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Social Environment II | Week 8

Week 8: Sociological Aspects of Later Adulthood

Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016) refer to adults in later adulthood as "a population at risk" (p. 717). Why are individuals in later adulthood a vulnerable population? What role might social work play in addressing the needs of this population?

This week, you consider factors that impact the vulnerability of individuals in later adulthood, including differing cultural perspectives of older individuals and consider ways to increase support for this population in your local community.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze sociocultural differences in perspectives on aging
• Apply perspectives on aging to social work practice
• Evaluate local community resources for older individuals

Photo Credit: vm / E+ / Getty Images

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA:  Cengage Learning.
Chapter 16, "Sociological Aspects of Later Adulthood"

Optional Resources

Use the link below to access the MSW home page, which provides resources for your social work program.
MSW home page

Tucker-Seeley, R. D., Li, Y., Sorensen, G., & Subramanian, S. V. (2011). Lifecourse socioeconomic circumstances and multimorbidity among older adults. BMC Public Health, 11(4), 313–321.

Discussion: Sociocultural Differences in Perspectives on Aging

Western cultures think of time in linear terms while other cultures perceive the passage of time in cyclical terms (Helman, 2005). Helman states, "The clock, the watch and the calendar are among the main cultural symbols of Western industrial society" (para. 3). How might a culture's perception of time influence views of individuals in later adulthood? What other cultural differences might impact a people's view of aging? This week, you explore different cultures' perspectives on aging and consider how these differences might impact social work.

To prepare for this Discussion, research two cultures different from your own and compare their perspectives on aging to that of your own culture.

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Post a Discussion that compares your culture's perspective on aging to the perspectives of the two cultures you researched. Explain why you think these differences exist. Also, explain how different perspectives on aging might impact social work practice.