Ageing

Question 1

Explain the social construction of ageing

Answer 1

• Culture shapes how we perceive the elderly
• Attitudes towards the aged are rooted in society, and therefore, differ from one social group to another
• The social modifies the biological: Age is socially constructed

Question 2

Distinguish between “young old” and “old old”.

Answer 2

The elderly have been broken down into:

“Young old”: cohort of people aged 65 – 75
“Old old” : cohort of people over the age of 75

Question 3

Explain functionalist perspective on aging.

Answer 3

Disengagement theory states that reduced interaction between older persons and others is unavoidable, mutual, and acceptable to both the individual and society

Society disengages people from important positions as they get older so that the social system does not get disrupted

• Portrayal of elderly: socially isolated
• Social roles reduced

Question 4

What are the functions of retirement

Answer 4

• Make older people less important in society since they are about to die
• Older people move out of the way so younger population can take their place

Functionalist Theory criticised: Contains implicit bias against older people

Question 5

Explain symbolic interactionist perspective on aging.

Answer 5

Activity theory states that the elderly are more likely to have a high degree of life satisfaction if they engage in plenty of activities.

• Portrayal of elderly: involved in new networks
• Social roles changed
• Elderly persons who remain active and socially involved will be best-adjusted
• Social interaction can lower death rates among elderly
• Old people have same need for social interaction as any other group
• Aging citizens feel satisfied only when useful and productive

Question 6

Explain conflict perspective on aging.

Answer 6

Elderly victimized by social structure

• Portrayal of elderly: victimized, organized to confront their victimization
• Social roles relatively unchanged
• Examine how power and economic forces influence ageing in society
• Ageism
• By placing a negative stigma on the elderly, society segregates the elderly from others

Question 7

Explain labelling perspective on aging.

Answer 7

Elderly victimized by social structure

• Society reconsidering what makes a person old
• Some suggest threshold of old age should begin in last 10 or 15 years of a person’s expected life
• Labeling of old age differs between cultures

Question 8

Define ageism

Answer 8

Prejudice and discrimination based on a person’s age

• For many, old age symbolizes disease
• While physical condition does weaken with age, today’s older people are in much better shape than their counterparts one generation ago
• Older people barely visible on television
• The mass media are major sources of ageism, when a society values youth and beauty, older females are discriminated against

Question 9

Suggest ways to enhance life satisfaction of the elderly

Answer 9

One way to remain active is through volunteer work

• Beneficial for social life
• Gives people the opportunity to remain socially engaged throughout their entire lives
• Volunteering provides elderly with a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
• Interacting with others can also help them cope with bereavement of a spouse or close friend
• Helps strengthen their relationships with others.

Other ways to remain active is to take part in programmes run by Voluntary Welfare
Organisations
- Sited at the void decks of flats with a high concentration of elderly.
- Give the elderly a chance to know their neighbours, make friends.
- Programmes could be singing and dance sessions, skit performance and discussion of current affairs