Death + Ageing Population

Question 1

What is a death rate ?

Answer 1

Are the number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year.

Question 2

What is the reason for the declining death rate ?

Answer 2

Improved nutrition - McKeown states that better nutrition has helped people build better resistance to infections and more chance of survival against infection
Medical improvements - better medical knowledge, techniques + organisations - also the formation of antibiotics , etc.
Public health improvements - due to the decrease in smoking and better knowledge of diets has decreased the death rates
Social changes - decline of manual occupations - better sewage systems - lifestyle changes - higher incomes

Question 3

What is the reason for a ageing population ?

Answer 3

Increased life expectancy low infant mortality rate , declining fertility

Question 4

What is the impact of an ageing population ?

Answer 4

Increased strain on public services , more one person households , the rising dependency ratio (falls onto women) , ageism , political differences , costs for the government (more pensions + retirement payments)

Question 5

What is ageism ?

Answer 5

Most structural sociologists see old age as a life stage , which many argue has become stigmatised with associations of dependency and being a burden.

Question 6

What does Phillipson (Marxists) state about ageism ?

Answer 6

The old are of no use to capitalism cause they are no longer productive and are an economically dependent group , adding on to the dependency ratio

Question 7

What does Hunt (postmodernists) state about ageism ?

Answer 7

E can choose our identity no matter what our age is : our age no longer determines who we are. As a result of this , elderly become a market body and rejuvenation of services and goods, such as cosmetic surgery , gym memberships and anti-ageing products