Chapter Twelve
Aging
Quotes on Aging




“When people get old and pearls get yellow, neither
are worth much.” Chinese Proverb
“The great secret that all old people share is that
you really haven’t changed in 70 or 80 years. Your
body changes, but you don’t change at all. And
that, of course, causes great confusion.” Doris
Lessing, The Sunday Times (London)
Perhaps being old is having lighted rooms Inside
your head, and people in them, acting. People you
know, yet can’t quite name. Phillip Larkin, “The
Old Fools”
“This would be beautiful to an infant—why is it
merely tragic in an older person? Our feelings about
this show the extent to which we judge adults by 2
their function.” John Mighton “Half Live”
Outline







The Social Significance of Age
Age and the Life Course in
Contemporary Society
Inequalities Related to Aging
Sociological Perspectives
Living Arrangements for Older Adults
Death and Dying
Aging in the Future
3
The Social Significance of
Aging


Trends in Aging
Age in an Historical Perspective
4
The Social Significance of
Aging




Special Terms:
Aging: the physical, psychological, and
social processes associated with growing
older
Chronological age: a person’s age based
on date of birth
Functional age: observable individual
attributes such as physical appearance,
mobility, strength, coordination, and mental
capacity that are used to assign people to
age categories
5
Trends in Aging


Today, older Canadians make up more
than 10% of the population
This makes Canada’s population one of
the oldest in the world
6
Trends in Aging in Canada
40
35
30
25
20
Mean Age
15
10
5
0
1981
2001
7
Trends in Aging

Additional terms
– Greying of Canada: the aging of the
Canadian population resulted from an
increase in life expectancy combined with
a decrease in birth rates
– Life Expectancy: the average length of
time a group of individuals of the same
age will live
– Cohort: a group of people born within a
specified period of time
8
Trends in Aging
Research on aging has grown
substantially in the past 50 years
 Special Terms:
– Gerontology: the study of aging and
older people
– Social gerontology: the study of the
social aspects of aging
– Includes: societal consequences of an
aging population and the personal
experience of aging
9
Trends in Aging

Some highlighted statistics from
Figures 12.1:
– 1900:
– 1981:
– 1991:
– 2031:
5% of the population was >65
10% of the population was >65
12% of the population was>65
22% of the population will be>65
10
Projected Population By Age 1992-2036 (2003)
11
Population Age 65> 1901-2031 (2004)
12
Trends in Aging

Figure 12.4 reveals:
– The Age Pyramid Distribution
– This figure reflects declining birth rates
and increases in life expectancy
– The result: many more older Canadians
and fewer young Canadians
13
14
15
Age in Historical
Perspective



Theme: people are assigned to
different roles and positions based on
the age structure and role structure in
a particular society.
Age Structure: the number of
persons at each age structure and role
structure in a particular society
Role Structure: the number and type
of positions available to them
16
Age in Historical
Perspective




In non-industrial societies, labour was
defined as physical
Thus, as people aged, they were less able
to contribute to economic well-being of a
society
In some hunting and gathering societies
they were abandoned or killed
In the 17th and 18th centuries, older persons
helped with work and were respected
17
Age and the Life Course in
Contemporary Society




Middle Adulthood
Late Adulthood
Retirement
Special Term: Age stratification:
“the inequalities, differences,
segregation, or conflict between age
groups.”
18
Middle Adulthood


In pre-20th century, the life expectancy
of Canadians ranged between 40-65
Thus, there was no concept of “middle
adulthood”
19
Middle Adulthood

Meaning and elements of senescence
(primary aging):
– Wrinkles and gray hair
– Arthritis
– Dulling of the senses
– Slowing down of reflexes
20
Male-Female Senescene


Female
Menopause The
cessation of the
menstrual cycle caused
by the gradual decline
in the body’s
production of female
hormones such as
estrogen and
progesterone (p. 369)



Male
Climacteric: the
decrease of the
male hormone
testosterone
Some evidence that
it produces
nervousness and
depression (p.370)
21
Middle Adulthood


Secondary Aging: “occurs as a result of
environmental factors and lifestyle choices.”
(p. 370)
Elements of Secondary Aging
– Smoking, drinking, and little physical exercise
result in aging

