Resulting from a major ESRC funded project as part of their programme of research on population and household change Family and Community Life of Older People reflects the interest in how older people are affected by social change which is currently a key theme in social science. It focuses on three areas: Bethnal Green in London; Wolverhampton in the Midlands; and Woodford in Essex. These areas were the subject of studies in the late 1940s and 1950s. Using these examples, it explores changes to the family and community lives of older people. It should prove of interest to students in social policy, urban sociology, gerontology, social work and community studies and will also be relevant to policy makers.

For undergraduate courses in sociology and psychology which examine aging adulthood.

Cultures of Aging examines age and aging in terms of the key preoccupations of contemporary sociology—citizenship, the body and the self.

The book provides a platform for a new social gerontology that sees aging as central to our understanding of social change. It examines social, cultural and political changes in Europe and North America and the need to move the study of aging from social policy towards some of the key issues in contemporary social science.

This multimethod study of crime and the elderly in a small-town setting approaches the related issues from varied perspectives and ultimately presents a different picture of fear of crime among the elderly than that which dominates the current literature. Three features contribute to this book's uniqueness. The first is a departure from the urban view; the second is an emphasis on phenomenology; and the third is multimethodology. With an emphasis on qualitative research, this study allows the elderly and other key informants to present their own portrait relative to crime..a portrait that is far more contextually varied and far less dominated by fear and vulnerability than is commonly assumed.

This is an historical exploration of the US pensioner movements of the late 1920s through to the early 1950s, and the insights they offer policy analysts and researchers on how the forthcoming retirement of the Baby-Boom generation could proceed.

People are living into old age. This is actually a revolutionary statement as we look back to the start and then to the end of the twentieth century. This demographic revolution raises important practical and ethical issues and, for the most part, has led the way for the field of gerontology, the study of aging, to emerge as an area of increasing importance. With that in mind, Thorson has revised and expanded his 1995 text to serve as an introduction to the multidisciplinary field of gerontology.
Gerontology is both an area of specialty and an area within the larger arena of social sciences. This text, with its friendly narrative style, assumes no prior knowledge of gerontology, sociology, or psychology and will therefore solidly serve its purpose as an overview of the field. Along with the readable style, the text is well referenced, handsomely illustrated, and thick with helpful features.

This text employs a communication perspective to examine the aging process and the ability of individuals to adapt successfully to aging. It continues the groundbreaking work of the first edition, emphasizing a life-span approach toward understanding the social interaction that occurs during later life. The edition provides a comprehensive update on the existing and emerging research within communication and aging studies and considers such topics as notions of successful aging, positive and negative stereotypes toward older adults, and health communication issues. It raises awareness of the barriers facing elderly people in conversation and the importance such conversations have in elderly people's lives. The impact of nonrelational processes, such as hearing loss, are considered as they impact relationships with others and affect the ability to age successfully.
The book is organized into 14 chapters. Each chapter is written so that the reader is presented with an exhaustive review of the pertinent and recent literature from the social sciences. As in the first edition, when the literature is empirically based, the communicative ramifications are then discussed.
Readers of this volume will gain greater understanding of the importance of their communicative relationships and how significant they remain across the life span. Developed for students in communication, psychology, nursing, social gerontology, sociology, and related areas, "Communication and Aging" provides important insights on communication to all who are affected by the aging process.

This text employs a communication perspective to examine the aging process and the ability of individuals to adapt successfully to aging. It continues the groundbreaking work of the first edition, emphasizing a life-span approach toward understanding the social interaction that occurs during later life. The edition provides a comprehensive update on the existing and emerging research within communication and aging studies and considers such topics as notions of successful aging, positive and negative stereotypes toward older adults, and health communication issues. It raises awareness of the barriers facing elderly people in conversation and the importance such conversations have in elderly people's lives. The impact of nonrelational processes, such as hearing loss, are considered as they impact relationships with others and affect the ability to age successfully.
The book is organized into 14 chapters. Each chapter is written so that the reader is presented with an exhaustive review of the pertinent and recent literature from the social sciences. As in the first edition, when the literature is empirically based, the communicative ramifications are then discussed.
Readers of this volume will gain greater understanding of the importance of their communicative relationships and how significant they remain across the life span. Developed for students in communication, psychology, nursing, social gerontology, sociology, and related areas, "Communication and Aging" provides important insights on communication to all who are affected by the aging process.

Series Information:
Issues in Aging

The Handbook of Research Methods in Human Memory presents a collection of chapters on methodology used by researchers in investigating human memory. Understanding the basic cognitive function of human memory is critical in a wide variety of fields, such as clinical psychology, developmental psychology, education, neuroscience, and gerontology, and studying memory has become particularly urgent in recent years due to the prominence of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. However, choosing the most appropriate method of research is a daunting task for most scholars. This book explores the methods that are currently available in various areas of human memory research and serves as a reference manual to help guide readers' own research. Each chapter is written by prominent researchers and features cutting-edge research on human memory and cognition, with topics ranging from basic memory processes to cognitive neuroscience to further applications. The focus here is not on the "what," but the "how"-how research is best conducted on human memory.

