Statistics show that women live longer than men, and that they constitute a substantial majority of the North American population over age 50. But more research has been done on the lives of older men, and the lack of empirical data on aging women has perpetuated a number of myths and stereotypes. Twenty years ago, for example, there was a presumption that only males worked and only males retired, though women often held jobs outside the home and these jobs were sometimes their only source of income. Studies of retirement, therefore, rarely treated the experience of women. Many fallacies still remain, despite a growing body of research conducted by women investigators. This reference provides a comprehensive overview of current research on women and aging and helps correct many mistaken assumptions. Chapters are written by expert contributors and are grouped in several broad sections. The first section provides a historical and theoretical perspective on women and aging and covers topics such as sexism and ageism, representations of older women in the arts, and the attitudes of society toward aging women. The second section treats economic issues related to employment and retirement. The third section explores the psychological and physical health of women and includes related information on topics such as voluntarism and religious activity. The fourth section looks at the particular concerns of women from diverse racial and ethnic groups. It also includes a chapter on the special needs of the rural elderly. The final section studies the relationships of older women, including the impact of widowhood and the significance of friendship patterns. Each chapter cites current research and the volume closes with a selected bibliography of major studies.

The Rolling Stones (now in their 60s) have sung to us for years about what a drag it is getting old, but it doesn't have to be that way. Despite living in a youth-oriented society, many of the aged patients seen by Dr. Levine have kept their emotional zest, intellectual zeal, and empowering dignity. Levine points to well-known public figures clearly aging with dignity and vitality. And this neurologist author shows steps we can take to age while retaining these qualities in defiance of a society that challenges this quest. Living longer is not enough for most of us; we don't want to just survive. The quality of our life as we age is most important, and much of that depends on our attitudes and approach. This text includes strategies to optimize self-esteem as well as health, including attention to nutrition, exercise, health care, education, mind stimulation, sexuality, social activities, and cosmetics and cosmetic surgery.

The Rolling Stones (now in their 60s) have sung to us for years about what a drag it is getting old, but they have proven that it doesn't have to be that way. Despite living in a youth-oriented society, many of the aged patients seen by Dr. Levine have kept their emotional zest, intellectual zeal, and empowering dignity. Levine points out well-known public figures who are clearly aging with dignity and vitality. The neurologist author shows steps we can take to age while retaining these qualities, defying a society that challenges this quest. Living longer is not enough for most of us: we don't want to just survive. The quality of our life as we age is most important, and much of that depends on our attitudes and approach. The text includes strategies to optimize self-esteem as well as health, including attention to nurtrition, exercise, health care, education and mind stimulation, sexuality, social activities, and cosmetics and cosmetic surgery.

Readers are shown the physiological facts of aging, from cellular to systemic changes. The most common diseases in old age are described, and actions are suggested to avoid many of the diseases. Levine also explores how the disorders change abilities and self-perception.

The "Handbook of Sociology of Aging" is the most comprehensive, engaging, and up-to-date treatment of developments within the field over the past 30 years. The volume represents an indispensable source of the freshest and highest standard scholarship for scholars, policy makers, and aging professionals alike.

The "Handbook of Sociology of Aging "contains 45 far-reaching chapters, authored by nearly 80 of the most renowned experts, on the most pressing topics related to aging today. With its recurring attention to the social forces that shape human aging, and the social consequences and policy implications of it, the contents will be of interest to everyone who cares about what aging means for individuals, families, and societies.

The chapters of the "Handbook of Sociology of Aging" illustrate the field's extraordinary breadth and depth, which has never before been represented in a single volume. Its contributions address topics that range from foundational matters, such as classic and contemporary theories and methods, to topics of longstanding and emergent interest, such as social diversity and inequalities, social relationships, social institutions, economies and governments, social vulnerabilities, public health, and care arrangements. The volume closes with a set of personal essays by senior scholars who share their experiences and hopes for the field, and an essay by the editors that provides a roadmap for the decade ahead.

The "Handbook of Sociology of Aging" showcases the very best that sociology has to offer the study of human aging.

This book investigates sociological, demographic and geographic aspects of aging in rural and nonmetropolitan areas of the United States. Population aging is one of the most important trends of the 20th and 21st centuries, and it is occurring worldwide, especially in more developed countries such as the United States. Population aging is more rapid in rural than urban areas of the U.S. In 2010, 15 percent of the nonmetropolitan compared to 12 percent of the metropolitan population were 65 years of age and older. By definition rural communities have smaller sized populations, and more limited healthcare, transportation and other aging-relevant services than do urban areas. It is thus especially important to study and understand aging in rural environments. "Rural Aging in 21st Century America" contributes evidence-based, policy-relevant information on rural aging in the U.S. A primary objective of the book is to improve understanding of what makes the experience of rural aging different from aging in urban areas and to increase understanding of the aged change the nature of rural places. The book addresses unique features of rural aging across economic, racial/ethnic, migration and other structures and patterns, all with a focus on debunking myths about rural aging and to emphasize opportunities and challenges that rural places and older people experience."""

