Ch. 15

1. Ch. 15 Aging and the Elderly

2. The “Greying” of Canada • The number of elderly people (people over 65) is increasing more than twice as fast as the population as a whole • By 2050, elderly population of Canada will be greater than the entire population in 1900 • 2014, 15.6% were 65 and over (2030, 23%) • Life expectancy in Canada has doubled in just over a century • Average number of children has declined by half • Aboriginal populations have higher birth rates

4. Why is it changing? • The birth rate has been falling over last century • This is a trend in industrialized societies • Families choosing to have fewer children • Women have access to birth control • At the same time life expectancy going up • At the beginning of the 1900s, 50.2 years for women and 47.2 years for men • 2015, 84.1 years for women and 80.2 years for men

5. Life Expectancy Canada (82.14), China (75.99), Nigeria (53.05)

6. Cultural Change • Higher proportion out of the work force • Increasing health care costs • Those 75+ need more help and care • Elderly women more likely to be poor • Culture of Aging? • Gerontology (the study of aging and elderly people) is a growing field of study

7. Changes due to aging • Physical: • Health becomes more frail • Chronic diseases and disability increase • Changes in appearance • Watch: The Science of Aging (2013) • Psychological: • Some loss of ability to learn new material • But capacity for reflection actually increases • Canadian studies show happiness among elders is related to health and income

8. The Life Course • A patterned sequence of experiences influenced by aspects of age such as maturity, decline, generation, survival, and the life cycle • There are expected and experienced life courses in every society • We follow known age related patterns • A gap between what we expect and what we experience can cause of distress or disappointment

9. Erik Erikson’s Life Course Revisited

10. Problems Over the Life Course The Life Course… 1. Childhood: • Poor children have more problems • Increased obesity among all children 2. Adolescence: • Early teens cannot do legally what later teens can • Poor teens less likely to have a job or be in school • Young people are staying at home much longer delaying the next stage

11. Problems (cont.) 3. Young Adulthood • Traditionally the time to get established, but now is more difficult, if not postponed 4. Middle Age • Income and prestige are at the peak, but signs of physical aging begin, e.g., wrinkles, stiffness, decline of senses, etc. • This is the “sandwich generation” – especially women • Caught between adult children still living at home and responsibilities of looking after elderly relatives

12. Problems (cont.) 5. Late Maturity and Old Age • Older people are an increasing percentage of the population • Young-old (65-74 yrs) are very active • Middle-old (75-84 yrs) • Old-old (85+ yrs) • Although majority not lonely, living in an institution, or poor, a significant number are experiencing problems

13. Suicide and the Life Course Around the world older people have a much higher suicide rate than do younger people In Canada: • Men: rates rise from teen years, decline to later maturity, and rise a little for 75+ yrs • Women: have lower rates with a high point at 45-59 yrs • While there is a gender difference, and suicide does tend to increase for elderly men, no age seems significantly more difficult

14. Suicide by Age…(Kendall et al. 2008)

15. Legally-assisted Suicide, Canada • Law passed in June 17 2016 • Medical Assistance in Dying (Bill C-14) • A summary of this very complex legislation can be found HERE on the Government of Canada website • Allows Canadians with terminal illnesses where natural death is “reasonably foreseeable” to choose to die with a medical practioner’s help • According to CBC News, by June, 2018, 3,714 legally assisted deaths in Canada • Cancer, neuro-degenerative disorders and circulatory or respiratory system failures most common reason

16. Attitudes toward Aging • Many other cultures revere the elderly, but Western culture worships youth • Our social institutions, especially the media, help to create negative stereotypes toward aging and the aged • This is ageism • Ageism negatively affects those who are discriminated against • Canada has age stratification: elderly are often stereotyped and marginalized

17. Some Global Facts… * In 2000, there were 600 million people aged 60 and over; there will be 1.2 billion by 2025 and 2 billion by 2050.* Today, about two thirds of all older people are living in the developing world; by 2025, it will be 75%.* In the developed world, the very old (age 80+) is the fastest growing population group.* Women outlive men in virtually all societies; consequently in very old age, the ratio of women/men is 2:1.