Positive elements:
– Highest level of income and prestige
– Leave child rearing responsibilities behind
– The enjoyment of grandchildren
22
Late Adulthood


Age >65 years in Canada
Elements:
– Separation of an individual from paid labour
– An erosion of an identity based on an occupation
– Loss of valued status

Key concept: Retirement: “the institutional
separation of an individual from an
occupational position, with continuation of
income through a retirement pension based
on prior years of service” (p. 370)
23
Stages of Being Old
The Young Old: ages 65-74
The Old Old: 75-85
The Oldest Old: >85
24
Late Adulthood

Elements of late adulthood:
– Bones become brittle
– Increase of arthritis
– Increased chance of disease
– Some are debilitating: Alzheimer’s
Disease (55% of organic mental disorders
are caused by Alzheimer’s)
– Burden of care on Adult children
– Some can be reversed through exercise
25
Further Characteristics of
the Old
Nursing homes: 5%
Visual Impairment: 10%
Hearing Loss: 50%
26
Late Adulthood

New roles:
– Grandparenting
– Stress due to illnesses


Most are financially secure:
poverty rates have declined for the
elderly
Intimacy: One study: married people
>65 had a higher level of satisfaction
with their romantic relationship than
married persons of any other age
27
Retirement


Defined: the institutional separation of
an individual from an occupational
position, with a continuation of income
through a retirement pension based
on prior years of service
With new laws, there has been a shift
of dependency of the old from their
families to the state
28
Retirement



In Canada, all those in paid work
contribute to and have access to
payments after 65
In addition, about 1.4 million elderly
have additional state benefits because
of low incomes
There has been a reduction of poverty
among the elderly because of this
29
30
31
Retirement

Effects:
– Loss of income
– Loss of identity
– Change of lifestyle
– Change of friends

New activities
– Volunteer organizations
– Hobbies
– Some return to work
32
Retirement

Problems:
– Only a few Canadians have their own pension
funds (RRSP). In 1999, a poll showed that only
11% of Canadians actually expected to finance
their retirement through lottery winnings
– Many retired persons are continuing to work
(between 1996 and 2001, twice as many seniors
have continued to work than the actual rate of
growth of the older population)
– Poor Heath: major effects: loss of freedom,
becoming isolated
33
Inequalities Related to
Aging



Ageism
Wealth, Poverty, and Aging
Elder Abuse
34
Ageism



Related to similar concepts such as prejudice,
stereotypes, and discrimination
Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against
people on the basis of age, particularly when they
are older persons
(p. 375)
Sources of stereotypes (some are from the media):
–
–
–
–
–
People are unattractive
Unintelligent
Asexual
Unemployment
Mentally incompetent
35
Ageism

Effects of these stereotypes
– Difficulty in finding work if needed
– Negative self image
36
Wealth, Poverty, and
Aging





Has the economic situation of older
Canadians improved? Yes
The income of those >65 and over
rose by 18% between 1981 to 1997
Will they be able to maintain a
satisfactory standard of living? Yes
Older people have less income but
more wealth
Still, 15% have low incomes
37
Wealth, Poverty, and
Aging
Feminization of poverty:
 Poverty rate for elderly women is
double the poverty rate for elderly
men
 Unattached elderly women are at risk
of poverty
 In 2000, 43% of women living alone
had incomes below the low-income
cut-off, compared to 31% of men
38
Wealth, Poverty, and
Aging



Feminization of poverty:
Gender was more directly related to poverty
in older persons than ethnicity or race
Others who are more likely to experience
poverty: those whose language is not
English or French, those with limited
education, Aboriginals, people in small
towns and unattached persons.
39
Elder Abuse



Defined: the physical abuse, the
psychological abuse, financial
exploitation, and medical abuse or
neglect of people >65
Known as the “Hidden victims.”
1999 survey: about 4000 were
surveyed:
– 7% reported abuse from an adult child,
caregiver, or spouse
– Emotional abuse was the most common
40
Elder Abuse

Police records:
– About 25% of reported offences were from
family members
– Kinds:




