Ageing Flashcards
What is demographic transition
It is the change in percentages of the population of age groups
Example
Small % of old people to larger %’
Large % of younger people to smaller %
What does the following graph show
-The median age is increasing meaning the society is aging
We can see the younger populations are decreasing while the percentage of older people are going up
Societies are ageing, but why?
- babies from the baby boom are now grown older
- there is a decrease in fertility rates (less people having children)
- decrease in mortality rates (people live longer)
Understanding the baby boom
After the 2nd world war there was a dramatic increase in the number of births between 1946 and 1964. This happened for economic growth and political stability after the war. As well as certainty knowing they were safe now that the war is over and they can have children
The reason societies are aging: the baby boom
Why has there been a decrease in fertility rates
Career and education: People delay childbirth nowadays to attain a higher education and pursue a career
Cost: Children now are taken care of up until they are in their 20s during university, so cost is high unlike the past where children worked and helped support families.
Why has there been a decrease in mortality rates?
-infectious diseases have been medically treated
- better life conditions: access to more nutritious diet, clean drinking water)
- advances in modern biomedicine: diseases have turned into chronic conditions
Decrease mortality = higher life expectancy in modern societies.
From the 1840 to 2013 there has been a
Life expectancy increase at birth and survival rates increased as well
What do we mean about the rectangularisation of the life curve
In the past surviving dropped at younger ages and over time gradually it is now at over ages (increase in life expectancy over a large amount of time)
- happened gradually not over night
- the rectangle is the survival rate we are at now
Increased life expectancy resulted in the rectangularization of life curve. Could there be any health implications from this? (What complications/ downsides are there to living longer)
- common chronic illnesses among the elderly that they just have to live with:
Cardiovascular
Diabetes
Stroke
Cancer
Osteoarthritis/ arthritis
Mental illness/ dementia - unfortunate social conditions may take place
Poverty
Living alone
Discrimination due to age (ageism)
Difficulties with transportation and access to social services
Social isolation and rejection
Dependency
Such social disadvantage worsen the elderly’s physical and psychological well-being as well as the management of health conditions
What could the elderly do to stay as healthy as possible and keep enjoying their social roles? (How elderly could be protected to live on)
The gist: Being active socially and physically:
- have a healthy lifestyle/ being active (physical activity, healthy foods)
- socialize
- religion and spirituality is associated with good health.
- keeping busy (work, volunteering)
- us as a younger society shouldn’t assume that all older people are chronically ill, dumb or frail because this could mess with them mentally
Case Study
Michael Pantehis was born in 1947, is now 74 years old and generally fit. He visits a local GP clinic for routine check- ups. He is a part-time University teacher, travels abroad very often, helps his son with running a catering business and looks after his grandchildren on Sundays. He also meets with his friends to play bowling and organise fieldtrips to educate younger people with regard to living more environmental friendly. To attract more younger people all agree to dye their hair, wear jeans and caps. They feel young that way. At the clinic he finds out that he has to do more tests to further check his heart’s functioning. When the test results are back he is informed that he has a heart problem and that he has to get a lot of rest, change his eating habits and general lifestyle. He is devastated!
Read case
Why is Michael devastated
He is afraid he is losing his social roles in society
It is the social roles we perform which help us develop our ___ which is why its so important
Identity
Lifecourse means
To look at age as something dynamic not fixed
Being a student, parent, employee, husband, wife, member in organizations is examples of
Life courses
The better understand the impact of aging it is important we know the
Multiple roles the elderly used to have or currently have. Because the better we understand the better we management we can give
What are two aspects of time related to life course
Biographical time
Historical time
Biographical time is
Personal events in one’s life, could be also called personal time
Eg
Relashionships
Travelling
Work
What is historical time
Events during a historical period also known as cohort time
Eg
Second World War, changes attitudes towards sexuality
The importance of lifecourse in medical consultations
- it takes stereotypes
- it helps us understand older people as active and social beings
- helps us explore a patients social history in depth allowing better support if the patients
What does the term “cultures of ageing” refer to?
A new way of life promoted by a society which is anti old
- anti aging products, athletics, fashion
- older people can use tools of technology to construct or reconstruct their bodies
older people adopting a new lifestyle in order to look younger is an example of
Cultures of ageing
They do this by organizing clubs, competitions, changing the way they dress/style
Case Continues
Michael’s wife, Christine, is trying to support him as much as she can and help maintain his lifestyle even though Michael can no longer work as much as before. Michael is nearly depressed and Christine has to take care of him. Christine is very tired and she feels that she cannot fulfill this obligation as effectively as she would like to. She is afraid of being depressed too and then need a third person to take care of her and Michael.
Read case
What is informal care
Care provided by people who have not been trained, people not under formal institutions of healthcare
- spouses, siblings parents, children
- people with kinship ties and family obligations
What are the challenges/ problems informal carers are faced with?
- burn out: they need assistance
- social isolation: loose opportunities to socialize with other people
- daily support: no time to do everyday things, shopping, social obligations, gym, etc.
Psychological support: they may be depressed , drained as all their support is going towards that person
Financial support: care is expensive
Scientific support: they do what they think is right but they lack training so it may be wrong and they may be stressed (lack of training)
What sociological terms would you use to explain Michael’s and Christine’s experiences?
Lifecourse
Michael participates in various domains of life and performs various social roles. His life is not static and has not entered into a new fixed stage (third age).
Cultures of ageing
Michael gets together with other older people to play bowling and organize fieldtrips to educate younger people with regard to living more environmental friendly. To attract more younger people all agree to dye their hair, wear jeans and caps. They feel young.
Informal care based on our case
Christine, Michael’s wife is undertaking the role of carer. Christine is an example of informal carer because she was not trained as a carer and is not remunerated for her caring activities.
Informal carers’ challenges based on the case
Christine is very tired and she feels that she cannot fulfill this obligation as effectively as she would like to. She is afraid of being depressed too.
B
We haven’t done lifespan or trajectory so D and E are automatically gone. Can’t be c because there in masculinity. B is the most relevant over A
Aging societies: he’s older, a baby boomer
Masculinity: the last sentence
lifecourse in the case
Michael participates in various domains of life and performs various social roles. His life is not static and has not entered into a new fixed stage (third age).
cultures of ageing in the case
Michael gets together with other older people to play bowling and organize fieldtrips to educate younger people with regard to living more environmental friendly. To attract more younger people all agree to dye their hair, wear jeans and caps. They feel young
informal care in the case
Christine, Michael’s wife is undertaking the role of carer. Christine is an example of informal carer because she was not trained as a carer and is not remunerated for her caring activities.