With today's availability of Social Security and Medicare, we typically think of the older years as a stage in life where people are supported financially. However, of the more than 40 million old adults currently living in the US, many are struggling financially living below or near the poverty line. They are lacking the assets necessary to see them through a period of life that is often longer than expected and that requires more health and long-term care. While financial vulnerability can be most pronounced in old age, it is often created across decades, revealing itself in later years when there is little opportunity to reverse a lifetime of disadvantage. The concept of Financial Capability refers to both an individual and structural idea that combines a person's ability to act with their opportunity to act in their best financial interests. In Financial Capability and Asset Holding in Later Life: A Life Course Perspective the concept of Financial Capability is used to underscore the importance of acquiring knowledge and skills while also addressing policies and services than can build financial security. The volume assembles the latest evidence on financial capability and assets among older adults using a life course perspective, arguing that older adults need financial knowledge and financial services in order to build secure lives, and that this process needs to begin before it is too late to make effective changes and choices. Broken into three parts, the chapters in this book written by leading experts in the field blend together empirical findings, economic and social theory, and case studies. Part 1 opens the book with a conceptual and empirical overview of financial capability and assets among older adults using a life course perspective. Part 2 presents chapters addressing financial vulnerability of diverse racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and immigrants. Part 3 includes chapters describing current policies, programs, and innovations, including a review of important issues of working and caregiving in later life, and a detailed assessment of age-friendlybanking principles, banking products, services, and policies.

Thirty-five million Americans are living beyond the age of sixty-five, a twenty-five year increase in life expectancy since 1900. This longevity, once the gift of a few, has become the destiny of many. This time of life is not just about retiring; in fact many who retire return happily to some type of employment. It is a new stage of life filled with its own unique challenges and opportunities. Co-authors Jane Thayer and Peggy Thayer, a mother-daughter team of psychologists, have named this stage of life, 'elderescence.'

This is the first book in anthropology to provide strategies for the collection of qualitative and comparative data about aging, representing state-of-the-art techniques including cross-cultural and life-cycle studies of aging. Covering ethnic communities in the United States as well as other countries, this book is an indispensable resource and critical guide to research methods for professionals and students of gerontology, anthropology, and the social sciences in general.

Aging, Health, and Longevity in the Mexican-Origin Population creates a foundation for an interdisciplinary discussion of the trajectory of disability and long-term care for older people of Mexican-origin from a bi-national perspective. Although the literature on Latino elders in the United States is growing, few of these studies or publications offer the breadth and depth contained in this book.

Heumann and Boldy define and analyze emerging programs to help the frail and low-income elderly stay out of institutions and age in place in their communities with proper support systems. The case studies presented describe the latest thinking and innovative public program solutions to aging in place in highly developed industrialized countries, including Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, Sweden, and the United States. Heumann and Boldy link these studies and describe the conditions and constraints under which existing programs function.

Chapter 1 examines the benefits and limitations to aging in place policies and programs on the broadest level, including the economic trends that have created the urgency for new government policies. Chapter 2 presents the classification system of aging in place solutions so that the case examples can be viewed in a comparative context of approach and government commitment. Chapters 3-7 discuss subsidized housing solutions in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and other developed countries. Chapters 8-12 review community support programs in Australia, Israel, Sweden, and Japan. Chapter 13 summarizes the case findings, adds data to the editors' overall classification model, and discusses how government assistance could and should evolve in the future. Aging in Place with Dignity is designed to help government and voluntary-service planners and providers at the federal and local levels deal with the complex and urgent problem of enabling the frail elderly to age in place.

This book provides a comprehensive, theory-based analysis of current issues in population economics. It addresses the most important problems caused by demographic changes using the popular overlapping generations growth model by Samuelson and Diamond. Taking into account families' fertility decisions, it examines not only the demographic changes due to longer life expectancy but also the effects of social security policy on demography and labor supply/individual retirement behaviors. Conducting all analyses in a dynamic general equilibrium setting, the book offers a valuable theoretical reference guide in the field of population economics.

This book includes a series of reports that mainly discuss the Middle Income Trap against the backdrop of population ageing in China. It also offers practical suggestions on how to avoid it properly. Concretely, it argues that the government should accelerate the transition of economic development modes, resolve concentrated social conflicts, promote a balanced rural and urban development during the process of urbanization, and mitigate the effects of population ageing by fostering strengths and avoiding weaknesses. As for the challenges posed by population ageing in China, it puts forward five core suggestions tailored to China's unique situation. Assessing a number of real-world challenges, the general report and the special reports combine theory and empirical findings, using primary data for their analyses. Given the wealth of essential information it provides, the book offers a valuable reference resource for decision-makers.

