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CHAPTER 15
R EL ATI ONS H I PS I N TH E L ATER YE A RS
Learning Outcomes
Key Terms
15.1 What is meant by the terms age and ageism?
age term defined chronologically,
physiologically, sociologically, and
culturally.
Age is defined chronologically (by time), physiologically (by capacity to see, hear,
and so on), psychologically (by self-concept), sociologically (by social roles), and
culturally (by the value placed on elderly). Ageism is the denigration of the elderly,
and gerontophobia is the fear or dread of the elderly. Theories of aging range from
disengagement (individuals and societies mutually disengage from each other) to
continuity (the habit patterns of youth are continued in old age), as you can see in the
following table. Life course is the aging theory currently in vogue.
Theories of Aging
Level of
Name of Theory Theory
Disengagement
Macro
Activity
Macro
Conflict
Macro
Age stratification Macro
Modernization
Macro
Symbolic
Micro
Continuity
Micro
Theorists
Elaine
Cumming,
William
Henry
Basic Assumptions
The gradual and mutual withdrawal of the
elderly and society from each other is a natural
process. It is also necessary and functional for
society that the elderly disengage so that new
people can be phased in to replace them in an
orderly transition.
Robert
People continue the level of activity they had
Havighurst in middle age into their later years. Though
high levels of activity are unrelated to living
longer, they are related to reporting high
levels of life satisfaction.
Karl Marx, The elderly compete with youth for jobs and
Max Weber social resources such as government programs
(Medicare).
Criticisms
Not all people want to disengage; some want to
stay active and involved. Disengagement does
not specify what happens when the elderly stay
involved.
Ill health may force people to curtail their level
of activity. The older a person, the more likely the
person is to curtail activity.
The elderly are presented as disadvantaged.
Their power to organize and mobilize political
resources such as the American Association of
Retired Persons is underestimated.
M. W. Riley The elderly represent a powerful cohort of
Too much emphasis is put on age, and little
individuals passing through the social system recognition is given to other variables within a
that both affect and are affected by social
cohort such as gender, race, and socioeconomic
change.
differences.
Donald
The status of the elderly is in reference to the Cultural values for the elderly, not level of
Cowgill
evolution of the society toward modernization. modernization, dictate the status of the elderly.
The elderly in premodern societies have more Japan has high respect for the elderly and yet is
status because what they have to offer in the highly technological and modernized.
form of cultural wisdom is more valued. The
elderly in modern technologically advanced
societies have low status because they have
little to offer.
Arlie
The elderly socially construct meaning in their The power of the larger social system and larger
Hochschild interactions with others and society. Developing social structures to affect the lives of the elderly
social bonds with other elderly can ward off
is minimized.
being isolated and abandoned. Meaning is in
the interpretation, not in the event.
Bernice
The earlier habit patterns, values, and
Other factors than one’s personality affect aging
Neugarten attitudes of the individual are carried forward outcomes. The social structure influences the life
as a person ages. The only personality change of the elderly rather than vice versa.
that occurs with aging is the tendency to turn
one’s attention and interest on the self.
age discrimination
discriminating against a person
because of age.
ageism systematic persecution and
degradation of people because they
are old.
blurred retirement the process
of retiring gradually so that the
individual works part-time before
completely retiring or takes a
bridge job that provides a transition
between a lifelong career and full
retirement.
cohousing an arrangement
where elderly individuals live in
group housing or shared living
arrangements.
dementia the mental disorder
most associated with aging, whereby
the normal cognitive functions are
slowly lost.
family caregiving care provided
to the elderly by family members.
frail elderly person who has
difficulty with at least one personal
care activity or other activity related
to independent living.
gerontology the study of aging.
gerontophobia fear or dread of
the elderly.
Levitra, Cialis, Viagra
medications taken by aging men
to help them get and maintain an
erection.
sandwich generation individuals
who attempt to meet the needs of
their children and elderly parents at
the same time.
thanatology examination of the
social dimensions of death, dying,
and bereavement.
Chapter 3: Planning and Decision Making
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15.2 What is the “sandwich generation”?
Eldercare combined with child care is becoming common among the sandwich generation, adult children responsible for the needs of
both their parents and their children. Two levels of eldercare include help with personal needs such as feeding, bathing, and toileting as
well as instrumental care such as going to the grocery store, managing bank records, and so on. Members of the sandwich generation
report feelings of exhaustion over the relentless demands, guilt over not doing enough, and resentment over feeling burdened.
Deciding whether to arrange for an elderly parent’s care in a nursing home requires attention to a number of factors, including the
level of care the parent needs, the philosophy and time availability of the adult child, and the resources of the adult children and other
siblings. Full-time nursing care (not including medication) can be over $1,000 a week.
Elderly parents who are dying from terminal illnesses incur enormous medical bills. Some want to die and ask for help. Our society
continues to wrestle with physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Only Oregon currently allows for physician-assisted suicide.
15.3 What issues confront the elderly?
Issues of concern to the elderly include housing, health, retirement, and sexuality. Most elderly live in their own homes, which they have
paid for. Most elderly housing is adequate, although repair becomes a problem when people age. Health concerns are paramount for
the elderly. Good health is the single most important factor associated with an elderly person’s perceived life satisfaction.
Hearing and visual impairments, arthritis, heart conditions, and high blood pressure are all common to the elderly. Mental
problems may also occur with mood disorders; depression is the most common.
Though the elderly are thought to be wealthy and living in luxury, most are not. The median household income of people over
the age of 65 is less than half of what they earned in the prime of their lives. The most impoverished elderly are those who have lived
the longest, who are widowed, and who live alone. Women are particularly disadvantaged because their work history may have
been discontinuous, part-time, and low-paying. Social Security and private pension plans favor those with continuous, full-time work
histories.
For most elderly women and men, sexuality involves lower reported interest, activity, and capacity. Fear of the inability to have an
erection is the sexual problem elderly men most frequently report (Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis have helped allay this fear). The absence of
a sexual partner is the sexual problem elderly women most frequently report.
15.4 What factors are associated with successful aging?
Factors associated with successful aging include not smoking (or quitting early), developing a positive view of life and life’s crises,
avoiding alcohol and substance abuse, maintaining healthy weight, exercising daily, continuing to educate oneself, and having a happy
marriage. Indeed, those who were identified as “happy and well” were six times more likely to be in good marriages than those who
were identified as “sad and sick.” Success in one’s career is also associated with successful aging.
15.5 What are relationships like for the elderly?
Marriages that survive into old age (beyond age 85) tend to have limited conflict, considerable companionship, and mutual
supportiveness. Relationships with siblings are primarily emotional rather than functional. In regard to relationships of the elderly with
their children, emotional and expressive rewards are high. Caregiving help is available but rare. Only 12 percent of one sample of adults
older than 85 lived with their children.
15.6 How do the elderly face the end of life?
Thanatology is the examination of the social dimensions of death, dying, and bereavement. The end of life can involve adjusting to the
death of one’s spouse and to the gradual decline of one’s health. Most elderly are satisfied with their lives, relationships, and health.
Declines begin when people reach their eighties. Most fear the process of dying more than death itself.
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Part 2: Planning
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