1. Ch. 15
Aging and the Elderly

2. The “Greying” of Canada
The number of elderly people (people over 65) is increasing more than twice as fast as the population as a whole
By 2050, elderly population of Canada will be greater than the entire population in 1900
2011 census 14.8% were elderly people
Life expectancy in Canada has doubled in just over a century
Average number of children has declined by half
Aboriginal populations have higher birth rates

4. Why is it changing? The birth rate has been falling over last century
This is a trend in industrialized societies
Families choosing to have fewer children
Women have access to birth control
At the same time life expectancy going up
At the beginning of the 1900s, 50.2 years for women and 47.2 years for men
Now 83.4 years for women and 76.4 years for men

5. Cultural Change Higher proportion out of the work force
Increasing health care costs
Those 75+ need more help and care
Elderly women more likely to be poor
Culture of Aging?
Gerontology (the study of aging and elderly people) is a growing field of study

6. Changes due to aging Physical: Psychological:
Health becomes more frail
Chronic diseases and disability increase
Changes in appearance
Watch: The Science of Aging
Psychological:
Some loss of ability to learn new material
But capacity for reflection actually increases
Canadian studies show happiness among elders is related to health and income

7. The Life Course
A patterned sequence of experiences influenced by aspects of age such as maturity, decline, generation, survival, and the life cycle
There are expected and experienced life courses in every society
We follow known age related patterns
A gap between what we expect and what we experience can cause of distress or disappointment

8. Erik Erikson’s Life Course

9. Problems Over the Life Course
1. Childhood:
Poor children have more problems
Increased obesity among all children
2. Adolescence:
Early teens cannot do legally what later teens can
Poor teens less likely to have a job or be in school
Young people are staying at home much longer delaying the next stage

10. Problems (cont.) 3. Young Adulthood
Traditionally the time to get established, but now is more difficult, if not postponed
4. Middle Age
Income and prestige are at the peak, but signs of physical aging begin, e.g., wrinkles, stiffness, decline of senses, etc.
This is the “sandwich generation” – especially women
Caught between adult children still living at home and responsibilities of looking after elderly relatives

11. Problems (cont.) 5. Late Maturity and Old Age
Older people are an increasing percentage of the population
Young-old (65-74 yrs) are very active
Middle-old (75-84 yrs)
Old-old (85+ yrs)
Although majority not lonely, living in an institution, or poor, a significant number are experiencing problems

12. Suicide and the Life Course
Around the world older people have a much higher suicide rate than do younger people
In Canada:
Men: rates rise from teen years, decline to later maturity, and rise a little for 75+ yrs
Women: have lower rates with a high point at yrs
While there is a gender difference, and suicide does tend to increase for elderly men, no age seems significantly more difficult

13. Suicide by Age… (Kendall et al. 2008)

14. Legally-assisted Suicide
Law passed in June 2016
Allowed Canadians with terminal illnesses where natural death was “reasonably foreseeable” to choose to die with a doctor’s help
Between June and December 2016, there were 744 official legal suicides and the number is growing
Expectation that this will save $ in health care

15. Attitudes toward Aging
Many other cultures revere the elderly, but Western culture worships youth
Our social institutions, especially the media, help to create negative stereotypes toward aging and the aged
This is ageism
Ageism negatively affects those who are discriminated against
Canada has age stratification: elderly are often stereotyped and marginalized

16. Some Facts…
* In 2000, there were 600 million people aged 60 and over; there will be 1.2 billion by 2025 and 2 billion by * Today, about two thirds of all older people are living in the developing world; by 2025, it will be 75%. * In the developed world, the very old (age 80+) is the fastest growing population group. * Women outlive men in virtually all societies; consequently in very old age, the ratio of women/men is 2:1.

17. Living Arrangements of Seniors

18. Social Isolation Isolation is most common among elderly people
The greatest cause of social isolation is the inevitable death of significant others
Women have more supports than men
A variety of residences are available specifically for them but many want to maintain independence

19. Ageism as a Social Problem
Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age
Ageism widespread and is the most tolerated form of social discrimination in Canada (2012 survey)
being ignored or treated as though they are invisible (41%)
being treated like they have nothing to contribute (38%)
assuming that seniors are incompetent (27%)
1/3 of seniors discrimination from health care professionals
“society is structured based on the assumption that everyone is young. That assumption often means that society fails to respond to the real needs of older people”

20. Societal Examples of Ageism
Lack of focus on elder issues
Invisibility of older members of society
Elder products, including media articles relegated to “specialty sections”
Paternalistic treatment of the elderly
Focus on shortcomings, illness rather than strengths and contributions of the elderly
Watch The Roots and Consequences of Ageism

21. Consequences of Ageism
Stereotypes become self-fulfilling prophecy
(one experiment shows that being treated in stereotypical manner can affect physical health and appearance as well as psychological well being of elderly)
Forced to conform to stereotypes
Loss of freedom and efficacy in many areas leads to more rapid aging
Lowered self esteem and personal happiness
Exclusion from normal social interaction and social relationships leads to loss of essential social support

22. Changing the Stereotype: Raging Grannies and the Zimmers
The Raging Grannies: social activist organization In Canada and U.S. of women old enough to be grandmothers
dress up in clothes that mock stereotypes of older women and sing songs at protests.
The Zimmers (Britain) and “My Generation”

23. Problems of Age Stratification
Age Stratification: the inequalities, differences, segregation between age groups.
Workplace discrimination: younger workers are preferred
Retirement:
Debate – should there be a mandatory retirement age?
No longer in Ontario and some other provinces
But many people, e.g., small business owners, women working part-time, may not have pensions

24. Social Problems Related to Aging
The elderly in Canada are less destitute than in other countries, but many face economic strain
Feminization of aging: older women tend to have fewer resources
During downturns in the economy, employers often target elderly workers in order to cut expenses
Family Problems and Social Isolation:
Many seniors live alone
Suffer from loneliness, boredom
Problem of the “tea-and-toasters”
But many, especially women, have networks of family and friends

25. Social (cont.)
Victimization: on the whole, although seniors are less likely to be victims of crime, scams involving elderly people and elder abuse are often in the news.
Incidents of victimization lead to fear, powerlessness and a loss of sense of control
Elder abuse is another concern
Physical, sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse have become social problems that endanger the health of the elderly

26. The Future of Aging
Higher life satisfaction for the elderly linked to better health
Factors related to life satisfaction:
Social and family support
Marital status
High levels of religious activity
Consequences of Global Aging (IMF, 2011)

27. Sociological Perspectives
Functionalist
Disengagement Theory:
Older people want to be released from social expectations
Permits transfer of responsibilities to the next generation
Critique: Many older people disengaged because of rules, not by choice. The consequence is that they are removed from positions of power and influence. Many elderly wish to and do continue to work in paid and volunteer jobs.

28. Perspectives (cont.) Conflict
Conflict theorists argue that ageism is a form of inequality plied by the younger majority to further their own interests
We are losing a valued resource by marginalizing the elderly

29. Perspectives (cont.) Interactionist
symbolic interactionists focus on how socially constructed definitions of age and aging affect a person's experience of growing old
Activity Theory:
Older people who are active are happier and better adjusted, and older people find meaningful substitutes for previous roles
Critique: Older may not wish or be able to maintain active lifestyles

30. Perspectives (cont.) Feminist Senior women have
Much lower incomes than senior men
Should improve with women in the labour force
More disability than senior men
Feminist theories stress that aging has more negative consequences for women than it does for men