Chapter 12 – Applications in Special Areas
GERONTOLOGY AND AGING
INTRODUCTION
Older adulthood an important stage
 Human service workers are called on to help
 We will explore gerontology, aging and ageism
 We will explore myths and theories
 We will look at trends
 We will discuss settings, values and roles in the
provision of human services

GERONTOLOGY
Defined as the study of the physical, mental,
and social processes of growing older.
 Comes from the word “geron” which means
“aging” and logos, which means “knowledge.”
 Relatively new field of study – last 50 years
 Note: Geriatrics is a subset of gerontology and
is the field of medicine that pertains to the
diseases and treatment of older persons.

SOCIAL CHANGES

US statistics
 In
1900 people over the age of 65 were 4%
 In 1990 13%
 People are living longer
AGING

Aging is the way humans move along the
continuum of time. There are three important
things to remember.
1.
2.
3.
Aging describes the normal progressive changes
that can be expected in cells, organs, biological
systems, etc.
Aging is an individual process, no two people age
the same
Within one person, systems and organs age at
different paces
WAYS AGING CAN BE DESCRIBED AND STUDIED
1.
2.
Chronological – number of years lived
Bureaucratic – eligibility for social programs or services, such as


3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
65 for Social Security
55 for discounts in stores
Functioning – mobility, ability to care for oneself, and overall health.
Social – roles and relationships in the social structure as people
age.
Biological – physical changes to organs and cells
Psychological – sensory and mental functioning, personality,
attitude and coping.
Demographic – the trends in the overall and aging population.
THINGS THAT AFFECT A PERSON’S PATH TO
AGING
Heredity
 Occupation
 Environment
 Stress
 Health care
 Health maintenance
 Level of activity

QUESTIONS

Provide an example for the myths. Think of
someone or tell a story of someone you know
that does not follow the myth.
INTERESTING GROUPINGS



0 – 21 years – childhood and adolescence 21 years
20 – 60 - approximately 40 years
60 + - can be 10 – 30 years

Subcategories might be good
Young old (approximately 60 – 74)
 Middle old (approximately 75 – 80)
 Old old (usually over 85)

Interesting that people from different generations may attend the
same seniors group.
The most rapidly aging group is 85 and over and 70% are females and
many of these are disadvantaged as they were not part of the
working force.
AGEISM






This word was coined by Robert Butler
Prejudice based on age
Ageism is prejudging an individual, a group of people, or
a physical condition based on preconceived notions of
age.
Ageism causes us to assume things about persons
based solely on their age.
Ageism includes discrimination based on age.
Ageism is fueled by our society’s worship of youth and
physical beauty and predominance of the work ethic.
EXAMPLES OF AGEISM – COME UP WITH SEVEN
MYTHS ABOUT AGING
All older people are alike
 Older people cannot learn
 Older people are senile
 All older people are in Nursing Homes
 All older persons are sick and helpless
 Older persons become more religious as they
age.
 Older age is a “Golden Age.”

MYTH #1 - ALL OLDER PEOPLE ARE ALIKE

Examples might be
 “All
old people are sweet”
 “All old people are crotchety and grouchy.”
 People grow more like each other as they age
TRUTH IS …We retain our unique personality and
cultural characteristics as we age. Personalities
get more distinct and unique.
MYTH #2 – OLDER PEOPLE CANNOT LEARN

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
TRUTH IS … Older persons learn at a slower pace,
but they do learn, and they do retain the
information. The ability to learn will not stop
unless there is a medical problem.
MYTH # 3 – OLDER PEOPLE ARE SENILE
“Senility” is inevitable
 Senility is mistakenly used to describe
dementia, mental impairment, and memory
loss; however, “senility” is actually just a
synonym for “old” and does not mean mental
impairment
TRUTH IS … Mental deterioration is neither
normal or inevitable. The majority of the
population do not develop dementia.

MYTH #4 – ALL OLDER PERSONS ARE IN
NURSING HOMES
TRUTH IS … Approximately 85% of persons over
65 are in their own homes, living on their own
and doing well.
MYTH # 5 – ALL OLDER PERSONS ARE SICK
AND HELPLESS
Some think older persons lose their sexuality
 Older persons cannot benefit from mental
health services
 All older persons are physically impaired or ill.

