networks

Living Arrangements for Older Adults Nursing Homes Any institution that offers medical care for chronically ill older people but is not a hospital Many people suffer from the transition Some evidence of abuse, neglect, excessive use of restraints

Death and Dying In pre-industrial societies, many people died before they were old Death was considered part of life In current, industrialized societies, death is a problem Question of assisted suicide Question of ethical guidelines for the removal of life supports

Death and Dying How do people cope with death? 1) stage-based approach: use of Kubler-Ross’ proposed five stages 2) Dying trajectory: may be sudden or gradual 3) Task-based approach: the dying person can and should go about daily activities and fulfill tasks that make the process of dying easier

Death and Dying An institutional approach: the emergence of the hospice: a homelike facility that provides supportive care for patients with terminal illnesses

Aging in the Future Elements of the future: By the year 2031, there will be 8 million persons >65 Will be less ageism Who will care for them? Families Women as care givers New medical breakthroughs Growth of Interest groups for the elderly

Questions How will the increase in number of Canadians over 65 impact institutions? Explain and critique disengagement theory and activity theory. Give examples of how the stages of age (childhood, middle age, old age ex.) are socially constructed. How can seniors be better integrated into Canadian Society? What does society risk if they are not?

References Moody, Harry R Aging : Concepts and Controversies Pine Forge Press 2000