THE AGING JOURNEY
Aging and Leisure: Misunderstood?
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AGING: typically viewed as a largely
undesirable period of life during which a
series of physical, cognitive, social, and
emotional declines occur.
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LEISURE: seen as somewhat frivolous and
certainly secondary to the more serious
business of life.
A Positive Perspective On Aging
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“The progress of gerontology began to stall
in the mid-1980’s…There was a persistent
preoccupation with disability, disease, and
chronological age, rather than the positive
aspects of aging”.
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The term “Ulyssean Adult” was coined to
identify individuals who continue to seek new
adventures and opportunities in their later
years. The prototype for such an individual
comes from Ulysses, who was more than 50
years of age when his adventures in the
Odyssey began and more than 70 when he
began his last voyage.
SOCIAL ASPECTS OF AGING
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Changes in Social Roles
Social Responses to Aging
Negative Stereotypes
Positive Stereotypes
Negative Attitudes
Positive Attitudes
Negative Discrimination
Positive Discrimination
Changes in Social Roles
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Every individual lives in a social context that
influences his or her behavior!
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The process of socialization that is the
process through which we absorb values,
beliefs, and knowledge that guide our
behavior as a member of a social group.
Cont.
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As young people we are directly or indirectly
instructed to behave in ways that conform to
the norms created within our social group
We learn to conform
We assume certain roles
We have social expectations
How do social norms and roles change as
we age?
Social Responses To Aging
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What do you see when you first meet someone?
How do you evaluate someone when you first meet
them?
Do you judge someone when you first meet them?
How do the answers the above questions differ
between persons your own age and the aging or
elderly?
Negative Stereotypes
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Most older persons are sick or disabled
Most older persons have no sexual activity or desire
Old persons are ugly
Mental abilities start to decline after middle age
Most old persons are senile
Old workers are not as effective as younger ones
The majority of older persons are socially isolated
and lonely
Most older persons live in poverty
Older persons feel miserable (cranky, depressed)
Positive Stereotypes
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Older persons are kind and warm
Most older persons have great wisdom
Older persons are more dependable
Older persons are well off financially
Older persons are a powerful political force
Older persons are free to do whatever they want
It is possible to slow down the aging process
Old age is full of peace and serenity
Negative Attitudes
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Very few people perceive the sixties or seventies as the best
years of one’s life
Most people choose the 60’s and 70’s s the worst years of a
person’s life
The older years are the worst because of bad health or physical
decline, loneliness, and financial problems
Children prefer being with younger adults rather than older
adults
Most people have a mixture of negative and positive attitudes
toward the elderly, but few have predominantly positive
attitudes
Positive Attitudes
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Some people look forward to retirement as
the “golden years”
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Society holds pseudo positive attitudes about
the elderly, offering compliments even when
performance does not meet standards held
for younger members of society
Negative Discrimination
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Employment practices are still discriminatory
Governmental agencies providing services to the
elderly are found to discriminate, particularly against
the oldest age groups
Families discriminate by deferential treatment of the
elderly
Housing segregation occurs, with the elderly
becoming concentrated in certain areas
Health care practices are still inadequate to cover
the needs of the older persons
Positive Discrimination
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Tax benefits, discounts, and employment benefits
are available
In the political arena, the elderly fare better as
candidates for office and enjoy legislative benefits
Medicare is available only for the elderly
Some families see the elderly as matriarchs or
patriarchs
Governmental programs support public housing for
the elderly, and retirement communities cater
exclusively to them
Myths About Aging
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To be old is to be sick
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
The horse is out of the barn (can’t change
bad habits)
The secret to successful aging is to choose
your parents wisely
The lights may be on but the voltage is low
The elderly don’t pull their own weight
Dealing with Ageism
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Told a joke that pokes fun at seniors
Sent a birthday card that pokes fun at seniors
Ignored or not taken seriously because of
age
Called an insulting name related to age
Patronized or “talked down to” because of
age
More…
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Refused rental housing because of age
Difficulty getting a loan because of age
Denied a position of leadership because of
age
Treated with less dignity and respect
A waiter or waitress ignored me because of
age
Finally, a few more…
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A doctor or nurse assumed my ailments were
caused by aging
Denied employment because of age
Assume you cannot hear
Assume you cannot understand things
“you’re too old for that”
DEMOGRAPHY OF AGING
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Life Expectancy
Age Composition
Race and Ethnicity
Residential Distribution
Gender
Marital Status
Economic Characteristics
Health Characteristics
Life Expectancy
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People are living longer now than ever
before!
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Life expectancy changes:
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Birth in 1900 was 47.3 yrs
Birth in 1996 was 76.1
Birth in 2000 rose to 76.9
This increase is largely due to decreases in mortality
among individuals who are middle aged and above!
Cont…
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Life expectancy varies based on gender and race
Women generally speaking live longer than men.
For example; A woman reaching age 65 in 1997 had
a life expectancy of an additional 19.2 years,
whereas a similarly aged man could expect to live
only an additional 15.9 years.
Projections for the year 2010 indicate that 65 yr. old
men will have a life expectancy of 16.2 more yrs.,
whereas women will have 21 more years of life.
Age Composition
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The American population is growing older.
In 1990, less than 4% of the population was 65 and
over, in 2000 that number had increase to 12.4%,
about 35 million people.
Every day about 5,570 people celebrate their 65th
birthday. The net increase in this age group is 650
every day!
This is also the fastest growing age group, otherwise
known as the “baby boomers”
Residential Distribution
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52% of all individuals 65 yrs. And over resided in 9
states: CA., FLA.,NY., PA.. TX., IL.,OH., MI., and NJ.
Each of these states had more than 1 million
residents over 65
In 2000 Florida had the highest proportion of
residents 65 and over; 18.1%
Most live in family settings with spouses
Only 4.5% living in nursing or long-term care settings
Gender
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Women outlive men!
For every 2 males over the age of 65, there
are approximately 3 females, hence the ratio
of women to men in the 65-69 age group is 6
to 5.
This ratio increases with older age groups, it
now becomes 5 women for every 2 men in
the 85 and over age group
Marital Status
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In 2001 approximately 46% of all older
women were widows and only 42% of the
men were widowers.
Economic Characteristics
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The older population is poorer than the general population,
however, there is great variation in the financial status of the
elderly.
In 2001 the median income of older individuals was $19,688 for
males and $11,313 for females.
For households headed by people 65 and over the income was
$33,938.
The meaning of “limited” income is dramatic in later years.
“Income is the crucial determinant of the aged live. The
adequacy and maintenance of income directly affect other
aspects of the lives of the elderly.”
Health Characteristics
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In addition to reporting incomes below those
of younger people, aging individuals also
experience poor health.
In 2000, 27% of all individuals aged 65 or
over rated their own health as fair or poor
whereas only 9% rated theirs higher.
The leading cause of death among older
individuals is heart disease followed by
cancer and stroke.