Elder Abuse and Neglect in Residential Settings: Different National Backgrounds and Similar Responses contains insights and examples from other countries where elder abuse and neglect have been recognized as an issue requiring social policy attention. Nursing home employees as well as professionals and policymakers will explore the physical as well as the psychological aspects of neglect in nursing homes. Elder Abuse and Neglect in Residential Settings discusses deliberate physical abuse and more common forms of neglect and abuse, such as bedsores, poor nutrition, improper medication, and vermin infestation. Let this informative guide help you recognize the causes of elder abuse and neglect in order to prevent the same problems in your nursing home.Examining nursing home settings in America, Canada, England, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and South Africa to bring you firsthand accounts of the problems of elder abuse on a multicultural level. It also examines reasons for abuse and neglect, such as poor wages, long hours, low job prestige of nurses aides, and high exhaustion levels that have led to abuse and neglect by even the most caring individual. Through Elder Abuse and Neglect in Residential Settings, you will discover what factors directly correlate to the abuse and neglect of patients by: examining the high turnover rates of the lower-paid nurses aides understanding that well-qualified staff do not choose to work in nursing homes and that often abuse and neglect are committed by nurses aides gaining insight into the risks of physical assault and verbal abuse by patients that nurses aides may endure everyday exploring the psychological aspects of neglect in nursing homes such as, uncleanliness, the lack of attractiveness in the physical environment, inadequate diet, infantilization, and passive neglect, and what can be done to prevent these behaviorsElder Abuse and Neglect in Residential Settings discusses the elements that are significant to the future and quality of residential care. From this book, you will understand the importance of considering the characteristics of the patients and staff as well as the importance of developing gender-integrated and multicultural services. Elder Abuse and Neglect in Residential Settings will prove to be essential in your understanding of the worldwide problem of elder abuse and neglect in residential care and help you alleviate it.

Over coming decades, changes in population age structure will have profound implications for the macroeconomy - influencing economic growth, generational equity, human capital, saving and investment, and the sustainability of public and private transfer systems. How the future unfolds will depend on key actors in the generational economy: governments, families, financial institutions, and others. This path-breaking book provides a comprehensive analysis of the macroeconomic effects of changes in population age structure across the globe. The result of a substantial seven-year research project involving over 50 economists and demographers from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States, the book draws on a new and comprehensive conceptual framework - National Transfer Accounts - to quantify the economic lifecycle and economic flows across generations. It presents comprehensive estimates of both public and private economic flows between generations, and emphasizes the global nature of changes in population age structure which are affecting rich and poor countries alike. This unique and informative book will prove an invaluable reference tool for a wide ranging audience encompassing: students, researchers, and academics in fields such as demography, aging, public finance, economic development, macroeconomics, gerontology and national income accounting; policymakers and advisers focusing on areas of the public sector such as education, health, pensions, other social security programs, tax policy, and public debt; and policy analysts at international agencies such as the World Bank, the IMF and the UN.

First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This book explores the multifaceted experience of suffering in old age. Older adults suffer from a variety of causes such as illness, loss, and life disappointment, to name a few. Suffering also occurs due to experiences related to one's gender, ethnic background, and religion. Although gerontological literature has equated suffering with depression, grief, pain and sadness, elders themselves distinguished suffering from these concepts and at the same time showed how they are linked. Narratives of suffering from community-dwelling elders are interpreted in this book, along with the personal meaning of suffering that lies within each narrative.

Based upon interdisciplinary themes such as status and welfare, Old Age contains a collection of pieces examining old age in the study of history and places the problem of a rapidly ageing population in its historical context.
Covering from Ancient Greece to modern Germany and America, Old Age features both methodological and empirical studies. It represents a substantial contribution to the historical understanding of old age in past societies as well as to the discussion about the contribution of post-modernism to historical scholarship.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203021029

There are more people over 50 than ever before, with numbers likely to continue to rise. They are wealthier, healthier and happier than our old stereotypical images lead us to believe, yet this segment of the market is under-researched. In Understanding the Older Consumer, Barrie Gunter provides a detailed examination of the demographic, behavioural and psychological profiles of this group. He shows that without the responsibilities of loans and child raising and with better financial provision than in previous years, the over-50s represent a powerful spending force. In order to reach this group, marketers need to know how best to target advertising and respond to the changes that have occurred. Understanding the Older Consumer provides a wealth of information on older people's lifestyles and leisure, their interest in the mass media, their perceptions of advertising and their shopping preferences that will be invaluable to students of marketing, media and social psychology.

