Chapter 1- Aging as a Social Process

Question 1

Define Lifespan (2)

Answer 1

• Fixed, finite maximum limit of survival for a species

- Two main causes are mortality rate and fertility rate

Question 2

Define life expectancy/mortality rate (4)

Answer 2

• Avg. # of years a person is expected to live
• Increases through improvements in sanitation, public health, and health care
• In Canada: 83 years for women, 79 years for men
• Varies by background and lifestyle

Question 3

Explain fertility rate (4)

Answer 3

• Decreasing in Canada, went down from baby boom
• Fewer births, more older people make up population
• “Replacement rate” to replenish population
• Offset by immigrants arriving in Canada

Question 4

What does the data on population age suggest? (4)

Answer 4

• Population will rapidly age until 2031 then level off
• 25% of population will be elderly in 2041
• Population aging does not occur in a vacuum
• Even though aging affects the world, it will not drain pension and health-care systems

Question 5

What is individual aging? (2)

Answer 5

• Individual unit of study

- Interaction of biological, clinical, psychosocial, and societal factors that affect aging

Question 6

Explain the life-course perspective (3)

Answer 6

• Examines interplay among individual life stories, social systems, institutions, and environments
• Observe they create variations and different norms that have unique impacts
• Framework for understanding age-related transitions (school, retirement, widowhood)

Question 7

Define agency. (2)

Answer 7

Process in which individuals construct their life course by their choices and actions
- Creates unique identities, personal meanings and expectations, and decides significant social groups

Question 8

Describe chronological aging (4)

Answer 8

• Passing of calendar time
• Defines legal age
• Crude estimate of aging due to perceived health and mentality
• Different from functional age (based on task performance, more accurate)

Question 9

Describe biological aging (2)

Answer 9

• Changes in cellular, muscular/skeletal, neural, cardiovascular, and sensory systems
• Influences mortality rate and likeliness to illness or disability

Question 10

Describe psychological aging (3)

Answer 10

• Changes in learning ability, memory, creativity
• Influenced by cultural differences
• Tendency to need longer time to retrieve information

Question 11

Describe social aging (2)

Answer 11

• Changes in social roles and relationships

- Behaviour and status are influenced by rights and responsibilities based on age group and attitudes defined by society

Question 12

Explain the social world of aging (1)

Answer 12

Old age is a social construct that changes between cultures and time

Question 13

How do stereotypes of aging influence people? (2)

Answer 13

• Misleading views of aging create myths through media
• Now changing as older people are portrayed in variety of more realistic occupations (active, independent, and value to society)

Question 14

Define the field of Gerontology (1)

Answer 14

• Multidisciplinary, scientific field of study (bio, behaviour, social)

Question 15

Explain the life-course conceptual dimensions. (2)

Answer 15

• Leading theory used in gerontology to study age-related issues
• Directs researchers to life histories, agency, micro/macro analyses

Question 16

What are the critical issues and challenges for an aging society?

Answer 16

• It is not an illness or disease
• Individual and population aging are linked and co-exist
• Will not weaken society, but will challenge policy and politics

Question 17

What do older Canadian adults view as important issues? (6)

Answer 17

• Recognition as active, engaged citizens in our society
• Right to age in place of their choice
• Be viewed as an opportunity for Canada
• Income security
• Caregiver support
• Health-care and volunteer aging