1: Aging Today Flashcards by Stephanie Kanellakis

Gerontology vs geriatrics

Gerontology: scientific study of old age and the process of growing old

Geriatrics: specialty of medicine for treatment of diseases related to older age

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By 2023, almost __% of Canada’s population will be over the age of 65

25%

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intergenerational equity

balanced support of older and younger people through public policy and public expenditures
- parental/child informal supports

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older population = new demands on social structures

Family structure
- more 3+ generations living together
- grandparents while active in career
Education
- schools/universities will attract more older students
- want flexible schedules and different learning methods
Job market
- healthier adults working
Healthcare system
- current system favours acute illnesses while older people tend to have chronic illnesses
- need to PREVENT illness before it occurs

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aging’ is responsible for only _% of yearly increase in health care cost

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in adults 65+ , __% have 2-3 chronic conditions, __% have 4+ chronic conditions

46% = 2-3 chronic conditions
16.6% = 4+ chronic conditions

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T or F : Levels of happiness and life satisfaction are higher in older adults compared to 25-64 y/o group

TRUE

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Almost __% of older adults perceive their mental health excellent or good

70%

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Prejudice vs Discrimination

Prejudice: being biased against someone or something (attitude)

Discrimination: unfair treatment based on prejudice rather than merit

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how myths harm us

Stereotyping: beliefs not WELL supported by evidence
Prejudice: we DECIDE based on our beliefs
Discrimination: ACT act based on our beliefs
Final result = AGEISM

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what is the third great ‘ism’ in our (Canada) society

ageism

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best way to fight ageism

education = demystifying the myths

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T or F “As people grow old, deterioration in physical health is inevitable”

To some extent TRUE (wear & tear)
also FALSE
- Physical activity, social engagement, healthy diet can modify ‘aging’ process

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T or F “Despite experience, older people can not have useful economic contributions”

FALSE
Productive workers don’t become dependent the day they turn 65
○ No age limit to talent and creativity

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T or F “resources used for older adults will be wasted and there are better uses for them”

FALSE
- Having a healthy and independent older population saves money
- Many safety, built environment, work condition, public transportation interventions benefit all

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2 goals of gerontology

Produce accurate knowledge about aging
Apply knowledge to create a better life for aging clients

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T or F People feel lost in retirement - they often get sick and die shortly after

few people feel sick or lost due to retirement
Retirement has little effect on health/social activity, satisfaction .etc

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T or F Most older people feel depressed and bored

older people form a diverse group - some people have psychological problems, while others report high life satisfaction
- People 60+ had higher life satisfaction than people 20-50 (W higher than M)

life satisfaction

increased with age
forms a U-shaped curve
(youngest and oldest show highest satisfaction, with a drop in middle years)

T or F: older age groups face a higher risk of criminal victimization than younger age groups

FALSE
- seniors face a lower risk of criminal victimization than any other age group
People 60+ = lowest rate of violent victimization
-among seniors, rates fell with increased age

More likely to experience victimization with poor neighborhood ties (common in cities)
- Rural communities = stronger social cohesion

1 crime against older Canadians

Fraud
- health product scams, fake charities, online shopping scams, home repair con artists
- “the emergency scam” - pretends to be a grandchild needing $

Conditions creating higher risk for fraud amongst older people
○ Lack of information
○ Social isolation
○ Lack of wariness in business relations
○ Posting personal information online

**SeniorBusters: affiliated with Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
-> Uses senior volunteers, relating personal experiences for support

T or F older people often commit suicide and have the highest suicide rate in Canada

FALSE
- have some of the lowest suicide rates in Canada
- tend to succeed in their attempts compared to younger people
○ deliberate, live alone, more lethal means
- Baby Boomers have had a higher suicide rate than older people in the past (could mean increased rate in future)

T or F Older men = higher suicide rates in EVERY age group vs women

TRUE
Men 85-89+ have highest rates among men & women 65+ (over 24.2/100,000)

Women 80-84 have lowest rate of all adults (2.2/100,000)

T of F sexual activity and interest in sex decline in later life

Most express an interest throughout their lives
Give up for same reason they give up riding a bike
1. Think it looks silly
2. Have arthritis and cant get on
3. Don’t have a bike - lack of partner often ends sexual relations

stereotype

**a prejudiced and exaggerated view of a person/group - Often don't check to see if its true - often some basis in truth- exaggerated or distorted + and - stereotypes of old age

T or F Older people had highest implicit preference for older people & explicit preference for younger people

FALSE Older people had highest explicit preference for older people & implicit preference for younger people

black sheep effect

'shun' group members whose characteristics threaten + perceptions of group

T or F younger teens/adults showed the highest level of age stereotyping

Older adults showed the highest level of age stereotyping

Elderspeak

Elderspeak: simplified speech like baby talk used when speaking to older people - Stems from stereotyping as slow-witted - few clauses & syllables, shorter phrases, slower speech, longer pauses (dearie, cutie, sweetie) - Stems from stereotyping as slow-witted - Creates low self-esteem, reduces ability to communicate effectively, decreases quality of interaction, reduces sense of control

internalizing ageist beliefs affects:

self-image self-confidence performance - walking speed, balance, handwriting

Ageist behaviors in medical settings - bedside ageism

- more likely to have only therapeutic treatment - Families may choose to not have invasive procedure - Doctors can use age as a tool to ration care - bedside ageism: limit the use of expensive treatments

ageist attitudes are learned from....

Children's literature: reinforce negative aspects of age directly (scrooge) or indirectly (nurturing but frail grandma) Street signs: UK shows feeble and disabled = outmoded Language used by gerontologists Humour: jokes project fears about aging onto older people

T or F Young adults hold to most negative views of sexuality in older adults compared to children and middle-aged adults

TRUE ○ Implicit negative, explicit + attitudes towards sex in later life

passing

an attempt by a person in a devalued status to appear as a member of an in group (ex. Elderly getting facelift)

Beauty work

endorsing the use of products and procedures to produce a "natural" look while aging

Third age

lives in affluence, free of work or child-rearing duties, generally good health, engaged in fulfilling socially satisfying activity ○ More youthful lifestyle ○ Can BE chronically old but do not ACT or FEEL old

Fourth age

lose autonomy, physical health, ability to care for themselves ○ Past generation 65+, now 85+ ○ Onset of chronic physical disability or dementia pushes one from 3rd to 4th

Successful aging (rejects vs idealizes what)

promotion of health and activity in later life (can support ageism) - rejects chronic illness, disability, low income, visual signs of physical decline (wrinkles, grey hair) - makes normal aging and inevitable physical decline seem undesirable and preventable, promoting ageism - links physical decline to disease

Anti-aging industry

multibillion $ worldwide market for products that claim to reduce or reverse the effects of aging ○ thrives on denial of aging, masking or altering signs

Amortality

ageless self, obey no age norms (deny death) ○ live same way, same pitch, doing/consuming same things from late teens until death ○ Only as old as you feel

Gerontophobia

fear of aging and old age - (+) intergenerational interactions helps

Society for all ages - 5 core principles

promotes well-being and contributions of older people in all aspects of life, recognizes their valuable contributions, and reflects the goals of elimination of ageism in all sectors 1. dignity 2. independence 3. participation 4. fairness 5. security ○ Rejects growing tendency to isolate different age groups

ageism comes about because

1. young and middle-aged feel distatse for aging 2. see old age as a time of weakness/dying 3. people know little about old age and what they do know is based on myth and fear

films present ____ to confront ageist stereotypes

counterstories