Assault
Uttering threats
Robbery
Financial abuse
– Older people report fear of crime
– Effects: more serious as they are more
vulnerable
41
Sociological Perspectives





Functionalist
Symbolic Interactionist
Conflict
Feminist
Postmodernist
42
Functionalist



Theme: how older persons adjust to the
changing roles in society...to devalue the
elderly is dysfunctional for society
Theory: disengagement theory: older
persons make a normal and healthy
adjustment to aging when they detach
themselves from their social roles and
prepare for their eventual death
Functional both for the person and the
society
43
Symbolic Interactionist


Theme: how people deal with the
aging process and how this experience
can vary under different circumstances
Activity theory: states that people
tend to shift gears in late middle age
and find substitutes for previous
statuses, roles, and activities
44
Symbolic Interactionist


Hypothesis: Healthy people who
remain active have a higher level of
life satisfaction than those who are
inactive or in ill health
Continuity: people attempt to maintain
their self-esteem and lifelong
principles and practices and that they
simply adjust to the feedback from
and needs of others as they grow
older
45
Symbolic Interactionist


Problem: the elderly are not valued for
their long experiences
Exchange: older people can exchange
their knowledge for deference and
respect from younger people
46
Conflict




Theme: in capitalist societies, as
people age they lose control and
power
Visible minority elderly have additional
challenges
Aboriginal peoples suffer more
Yet, in many Aboriginal peoples elders
have a higher status than among other
Canadians
47
Feminist Perspectives


A major problem for women: During
their potential for earnings, it was a
expectation that women were stay at
home mothers (1950-1965)…thus they
gained little independent incomes with
relevant retirement plans
Nearly half of women over age sixtyfive are widowed and living alone on
fixed incomes
48
Feminist Perspectives


Gender was more directly related to
poverty in older persons than was
ethnicity, educational background, or
occupational status
Many middle-age women are working
but make less than men and thus have
less to save for retirement and less
monies in pension funds
49
Postmodern Perspectives

Focus: a new social construction of the
elderly in the light of:
– Erosion of aging stages
– Labour demands can be met by the elderly
– Technology is creating “age-less” elderly
– Examples: breast implants, face-lifts,
hormone replacement therapies
– Less and less demands for retirement at 65
50
Postmodern Perspectives

Focus: a new social construction of the
elderly in the light of:
– Increased health for the elderly
– Increased recreation

Question: How far can we go to
“undo” primary aging mechanisms?
51
Living Arrangements for
Older Adults



Growth of institutionalization of the
elderly
Yet, only 10% of women and 5% of
men are in these facilities
Extensions of care:
– Homemaker services
– Daycare centres
– Family
– Social networks
52
Living Arrangements for
Older Adults

Nursing Homes
– Any institution that offers medical care for
chronically ill older people but is not a
hospital
– Many people suffer from the transition
– Some evidence of abuse, neglect,
excessive use of restraints
53
Death and Dying





In pre-industrial societies, many
people died before they were old
Death was considered part of life
In current, industrialized societies,
death is a problem
Question of assisted suicide
Question of ethical guidelines for the
removal of life supports
54
Death and Dying
How do people cope with death?
1) stage-based approach: use of
Kubler-Ross’ proposed five stages
2) Dying trajectory: may be sudden
or gradual
3) Task-based approach: the dying
person can and should go about daily
activities and fulfill tasks that make the
process of dying easier
55
Death and Dying
An institutional approach:
the emergence of the hospice: a
homelike facility that provides
supportive care for patients with
terminal illnesses
56
Aging in the Future

Elements of the future:
– By the year 2031, there will be 8 million
persons >65
– Will be less ageism
– Who will care for them?
Families
 Women as care givers
 New medical breakthroughs
 Growth of Interest groups for the elderly

57
Questions




How will the increase in number of
Canadians over 65 impact institutions?
Explain and critique disengagement theory
and activity theory.
Give examples of how the stages of age
(childhood, middle age, old age ex.) are
socially constructed.
How can seniors be better integrated into
Canadian Society? What does society risk if
they are not?
58
References

Moody, Harry R Aging : Concepts and
Controversies Pine Forge Press 2000
59