Aging Globally & Aging
Subcultures
Sociology 431
Chapter Two
Worldwide Trends
• Pace of economic development in countries
resulted in shifts from rural agricultural societies to
urbanized industrial landscapes with changes in
social and family structures
• Combination of the increased population of older
adults worldwide, cultural changes, and economic
patterns may disrupt traditional family and social
structures
Demographic Changes
•Number of persons age > 65 in the world is expected to increase from an
estimated 420 million in 2000 to 974 million in 2030
•Numbers and expected growth of older population differ substantially
between the industrialized and developing countries
•60% elders live in developing countries
Demographic Changes
Economic Implications for Industrialized Countries
•Strategies respond to demographic changes
and recognize value of older workers:
•redirect recruiting/training & offer retraining
•retention by alternative flexible conditions
•preserve knowledge mature workers possess
•facilitate intergenerational communication
•assist in learning/using technology
The Effects of Modernization
•Modernization Theory
•advances in technology, applied sciences, urbanization,
and literacy which, in this context are related to a decline
in the status of older people
The Effects of Modernization
•Characteristics of Modernization that have led to lower
status for elders
•Health technology
•Scientific technology
•Urbanization
•Literacy and mass education
Alternatives to Modernization Theory
•Healthy filial piety
•Strong cultural values
•Reciprocal intergenerational relationships
A Cross-Cultural View of Old Age in
Contemporary Societies
•Societies generally distinguish two or three classes of elders
• Those who are no longer fully productive, but are physically and mentally able to
attend to their daily needs
• Those who are totally dependent
• Those who continue to actively participate in the economy of the social system
Immigrants from traditional cultures
to the United States
•less likely to be educated to the high school level
•less likely to be proficient in English
•more likely to live in poverty
•less likely to have health care insurance
•less likely to use health and social services
•more likely than their US-born peers to receive
government benefits
Living arrangements of Older Immigrants
• Vary across cultures
• Vary among individuals, families, and
communities
• Vary among meanings of “home” and “residence”
•physical safety and comfort
•amelioration of sense of displacement
Financial Dilemmas Facing Immigrant Elders
• Since 1996 policies on welfare programs are on state and local governmental
levels
• Resultant effects:
•reduced income security for older immigrants
•eligible older immigrants do not apply for assistance
•they think they are not eligible
•they think it will affect their status in the US