How has popular film, television and fiction responded to the realities of an ageing Western population? This volume analyses this field of representation to argue that, while celebrations of ageing as an inspirational journey are increasing, most depictions still focus on decline and deterioration.

Population aging is perhaps the single biggest economic and social obstacle confronting Asia's future. The region-wide demographic transition towards an older population is fundamentally reshaping the demographic landscape, and is giving rise to two key socio-economic challenges. This timely book provides an in-depth analysis of these challenges and presents concrete policy options for tackling them. First, the expert contributors argue, Asia must find ways to sustain rapid economic growth in the face of less favorable demographics, which implies slower growth of the workforce. Second, they contend, Asia must find ways to deliver affordable, adequate, and sustainable old-age economic security for its growing elderly population. Underpinned by rigorous analysis, a wide range of concrete policy options for sustaining economic growth while delivering economic security for the elderly are then presented. These include Asia-wide policy options - relevant to the entire region - such as building up strong national pension systems, while other policy options are more relevant to sub-groups of countries. This stimulating and informative book will be of great interest to academics, students, and researchers with an interest in Asian studies, economics generally, and, more specifically, public sector economics. Contributors: Q. Chen, K. Eggleston, G. Estrada, L. Ladusingh, M.S. Lai, S.-H. Lee, L. Li, A. Mason, R. Matsukura, M.R. Narayana, N. Ogawa, D. Park, A. Ramayandi, K. Shin, A.-C. Tung

This book brings together a diversity of perspectives on the psychology of ageing. Exploring theoretical, conceptual, empirical and practical viewpoints on the topic, the authors offer insight into a range of contemporary issues. Dedicated chapters discuss themes within social and critical psychology such as ageing identities, sexuality and empathy in palliative care. The second part of the book analyses cognitive and biological aspects of ageing, including stress and health in ageing, dementia and lifestyle, and resilience in frailty in old age. The authors conclude by offering perspectives on community and political psychology, examining home and community supports for older people. Written in an accessible style suitable for students as well as researchers in psychology and the social sciences interested in ageing, this book showcases key theoretical, empirical, and practical issues in later life.

This book examines the processes by which older people make housing decisions and the impact such decisions have on the construction of their lives. Evidence is included from a major three-year research study, where older people told stories of their lives. The authors argue that housing decisions are not necessarily the result of rational, analytical and objective thinking. The contribution of other ways of decision-making is often hidden, as when people think intuitively, act impulsively, or for essentially emotional reasons.

An informed and often moving account of the crucial role of place in the lives of elders and what researchers and city planners are doing-and need to do-to make communities more age-friendly. Elderburbia: Aging with a Sense of Place in America argues that aging is not about time and the body, but about place and relationships. Drawing on the fascinating, multidisciplinary field of ethnography, it gives readers a deeper understanding of how the aging experience is shaped by where people call home, as well as a look at what makes a place well-suited for post-retirement living. Elderburbia combines cutting-edge scholarship with practical advice. The book provides an introduction to pivotal research on the broad subject of aging and place, including studies of migration and relocation. It also takes readers inside innovative elder-friendly community planning around the United States, particularly AdvantAge-an initiative to help counties, cities, and towns prepare for the growing number of older adults who are "aging in place," as opposed to moving to retiree-only communities. Everyone from individuals and families to social workers, activists, and city officials will find this a helpful, enlightening resource. 20 individual profiles of community development initiatives and design guidelines for elder-friendly communities, participatory research, and planning methods Excerpts from original ethnographic research on the sense of place and meaning of home, sociability design guidelines, and participation methods Graphics depicting elder-friendly community indicators and four domains of an elder-friendly community An extensive bibliography drawing on sources from anthropology, community planning, gerontology, and the broad literature on sense of place and phenomenology

This collection critically examines twenty-first century representations of ageing, focusing on various media images and discourses as well as individuals' own experiences and self-presentations of ageing, drawing on innovative new empirical data.

This unique book provides one of the first and certainly the most practical approach to considering the needs of this population. It addresses important issues such as choice, partnership and community development in order that health promoters can work with and alongside older people to ensure that their health needs are addressed. The text contains numerous examples of good practice and is intentionally interactive, encouraging practitioners to reflect upon and question the assumptions that they make about the health and life-quality expectations for which older people have the potential. Its pragmatic and practical approach encourages the reader to then address these issues in their own practice.The content appeals to a global market as the elderly population increases worldwide Explores attitudes of professionals and older people to their health and to each other Provides practical strategies and approaches Identifies how existing models and theories can be adapted to reflect the changing needs of older people Addresses issues of special relevance including physiological changes, sexual health and mental health

