Activity c 2

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Chapter 2
Social Gerontology

Objectives (1 of 2)

Define gerontology and how it differs from geriatrics.

Define ageism and explain why it is harmful to the health and well-being of older adults.

Identify and describe some of the social roles adults might hold in later life.

Describe the importance and focus of social relationships in late life.

Objectives (2 of 2)

Define elder abuse and describe the general characteristics of victims and abusers.

Define mandated reporter and describe the signs of potential abuse.

Explain why some older adults choose to work in late life.

Gerontology

  • Scientific study of aging
  • Examines biological, psychological, and sociological (biopsychosocial) factors associated with old age and aging
  • Geriatrics
  • Medical term for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and health problems specific to older adults

Historical Perspectives on Aging

  • Preindustrial and agrarian societies
  • Older adults generally valued for experience, insight, and wisdom
  • Industrial societies
  • Older adults generally less valued
  • Older American Act (OAA) of 1965 specifically included language to address needs and rights of older adults

Theories About Aging (1 of 4)

  • Disengagement theory
  • Older adults intentionally remove themselves from social roles and responsibilities to allow younger and healthier adults to take their place as productive members in society

Theories About Aging (2 of 4)

  • Activity theory
  • Older adults are happier and healthier when they remain engaged in daily life and social interactions
  • Older adults replace previous opportunities with new ones

Theories About Aging (3 of 4)

  • Continuity theory
  • People remain consistent in how they live their life, manage their relationships, and exhibit their personalities even as their physical, mental, and social status changes

Theories About Aging (4 of 4)

  • Biopsychosocial approach
  • Combines the theoretical frameworks
  • Examines issues utilizing a nuanced perspective or lens, which can open a window into experiences and needs of unique and often hidden populations not identified in other research

Ageism (1 of 6)

  • Based on stereotypes, myths about aging, and language that conjure up negative images of older adults
  • Detrimental to society
  • Can result in limited opportunities and reduced access to resources for older adults
  • Worst form leads to elder abuse, mistreatment, and neglect

Ageism (2 of 6)

  • Ageist stereotypes
  • Set roles or categories into which older adults are placed by ageist comments
  • Myths about aging
  • Making blanket assumptions and generalizations about older adults perpetuates myths

Ageism (3 of 6)

  • Examples of myths about older adults:
  • They are either very rich or very poor
  • They are senile
  • They are neither interested in nor have the capacity for sexual relations
  • They are very religious
  • They are unable to adapt to change
  • They tend to be pretty much alike

Ageism (4 of 6)

  • Ageist language
  • Insensitive to older adults
  • Examples:
  • Geezer, old coot, hag, or biddy
  • Q-tip, fossil, blue hair, old buck, or codger
  • Over the hill or out to pasture
  • Gone senile or set in their ways

Ageism (5 of 6)

  • Ageist attitudes of healthcare professionals
  • Viewing older patients sympathetically as “poor old dears” places little value on their abilities
  • May use ageist terms such as MFP, VAC, bed blocker, GOMER, or TMB
  • Negative attitudes may be caused by feelings of frustration or helplessness, or being reminded of their own mortality

Ageism (6 of 6)

  • Media stereotyping of older adults
  • Movies and television shows regularly portray older adults in an inaccurate and demeaning fashion
  • Print and television ads tend to portray older adults at their worst

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (1 of 8)

  • Social roles
  • Useful in identifying, defining, and validating each member of society
  • Define positions and support socials norms and expectations that dictate behaviors and attitudes within social groups
  • Remain with us throughout our lives
  • More apt to remain constant in late life

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (2 of 8)

  • Retiree
  • Transitioning from a position of daily recognition and involvement to one with limited recognition and possible isolation can be psychologically difficult
  • Can be made easier with planning and preparation of finances, routines, hobbies, habits, and social interactions

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (3 of 8)

  • Grandparent
  • Role many adults look forward to
  • Five types:
  • Distance figures
  • Fun-seekers
  • Surrogate parents
  • Formal
  • Reservoirs of family wisdom

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (4 of 8)

  • Not a static role
  • Needs to be responsive to the needs of the extended family
  • Grandparents can support grandchildren by:
  • Providing child-care
  • Paying educational costs
  • Providing the deposit for large expenses

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (5 of 8)

  • Surrogate parent
  • Grandparents are increasingly assuming a primary parental role in raising grandchildren
  • Can be a demanding role
  • Community support programs are available

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (6 of 8)

  • Caregiver
  • Caregiving responsibilities can emerge slowly or start suddenly after an illness or accident
  • Adult children are often unaware of daily routines, habits, and needs of their parents until a health crisis arises
  • Sandwich generation
  • Care for their children and their parents

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (7 of 8)

  • Social roles in context
  • Most Western societies stress individualism
  • Asian and Pacific Island cultures are collectivist societies
  • Social role of older adult in the household varies by social expectations

Social Roles in

the Second Half of Life (8 of 8)

  • Collectivism has sometimes not been perceived as beneficial to people with disabilities
  • Strong belief in individualistic societies has produced legislation that provides protection and accommodations for people with long-term disabilities