18. Living Arrangements of Seniors

19. Social Isolation • Isolation is most common among elderly people • The greatest cause of social isolation is the inevitable death of significant others • Women have more supports than men • A variety of residences are available specifically for them but many want to maintain independence

20. Ageism as a Social Problem • Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age • Ageism widespread and is the most tolerated form of social discrimination in Canada (2012 survey) • being ignored or treated as though they are invisible (41%) • being treated like they have nothing to contribute (38%) • assuming that seniors are incompetent (27%) • 1/3 of seniors discrimination from health care professionals • “society is structured based on the assumption that everyone is young. That assumption often means that society fails to respond to the real needs of older people”

21. Societal Examples of Ageism • Lack of focus on elder issues • Invisibility of older members of society • Elder products, including media articles relegated to “specialty sections” • Paternalistic treatment of the elderly • Focus on shortcomings, illness rather than strengths and contributions of the elderly • Watch The Roots and Consequences of Ageism (2014) • And Millennials Show Us What ‘Old’ Looks Like (2016)

22. Consequences of Ageism • Stereotypes become self-fulfilling prophecy • (one experiment shows that being treated in stereotypical manner can affect physical health and appearance as well as psychological well being of elderly) • Forced to conform to stereotypes • Loss of freedom and efficacy in many areas leads to more rapid aging • Lowered self esteem and personal happiness • Exclusion from normal social interaction and social relationships leads to loss of essential social support

23. Changing the Stereotype:Raging Grannies and the Zimmers • The Raging Grannies: social activist organization originating in Canada of women old enough to be grandmothers • dress up in clothes that mock stereotypes of older women and sing songs at protests. • Activism against militarism, sexism and ageism • The Zimmers (Britain) and “My Generation” (2007): “the world’s oldest rock band” who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent 2012

24. Problems of Age Stratification Age Stratification: the inequalities, differences, segregation between age groups. • Workplace discrimination: younger workers are preferred • Retirement: • Debate – should there be a mandatory retirement age? • No longer in Ontario and some other provinces • But many people, e.g., small business owners, women working part-time, may not have pensions

25. Social Problems Related to Aging • The elderly in Canada are less destitute than in other countries, but many face economic strain • Feminization of aging: older women tend to have fewer resources • During downturns in the economy, employers often target elderly workers in order to cut expenses • Family Problems and Social Isolation: • Many seniors live alone • Suffer from loneliness, boredom • Problem of the “tea-and-toasters” • But many, especially women, have networks of family and friends

26. Social (cont.) • Victimization: on the whole, although seniors are less likely to be victims of crime, scams involving elderly people and elder abuse are often in the news. • Incidents of victimization lead to fear, powerlessness and a loss of sense of control • Elder abuse is another concern • Physical, sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse have become social problems that endanger the health of the elderly

27. The Future of Aging • Higher life satisfaction for the elderly linked to better health • Factors related to life satisfaction: • Social and family support • Marital status • High levels of religious activity • Consequences of Global Aging (IMF, 2011) and possible solutions to the coming crisis

28. Sociological Perspectives Functionalist Disengagement Theory: • Older people want to be released from social expectations • Permits transfer of responsibilities to the next generation • Critique: Many older people disengaged because of rules, not by choice. The consequence is that they are removed from positions of power and influence. Many elderly wish to and do continue to work in paid and volunteer jobs.

29. Perspectives (cont.) Conflict • Conflict theorists argue that ageism is a form of inequality plied by the younger majority to further their own interests • We are losing a valued resource by marginalizing the elderly

30. Perspectives (cont.) Interactionist • symbolic interactionists focus on how socially constructed definitions of age and aging affect a person's experience of growing old Activity Theory: • Older people who are active are happier and better adjusted, and older people find meaningful substitutes for previous roles • Critique: Older may not wish or be able to maintain active lifestyles

31. Perspectives (cont.) Feminist Senior women have • Much lower incomes than senior men • Should improve with women in the labour force • More disability than senior men • Feminist theories stress that aging has more negative consequences for women than it does for men