This book discusses current challenges in Japan, focusing on the nation's rapidly aging population and low birth rate, along with persistent public bond issues with heavy interest payments, the potential collapse of social security systems, and income inequality, as well as the global picture. In turn, it examines the accessibility of global fossil fuels and feasibility of large-scale solar energy use. A new theory of money, interest, and capital is put forward, together with a proposal for an alternative system of international monetary cooperation, to promote a more sustainable and equitable world. Specific topics discussed include * the inverted population pyramid, due to the dramatic change in human life spans and declining birth rates; * the rapidly shrinking workforce, aging population, and declining GDP share sourced from industry; * disproportionate debt expansion due to public bond issues and coping with a persistent budget deficit; * the potential collapse of social security systems combined with income inequality; and * how to mitigate these bio-economic predicaments. Global Energy Sources offers an essential guide for policymakers, economists, researchers, and all those concerned with establishing a sustainable and equitable society from both energy and monetary perspectives. Further, it will be of interest to readers around the world, as the lessons learned from Japan are crucial to other developed societies that may eventually face the same types of challenge.

Mit dem Anstieg der Lebenserwartung in Europa geht ein Wandel der Erwerbs- und Lebensverlaufe einher, die durch Bruche und Wechsel der beruflichen Tatigkeiten gepragt sind. Ein zentrales Anliegen ist daher, jedem die Teilhabe am Erwerbsleben uber den gesamten Lebensverlauf zu ermoeglichen und zugleich soziale Rechte durch angemessenen sozialen Schutz zu gewahrleisten. Mit juristischen, sozialpolitischen und empirischen Analysen widmet sich dieses Buch dem Zusammenspiel verschiedener Sozialschutzmechanismen und ihren Schwierigkeiten, sich den neuen Entwicklungen anzupassen. Es prasentiert die Impulse europaischer Instanzen und die Antworten verschiedener europaischer Staaten auf die Herausforderung, Flexibilisierung der Beschaftigung und Modernisierung der Sozialschutzsysteme in Einklang zu bringen. Increasing life expectancy in Europe entails a remodelling of career development and life course, marked by discontinuities and changing professional activities. One of the concerns is ensuring that everybody may participate in gainful activities during his or her life course while also guaranteeing social rights through adequate social protection. By means of legal, socio-political and empirical analyses this book embarks on the interrelationship of different social protection mechanisms and the resulting difficulties of adapting to these new employment patterns. It presents European impulses and the reactions of several European states to the challenge of reconciling flexibility of employment and modernisation of social protection. L'augmentation de l'esperance de vie en Europe suscite un changement des modes de parcours professionnels et de vie constitues de ruptures et de conversions d'activite. L'une des preoccupations est de permettre a chacun de poursuivre une activite professionnelle tout au long de sa vie tout en pouvant beneficier d'une protection sociale adaptee. A travers des analyses juridiques, socio-politiques et empiriques, cet ouvrage aborde les interferences et les difficultes d'adaptation des mecanismes de protection sociale aux nouvelles evolutions. Il presente les impulsions europeennes et les choix effectues au niveau national pour concilier flexibilite de l'emploi et modernisation des systemes de protection sociale.

This in-depth description of life in a nursing/care home for 70 residents and 40 staff highlights the daily care of frail or ill residents between 80 and 100 years of age, including people suffering with dementia. How residents interact with care assistants is emphasised, as are the different behaviours of men and women observed during a year of daily conversations between the author, patients and staff, who share their stories of the pressures of the work. Living Before Dying shows a world where, in extreme old age, people have to learn how to cope with living communally.

With the longest life expectancy for men and the second longest for women, Hong Kong typifies our planet s aging population. The daily lives of its older adults closely match the advantages and disadvantages experienced by urban elders in other developed countries. For these reasons, Hong Kong s elderly serve as a salient guide to older people s social, psychological, and healthcare needs concerns of increasing importance as the world grows older.

"Aging in Hong Kong" examines this emblematic population as a case study specifically in comparison with their counterparts in the West, shedding light on diverse, interrelated currents in the aging experience. Referencing numerous international studies, the book contrasts different health service arrangements and social factors and relates them to a variety of health outcomes. Its wide-ranging coverage documents health and illness trends, reviews age-friendly policy initiatives, relates health literacy to patients active role in their own care, and discusses elders as an underserved group in the division of limited health funding and resources. This multiple focus draws readers attention to policies that need revisiting or retooling as chapters analyze major life areas including:

Living environment.Retirement and post-retirement employment issues.Financial asset management.Health literacy regarding aging issues.Elder-positive service delivery models.Ageism in the prioritization of healthcare.End-of-life issues.

By assembling such a wealth of data on its subject, "Aging in Hong Kong" puts ongoing challenges into clear focus for gerontologists, sociologists, health and cross-cultural psychologists, public health policymakers, and others involved in improving the quality of elders lives."