Social Relationships (1 of 6)

  • Personal relationships
  • Maintaining social relationships benefits physical, emotional, and psychological health
  • Importance of retaining personal relationships does not diminish as one ages
  • We intentionally distance ourselves from some relationships as we age
  • Social network evolves as a convoy of support

Social Relationships (2 of 6)

  • Computers and social media
  • Computers help older adults to:
  • Stay connected to family and friends
  • Reconnect with old friends
  • Develop new relationships
  • Older adults are increasingly keeping in touch through email and social media

Social Relationships (3 of 6)

  • The aging couple
  • Problems can arise when each person struggles with the change of retirement at different times
  • Many couples choose not to grow old together
  • Some relationships get better and experience a renewal or rebirth
  • Same-sex couples are no different from opposite-sex relationships in many ways

Social Relationships (4 of 6)

  • Aging parent and adult child
  • Relationships tend to be as varied as spousal relationships
  • Fair degree of positive involvement between generations in most families
  • Strained relationships can develop for various reasons

Social Relationships (5 of 6)

  • Never-married or childless in late life
  • Research indicates these older adults are not deprived of emotional support
  • Many have adjusted by adapting their social network to include relationships generally thought to be held by partners and children
  • Fictive kin are treated as family and are linked by close emotional bonds

Social Relationships (6 of 6)

  • Friendships
  • Older adults tend to establish friendships with people similar to themselves
  • Women have more friends and engage in friendship differently from men
  • Older adults nurture friendships and feel a sense of loss when a friendship dissolves or becomes inactive

Elder Abuse (1 of 8)

  • Defined by the CDC as “intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or trusted individual that lead to, or may lead to, harm of a vulnerable elder”
  • Abuse may continue from years ago or may start late in life
  • Rarely reported
  • Does not necessarily occur in isolation

Elder Abuse (2 of 8)

Elder Abuse (3 of 8)

  • Victims of abuse
  • Share common characteristics
  • Many are isolated from their social networks and communities
  • Many experience physical and mental health problems
  • May not report abuse out of fear of being left without services and support

Elder Abuse (4 of 8)

  • Self-neglect among older adults
  • Can permeate all facets of life
  • Interventions are difficult to initiate and sustain because victim does not participate
  • Imperative to honor the individual’s autonomy and legal right to live as they choose

Elder Abuse (5 of 8)

  • Perpetrators of abuse
  • Savvy in manipulating how they present themselves
  • Substance abuse is common, but is not generally the cause of the elder abuse
  • Tend to be professionals entrusted with fiduciary care
  • Can also include healthcare providers

Elder Abuse (6 of 8)

Elder Abuse (7 of 8)

  • Mandated reporting
  • All states have some form of law or laws against acts of elder abuse
  • Mandatory reporters typically include healthcare professionals and social workers
  • State and local Adult Protective Service (APS) agencies are frontline responders investigating reports of abuse

Elder Abuse (8 of 8)

  • Long-Term Care Ombudsmen (LTCO)
  • Advocates for residents in long-term care facilities
  • Responsible for care provided within a geographic region
  • Can directly receive reports of suspected abuse, or can work with APS to resolve elder abuse problems within a facility

Employment and Civic Engagement (1 of 4)

  • People are living longer and want to continue working for various reasons
  • Older workers are increasingly being viewed as an untapped resource
  • Bridge employment
  • Older workers transition from full-time work to part-time work, and then into full retirement

Employment and Civic Engagement (2 of 4)

  • Workplace discrimination
  • Prohibited by federal law, but still common
  • Ignores advantages of hiring older workers
  • Adult learning theory
  • Older adults can learn when given the opportunity to do so in a way that works for them
  • Most obvious when older workers are asked to take early retirement

Employment and Civic Engagement (3 of 4)

  • Retirement
  • There exists no sudden or general loss of ability at age 65 or at any other age
  • Today’s retirees can spend 20 or more years in retirement
  • Many older adults continue working after retirement

Employment and Civic Engagement (4 of 4)

  • Important considerations in the retirement decision-making process:
  • Financial and social resources
  • Spouse’s/partner’s retirement plans
  • Desire to continue working, start a new career, or volunteer
  • Desire to continue living in the same area or to move

Advocacy Groups (1 of 3)

  • AARP
  • Nonprofit, nonpartisan organization
  • Mission is to “enhance the quality of life for all of us as we age”
  • Advocates for social change through information, advocacy, and service
  • Represents adults of all ethnicities and cultures within the United States

Advocacy Groups (2 of 3)

  • Gray Panthers
  • Originally founded in 1970
  • Reorganized in 2015 and became the National Council of Gray Panthers Networks
  • Mission is to “create a humane society that puts the needs of people over profits, responsibility over power, and democracy over institutions”

Advocacy Groups (3 of 3)

  • Senior Service America (SSA)
  • Previously known as the National Council of Senior Citizens
  • Founded by the AFL-CIO in 1961
  • Fundamental purpose is broader than the scope of retirement
  • Involved in legislative issues including OAA, Medicare, Medicaid, and employment training opportunities