One of the "Best Books of 2011" from the Center for Optimal Adult Development
The fields of adult development and the study of learning have traditionally been considered separate, with development falling under psychology and learning under education. However, recent ideas, research, and practices that have emerged in these fields of study effectively emphasize the inherent reciprocal relationship that exists between them: advances in development frequently lead to learning, and conversely, learning almost necessarily fuels development.
In this second edition of The Oxford Handbook of Reciprocal Adult Learning and Development, the synchronicity between development and learning is explored further, as expert authors advance the latest theories to provide a rich foundation for this new area of study and practice for this interrelated field of study. At the border of two disciplines, this handbook focuses on the capacities of intelligence, meta-cognition, insight, self-efficacy, spirituality, interpersonal competence, wisdom, and other key adult attributes as they relate to positive changes and personal growth in adults. Contexts for development and learning (e.g., the work role and environment) are also addressed, and mixed in throughout the volume are emanating implications for research, practice, and policy. What emerges is a thoughtful handbook for all who promote optimal aging, and is a must-read for academics, psychologists, and practitioners in adult development.

Open up Dignity and Old Age, and you'll find a wealth of thoughtful suggestions for how you and others can gain more respect and admiration for your relatives, neighbors, and patients who are in the latter stages of life. You'll examine the word "dignity" as it relates to the world's elderly population to the fullest and most challenging extent, taking into account cross-cultural, religious, and even literary influences. Throughout this provoking and thorough examination, you'll tackle some tough questions, all of which will equip you with the theoretical and practical know-how needed to evoke change and preserve honorable relations with the elderly persons in your professional and personal relationships.The manner in which Dignity and Old Age will help you grow in your relationships with elderly people is twofold--ideally and practically. You'll begin with a revitalizing discussion of concepts that revolve around dignity and the elderly, and from there you'll move into the sphere of active practice, gleaning a wide variety of ways you can enhance your affairs with the elderly in health care, social services, government, and retirement entitlements and benefits. Specifically, you'll find positive approaches in these and other areas: the dignity in old age the true meaning of "Quality of Life" in old age achieving respect for ethnic elders as a health care provider bringing spirituality and community together in the last stage of life forming a philanthropic, caring partnership between government and the elderlyIn this insightful volume, you'll take an important step forward in creating a more dignified quality of life for the world's elderly--today's and tomorrow's. Overall, you'll gain the variety of perspectives necessary to ensure that everyone you come in contact with in casual, legal, leisure, and professional spheres will see you care enough to be concerned with the ideas and practices contained in Dignity and Old Age.

"The Gerontological Prism" promotes disciplinary cooperation in aging research and practice. To some extent, each chapter explores a unified objective, that of generating a disciplinary-blind gerontology. The fundamental assumption throughout this book is that the aging individual and society can be enhanced by an understanding of the correlates of basic social, behavioral, demographic, economic, political, ethical, and biomedical processes involving aging. Each author touches on issues that have both social psychological, and practical policy significance. They aim toward sensitizing the reader to the possibilities of a properly informed interdisciplinary approach to gerontology.

The global phenomenon of the aging of societies during a period of outstanding scientific, economic, and technological advancements is a blessing for humanity. These fundamental changes, however, create new needs and problems in all areas of life, often difficult to address. In some countries, the trend is towards compression of the period of age-related morbidity - fewer years of living with disabilities - but the absolute numbers of elderly people living with disabilities are increasing worldwide. This book highlights a series of global threats, problems and challenges in the areas of care and caregiving, through the prism of three multicultural nations: the United States, Israel and Australia. The contributors to this book, experts in their fields, focus on the art of caregiving at the national level, including the interface between family and state responsibilities, policies and practices in the provision of services, and the demands for education and training, as well as the problems and difficulties faced by family caregivers. This is the second of two edited volumes on aging and caregiving. The first, ""Lessons on Aging from Three Nations - Volume I: The Art of Aging Well"", examines positive aspects of and successful adaptations to aging. This book will be of interest to students of gerontology and geriatrics; those working in nongovernmental organizations - private, for-profit and non-profit agencies, including voluntary charitable and religious groups, those working in national regional and local governments, and all general readers intrigued with the aging of societies and longevity.