TRUTH IS … Each person is different, of course,
but in normal aging, generally none of the
stereotypes above are true
MYTH # 6 – OLDER PERSONS BECOME MORE
RELIGIOUS AS THEY AGE
TRUTH IS … People who are old and religious
were young and religious. Spiritual attitudes
tend to remain constant throughout life, but
religious activities may decline in later
adulthood due to mobility problems,
transportation problems, sensory impairments,
or health problems.
MYTH # 7 – OLDEN AGE IS A “GOLDEN AGE”

Some think that retirement age is always tranquil
and untroubled
TRUTH IS …. Some face decreased income,
increased isolation, chronic illnesses and
conditions, substandard medical care, and fear of
losing one’s independence and home. Some
elders are faced with ageism, sexism, classism,
racism, xenophobia (hatred or fear of foreigners or
strangers or of their politics or culture,) etc.
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT ???
1.
2.
3.
The myths discussed are very common. Which
ideas had you held about what aging would be
like?
Discuss how media images and societal
stereotypes can perpetuate these myths.
Watch a movie that portrays older people.
Identify ways these films perpetuate myths
about aging.
ABC News – Myth busting longevity
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/video/f
orever-young-myth-busting-longevity13084023
TRUTH ABOUT AGING …
Neither all good nor all bad
 Mixture of gains and declines
 Later years are not necessarily a “golden age,”
neither is it a hellish existence with no joy
 Aging is an individual event as well as a condition
that is heavily influenced by societal attitudes and
support.
 Older people are widely different from each other
and their experiences cannot be generalized.

SOCIAL THEORIES OF AGING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Disengagement theory
Activity theory
Continuity theory
Psychological model
Role theory
A theory is a particular view of the world and a
way of putting on a different set of lenses.
BENEFITS OF A DIFFERENT THEORIES
Judge what fits your perspective
2. Can be aware of different ways of interpreting
aging
3. Can pick and choose parts of theories to form
your own truths
This means that no one view of the world is
written in stone and that no one perception
may be right or wrong. We must consider
facts and experience.
1.
#1 - DISENGAGEMENT THEORY
Developed in 1961
 Says people remove themselves from society as they
age and society eases away from them
 Theory says that older persons are inactive and
withdrawn
 Says elders do not need to be active
 Considers it is normal, adaptive and natural for older
persons and society to withdraw from each other
Example: It is considered functional for society to transfer
power and responsibility to younger persons, and for
older persons to remove themselves from the
workplace.

#2 - ACTIVITY THEORY
Developed in 1961 as a reaction against
disengagement theory
 Says that old age is no different from middle
age
 Persons who are active will be more satisfied
and better adjusted than those who have
disengaged. This theory is congruent with
societal values about work and productivity.

#3 - CONTINUITY THEORY
Theory 1968
 Takes into account the course of an individual’s
life and states that personality and styles of
coping do not change with age.
 The aging person changes roles but continues
to adapt as he or she always has
 Personality is the major factor in adjustment
 People as they age become more and more like
what they were when they were young.

#4 - PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL
Is based on a life cycle view and theories of human
development
 States later adulthood is a life stage of its own
 Life is a continuum of change and growth
 Each stage has its own unique problems, tasks,
coping skills, crises, and potential
 The psychosocial task of older adulthood is this
theory is called “integrity versus despair,” meaning
that a person who is facing the end of his or her
life must come to terms with what he or she has
been able to be and do throughout life.

#5 - ROLE THEORY
Theory from 1942
 People hold a variety of roles and relationships
through their lives, such as spouse, parent,
sibling, employee, and friend.
 Roles determine our self-concepts and our selfimages
 Age alters roles, norms, standards, and
expectations.

#5 ROLE THEORY (CONT’D)
Examples:
A woman who is 75 who has defined herself
primarily as a wife for 50 years will have a difficult
adjustment upon widowhood, in addition to
experience the grief from losing a husband.
A man of 65 who has defined himself for his adult
life as primary breadwinner and as employee will
perhaps have a difficult time adjusting to forced
retirement.
QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
Social theories of aging focus on different
aspects of aging; for example, social involvement,
personal adjustment, or personality style. Which
ideas help us to understand which aspect of
aging best?
Which theory best fits with your own view of aging
and explain your choice.
How might human service work with older
persons be influenced by a belief in each of the
above theories?
QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
Social theories focus attention on different
aspects of aging; for example, social involvement,
personal adjustment, or personality style. Which
ideas help us to understand which aspect of
aging best?
Which of the above theories fits best with your
own view of aging?
How might human services work with older
persons be influenced by a belief in each of the
above theories?