PSY313 UNIT 3 LEC 2 Flashcards
What is one of the biggest determiners of unemployment rate?
Education level and years of education. Those with more education are more likely to be employed.
Do unemployment patterns differ across education levels?
No. While highly educated individuals are more likely to find work, the general pattern of unemployment is similar across education levels.
What trend has been seen among Canadians aged 65+ in the last 20 years?
A steady increase in the number of people 65+ who remain employed, especially among men.
What is the most important factor in the decision to retire?
Whether someone can afford to retire financially.
What is another major factor that determines if someone works past retirement age?
Job satisfaction. People who enjoy their jobs are more likely to continue working.
How does meaning in work affect retirement decisions?
If a person finds meaning in their work, they are more likely to keep working beyond retirement age.
Is age directly related to job satisfaction?
No. It used to be thought that older adults were more satisfied with work, but this is not supported by recent evidence.
How have job and career patterns changed over time?
People used to stay in one job or career for life. Now, it’s common to have multiple jobs and career changes.
What factor is more relevant to job satisfaction than age?
Job tenure—the number of years a person has worked in a specific job.
What tends to increase as job tenure increases?
Responsibility, autonomy, and income.
How is job satisfaction related to age, and why is that the case?
Job satisfaction tends to decline slightly with age, not because older adults actually dislike work more, but due to negative stereotypes in the workplace. These stereotypes influence how older workers are treated, which can lead to reduced motivation and engagement over time.
What common stereotypes exist about older workers, and are they accurate?
Older workers are often seen as forgetful, slow, easily distracted, and less productive. However, research shows very little evidence that older adults underperform compared to younger adults — these assumptions are mostly ageist myths.
Do older adults actually perform worse at work compared to younger adults?
No. On most tasks, older and younger workers perform similarly. Minor declines in memory or speed don’t affect everyday work until very old age. The one real exception is shift work, which disrupts older adults’ ability to adjust to irregular sleep schedules.
Why does shift work negatively affect older workers more than younger ones?
As we age, our biological rhythms become less flexible, making it harder to adapt to changing sleep and work schedules. This makes shift work particularly hard on older employees, sometimes leading to performance drops.
What are some strengths that older workers bring to a positive work culture?
Older workers are often better team players (organizational citizens) — they’re reliable, responsible, and contribute positively to the workplace environment. They’re also less likely to get injured because they tend to work more cautiously and follow safety procedures.
How do workplace stereotypes actually impact the performance of older employees?
When older workers are seen as “less capable,” they may be excluded from important or challenging tasks. This leads to a loss of confidence (self-efficacy), making them feel like their contributions don’t matter — and eventually, they may stop trying as hard.
What usually causes a drop in performance among older workers — aging or how they’re treated?
It’s usually how they’re treated. When older adults are given less responsibility due to stereotypes, their performance can decline over time. This shows that performance drops after responsibility is taken away, not before.
Why is 55 used as the age cut-off in Canadian workforce statistics about older workers?
Because while most people retire by 65, the age of 55+ is used to capture trends among older workers who may still be employed, especially part-time.
What are the main phases of retirement as a process?
Anticipatory period – you begin thinking about retirement
Decision to retire – you set a date and begin planning (finances, goals)
Immediate adjustment – dealing with the transition and new routine
Stable retirement – long-term settled lifestyle after adjustment
Why is retirement considered a “process” instead of a single event?
Because it involves mental, emotional, and lifestyle shifts over time—not just your last day at work. People must prepare financially and psychologically for this change.
: What is bridge employment, and how has its meaning evolved?
Bridge employment is when someone retires from their main job but then takes on a new job before fully stopping work.
In the past, people did this because they needed more money — they couldn’t afford to fully retire.
Now, some people choose bridge jobs because they want to stay busy, do something they enjoy, or try out a hobby-like job (like working at a golf course or craft shop) — not just for money.
What’s the most important factor in whether someone retires “on time”?
Money. Financial readiness determines if someone can retire, regardless of age or personal desire.
What is the significance of Canada’s 3-pillar pension system, and how does it reflect social values?
It’s a system designed to help Canadians have enough money to live on when they retire, especially as they get older and might not be working anymore. It’s made up of three sources of retirement income — that’s why it’s called a “3-pillar” system.
🧱 Pillar 1: Old Age Security (OAS)
What it is: A monthly payment from the government that most Canadians get when they turn 65.
Who gets it: You must have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18.
Why it matters: It’s meant to give everyone a basic level of income in retirement, even if they didn’t work much.
🧠 Think of it as a “starter income” for seniors, just for being a Canadian resident.
🧱 Pillar 2: Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
What it is: An extra payment added on top of OAS for low-income seniors.
Who gets it: Seniors with very little income (like under $23,000/year).
Why it matters: It helps prevent poverty for seniors who don’t have savings or didn’t earn much during their working years.
🧠 Think of GIS as backup help — like extra support for those who are really struggling.
🧱 Pillar 3: Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
What it is: A retirement income based on how much you worked and paid into it during your job.
Who gets it: Anyone who worked in Canada and had money taken off their paycheck for CPP.
Why it matters: The more you worked and the higher your earnings, the more you get in retirement.
🧠 CPP is your “earned” pension — it rewards you for your work history.
💡 Why This System Is Important
It protects seniors from falling into poverty.
It balances fairness: Everyone gets some support (OAS), low-income seniors get extra help (GIS), and workers get back what they put in (CPP).
It reflects Canadian values of supporting people in old age, while also encouraging people to save and contribute during their working years.
How has the Old Age Security Act evolved, and why is it significant?