At least half of all neuropsychological assessments are performed on elderly persons, but the information clinicians need to make appropriate judgment calls is widely scattered. Several books offering general descriptions of the cognitive functioning of the aged or of neuropsychological conditions affecting them are helpful to practitioners but do not provide reliable and valid normative information. Two books that "do" provide this information do not focus on geriatric populations. A concise, yet comprehensive summary of what we now know about those over 65--with an extensive bibliography--"An Assessment Guide to Geriatric Neuropsychology" fills the gap.
The neuropsychological assessment of elderly persons involves not only the performance-based measurement of various capacities but heavy reliance on reports from caregivers (both formal and informal) about the day to day functioning of the affected person. It also raises important, yet often neglected, ethical concerns. The authors discuss all the measures that detect and discriminate among cognitive disorders of elderly persons, including special measures relevant to caregiver reports, and provide useful tables to assist in differential diagnosis. They also reflect on the ethical issues that often confront the assessor of an elderly individual: informed consent, confidentiality, the right of bodily autonomy and self-determination, and appropriate feedback.
This book will be an invaluable resource for all those called on to evaluate older clients.

The study presented in this volume examines how older women's identities are socially constructed and, in particular, how they can be influenced by institutional intervention. The interest in identity production is not only theoretical, but also practical. Different perceptions of oneself as an older woman involve considerable differences in the definition of that person's possible sphere of action, and therefore, in her life perspectives. The data -- collected during a four-year project studying older women -- consist of video recordings of the committee meetings of the Older Women's Group of Perugia, Italy. Other video recordings of theater workshops and of the management committee meetings of the Senior Citizen Centers in Perugia are used as a source of comparison. Transcripts of the video material are analyzed through a detailed discourse analysis within an ethnomethodological framework. The data are used to explore how gender and age identities are interactionally constructed in specific institutional contexts.
The first part of the book focuses on the interactional construction of aging. It shows how "being old" is constructed conversationally, in particular, through the use of membership categories. Distancing from the category "old" and denial of aging are frequently encountered conversational moves. However, the category is perceived as acceptable, even desired and invoked, when it becomes an institutionally relevant category, giving access to interesting activities or special benefits. The second part of the book explores gender identification. Conflict among different institutional subjects is shown to fade into gender conflict. The study analyzes how institutional interventions exert a powerful influence on older women's identities, giving them new opportunities for action. It also looks at how the conversational styles, attitudes, and activities of specific women influence the features of those very institutions.
In short, this book describes the discourse and social practices that constitute older women's identities -- helping to identify and deconstruct stereotypes that tend to produce marginalization of older people. The book's existence is itself a contribution to the construction of older women as busy, lively, appealing human beings; it is the first research publication to emerge from The European Older Women's Project.
Of interest to those in any discipline studying the topics of ethnomethodology, gender, aging, and identity.

The study presented in this volume examines how older women's identities are socially constructed and, in particular, how they can be influenced by institutional intervention. The interest in identity production is not only theoretical, but also practical. Different perceptions of oneself as an older woman involve considerable differences in the definition of that person's possible sphere of action, and therefore, in her life perspectives. The data -- collected during a four-year project studying older women -- consist of video recordings of the committee meetings of the Older Women's Group of Perugia, Italy. Other video recordings of theater workshops and of the management committee meetings of the Senior Citizen Centers in Perugia are used as a source of comparison. Transcripts of the video material are analyzed through a detailed discourse analysis within an ethnomethodological framework. The data are used to explore how gender and age identities are interactionally constructed in specific institutional contexts.
The first part of the book focuses on the interactional construction of aging. It shows how "being old" is constructed conversationally, in particular, through the use of membership categories. Distancing from the category "old" and denial of aging are frequently encountered conversational moves. However, the category is perceived as acceptable, even desired and invoked, when it becomes an institutionally relevant category, giving access to interesting activities or special benefits. The second part of the book explores gender identification. Conflict among different institutional subjects is shown to fade into gender conflict. The study analyzes how institutional interventions exert a powerful influence on older women's identities, giving them new opportunities for action. It also looks at how the conversational styles, attitudes, and activities of specific women influence the features of those very institutions.
In short, this book describes the discourse and social practices that constitute older women's identities -- helping to identify and deconstruct stereotypes that tend to produce marginalization of older people. The book's existence is itself a contribution to the construction of older women as busy, lively, appealing human beings; it is the first research publication to emerge from The European Older Women's Project.
Of interest to those in any discipline studying the topics of ethnomethodology, gender, aging, and identity.

This book provides readers with a compelling case for the inclusion of contextual therapy in comprehensive healthcare settings by presenting its applications to individual and family health across the lifespan. Part I gives an overview of contextual therapy, including case conceptualization, assessment, intervention, and supervision. Part II provides specific recommendations for incorporating contextual therapy in diverse and multidisciplinary settings. Case studies illustrate how concepts such as justice, loyalty, and balanced giving and receiving influence families' adjustment to chronic illnesses and mental health disorders. Accounting for the trend toward increased collaboration between providers in traditional mental health and medical settings, this book will empower clinicians to expand their current range of assessment methods, intervention techniques, and supervision experiences