In 1927, OAS started as a program that gave money only to poor seniors who couldn’t support themselves — and only if their kids couldn’t help either. It was needs-based and even made families pay the money back after the senior passed away.
In 1952, the law changed so that all Canadians 65+ (who have lived in Canada at least 10 years) could get it — not just poor people. Now it’s a universal benefit, but it’s taxable.
It also includes the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors, which adds extra money to help those who are still struggling.
👉 Why it matters: OAS shows how Canada shifted from only helping the very poor to making sure all seniors have a basic income, while still encouraging people to save for retirement.
How does income affect Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) eligibility?
OAS: Everyone gets it at 65, but if you make over $151,000/year, your OAS payment goes down.
GIS: Only low-income seniors (usually under ~$23,000/year) get this extra help, up to about $1,000/month.
The more other income you have (like savings, CPP, or investments), the less you get from these programs. GIS is especially helpful for low-income seniors, especially women who may have earned less in their careers.
What makes the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) both fair and unequal at the same time?
CPP is a contributory program where you get back based on what you paid in. This is fair in structure but creates inequities, since low-income workers — often women or part-time employees — receive much less, perpetuating income disparities even after retirement.
What additional protections does CPP offer beyond retirement income?
CPP doesn’t just give you monthly payments when you retire — it also includes other kinds of support in case something unexpected happens during your life. These include:
Disability Benefits:
If you become seriously ill or disabled and can’t work anymore, CPP can give you monthly payments — even if you’re not retired yet. This helps protect your income if you can’t earn it yourself.
Survivor’s Benefits:
If someone who was paying into CPP passes away, their spouse or children may receive some of their CPP money. This helps families after the loss of a breadwinner.
👉 So CPP is more than just retirement savings — it acts like a safety net for you and your family if there’s illness, disability, or death.
What is the long-term success and limitation of Canada’s 3-pillar pension system?
Success: It has helped lift many seniors out of poverty and is praised globally for its structure and sustainability.
Limitation: Since benefits largely reflect past income, lifelong low-income earners stay low-income in retirement — showing how inequities in work follow people into retirement.
What factors contribute to a positive retirement adjustment, and why do they matter?
Retiring on time (as planned, not forced)
Having at least 2 years to prepare
Having a retired spouse
These factors support smoother transitions by reducing uncertainty, promoting emotional readiness, and creating shared routines and social support.
What is the Competence-Press Model, and why is it important in decisions about where older adults live?
The Competence-Press Model says that a person’s well-being depends on how well their abilities (competence) match the challenges of their environment (press).
If the environment is too easy (press is too low), they get bored or feel useless.
If it’s too hard (press is too high), they get stressed and can’t function well.
The best situation is when the person’s skills and the demands of the environment are balanced — this helps them feel capable, independent, and happy.
👉 This model helps explain why some older adults can live on their own, while others need supportive housing like assisted living or long-term care.
What does “aging in place” mean, and why is it important to older adults?
It refers to staying in the same community (not necessarily the same house), while maintaining independent living with some support. Most older adults prefer this option, but it requires access to affordable and reliable home care services and community support systems.
What are some challenges of aging in place in Canada?
Limited government coverage: Canada Health Act only covers 2 weeks of home care after hospitalization.
Most home care (e.g., cleaning, transportation) is not covered and relies on family or volunteers.
The burden on informal caregivers is high, especially for those supporting individuals with dementia (who may need 37+ hours/week of care).
: What happens if someone cannot age in place?
They may move into:
Assisted Living – for people who need some support but not 24/7 care.
Long-Term Care (LTC) – for individuals needing continuous medical supervision.
Most Canadian seniors do not live in special care facilities — numbers increase with very old age (esp. 85+).
What are the 3 main types of living arrangements for older adults in Canada?
Independent Living – no support needed
Assisted Living – moderate support (meals, medication reminders, housekeeping)
Long-Term Care (LTC) – 24/7 medical and personal care, often hospital-like
What makes Assisted Living different from Long-Term Care?
Assisted living is for those who need some help but not 24/7 care.
Services include transportation, social support, meals, etc.
Often jointly funded by provinces and private operators.
Not covered by the Canada Health Act, and fees vary widely.
What are Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), and why are they becoming popular?
These are hybrid facilities combining assisted living and LTC options.
Residents can transition smoothly between care levels as their needs change.
Usually include rental units or condos, with monthly fees for services.
What are LTC facilities, and why do people move into them?
LTCs are medical institutions for those who need 24/7 care, often due to frailty or inability to live independently.
Requires a medical referral.
You’re placed on a waiting list and can select preferred facilities.
If you decline an offer, you may be charged for hospital overstay.
What are some common criticisms of LTC facilities in Canada?
Residents spend ~2/3 of their time doing nothing.
The “home” aspect is lost, replaced by hospital-like settings.
It’s hard to match environmental demands to the resident’s competence.
Wide disparities in quality across provinces.
What does the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) say about LTC residents’ mental health?
2/3 take antidepressants, but only 2.6% get therapy.
26% take antipsychotics without a diagnosis (up to 50% in some places).
This suggests overmedication and lack of proper psychological care.
What makes working in LTC facilities so difficult for staff?
90% of frontline workers face physical violence
43% report daily violence
36% face verbal abuse, and 14% experience unwanted sexual attention
These conditions are worsened by understaffing, low pay, and lack of training in mental health or behavior management.
What improvements can increase quality of life in LTC facilities?
Staff training in behavioral management
Building stronger relationships between staff and residents
Removing nursing stations and increasing access to outdoor spaces
Assigning staff to resident groups, not tasks
These changes reduce medication use, improve satisfaction, and reduce staff burnout.
