Social Facts on Aging Quiz Bowl
East Team
1.
In the United States, the life expectancy of women aged 65 in 2005 is estimated to allow
them, on the average, to live to be almost
a.
75
c.
85
b.
80
d.
90
3.
True or False. The proportion of blacks and other minorities among the aged is
increasing.
TRUE. For example, between 1987 and 2000, the number of older Hispanics in the
United States increased 77%.
5.
Gerontologists subdivide older people into categories. Select the correct title and age
range.
a.
young-old: 65 to 74 years old
b.
middle-aged old: 75 to 84
c.
old-old: 85 and up
d.
all of these are correct
And the fastest growing group is the old-old, at 85 and above. They are also called the
“frail elderly”.
7.
Medicare pays part of the medical expenses for aged persons, most of whom enroll when
they turn 65. Not counting prescription drugs, the amount paid by Medicare is about:
a.
25%
c.
80%
b.
50%
d.
100%
9.
True or False. Social Security Benefits automatically increase whenever the Consumer
Price Index increases 1% in a year.
FALSE. The Consumer Price Index must rise 3% to trigger an increase. If the rate of
inflation stays below 3% for a few years, the cost of living may rise, but without an
adjustment in the Social Security amount a retiree receives.
11.
Persons over age 65 account for this percentage of acute hospitalizations, for example, a
new hip fracture or pneumonia, per year in the United States:
a.
25%
b.
50%
c.
75%
d.
90%
Though they make up about 13% of the total population, the elderly also account for
about 20% of all physician visits, and 35% of all health care expenditures in the US
each year.
13.
At a single point in time, it is estimated that, of people over 65, this percent resides in a
long term care facility where they receive assisted living sevices, nursing care or
rehabilitation:
a.
1%
c.
10%
b.
5%
d.
15%
Some experts in geriatrics call this the “5% fallacy”. See the next question.
15.
True or False. More of the aged vote than any other segment of the voting population.
FALSE. More middle aged people than older ones vote. Part of the reason may be
that elderly women were socialized at a time when voting was less expected of females.
17.
The Geriatrics Section of the American Physical Therapy Association was conceptualized
and initiated in the late 1970s by
a.
Marilyn Moffat, New York
b.
Ben Massey, North Carolina
c.
Joan Mills, Missouri
d.
Steve Forbush, Florida
Joan Mills was Director of PT at Truman West in Kansas City for many years. The
Geriatrics Section is now one of the largest and most active within APTA.
(Marilyn Moffat is the past APTA President, Ben Massey is current APTA President.
Steve Forbush was a Chief Delegate from Florida, and presented a program on the
foot at the MPTA Spring Meeting.)
19.
True or False. Participation in voluntary organizations such as clubs and churches
declines among healthy seniors.
FALSE. As long as health permits, participation holds steady or increases. Over ½
work as volunteers or for pay. Also, older people, especially women, may appear to be
more religious. When they were younger, church activities were a bigger part of the
social fabric.
21.
Here is a situation. An older driver is impaired for any of several reasons. Who is
responsible for taking his or her driver’s license away?
a.
a physician
b.
a judge or officer of the law
c.
the family
d.
none of the above
Some states have enacted license renewal tests for older drivers. If a person has an
accident, a license may be voided by a judge.. Ideally, an older person realizes when
driving has become hazardous and voluntarily quits driving, but decreased mental
acuity may interfere with the ability to reason.
23. “Myths of aging” are commonly held beliefs that researchers have found to be untrue.
Pick the untrue statement:
a. Elderly people are more fearful of crime than younger people.
b. People up in age are interested in having or maintaining sexual relationships.
c. Older people are more satisfied if they disengage from society in preparation
to die.
d. People over age 65 average between three and five chronic illnesses.
References:
Kausler DH and Kausler BC. The Graying of America. 2nd Ed. Urbana and Chicago: University of
Illinois Press, 2001.
Olson, LK. The Graying of the World. New York: The Haworth Press 1994.
Palmore, E. The Facts on Aging Quiz. New York: Springer Publishing, 1998.
Social Facts on Aging Quiz Bowl
West Team
2.
The life expectancy of men who were age 65 in 2005, on the average, will live this many
more years:
a.
10
c.
20
b.
15
d.
25
4.
Among persons 65 and older who have lost a spouse, there are approximately this many
widows for each widower:
a.
one
c.
five
b.
three
d.
seven
6.
And what do you call people who are 100 years old?
a.
recipients of birthday cards from the U.S. President
b.
antiques
c.
Centenarians.
d.
both a. and c.
Of the old-old group, Centenarians are the fastest growing group. By 2030, there will
be about 324,000 people 100 or more years old, thanks to their inherited resistance to
cancer and other diseases.
8.
True or False. Medicare has paid for prescription drugs for seniors since 1965 when
Medicare went into effect.
FALSE. Until recently, Medicare paid nothing for prescription drugs. A drug
program was enacted recently, but plans vary, and Medicare recipients must actively
sign up for the program.
10.
Select the statement that is most correct regarding the life expectancy of the following
groups of people as calculated in 2000: at age 65,
a.
nonwhite males will live the same or slightly longer than white males
b.
nonwhite males will not live as long as white males
c.
nonwhite females will live longer than white females
d.
both b. and c.
12.
With regard to the living conditions of older adults, select the most correct statement: The
majority of seniors live
a.
alone.
b.
with a spouse
c.
with children
d.
in a long term care facility
Only about 4% of older people are extremely isolated, and this is often reflective of a
life-long pattern.
14.
Experts estimate that right now, and into the future, this percentage of all persons 65 and
over will spend some time, if not the rest of his or her life, in a long term care facility.
This percentage is:
a.
10%
c.
35%
b.
25%
d.
50%
With fewer family members available to care for older persons needing assistance, it is
expected that more will need skilled nursing care. Eventually as many as 50% will
spend at least some time in a care facility.
16.
Among people who are employed outside of the home, this age group has the greatest
rate of absenteeism from the job:
a.
21-35
c.
51-65
b.
36-50
d.
66 and above
From middle age on, there is a decrease in absenteeism. This is largely because of
childcare issues and illnesses caused by infectious diseases. It is also hypothesized that
there is greater loyalty to employers as a social expectation by older people.
18.
True or False. Seniors are the most law-abiding of all adult groups according to official
statistics.
TRUE. Only about 2% of all prisoners are over sixty-five.
20.
True or False. In the United States, the aged do not receive their proportionate share of
the nation’s wealth.
FALSE There is more poverty among the young. However, at 150% of government
levels for poverty, almost 30% of the elderly were impoverished. Further, the rate of
poverty among nonwhite elderly is 3 times that of older folks who are white.
22.
From the following alphabetized list, pick the top country in terms of % of total
population that were over age 65 in 2000:
a. China
c. Sweden
b. France
d. United States
In 2000, the United States, with 12.8% of the population over age 65, was not nearly
the “oldest” country. France had 15.3%; Great Britain 15.4%, Japan, 16.3% and
Sweden, 17.6%. In contrast, Israel was only 10% over 65, and China, 7%. By 2020,
in the United States, it is predicted that one in five, or 20% of the population, will be 65
and above. these percentages will increase well into the future The 85-and-above group
will be the fastest growing segment of the population here, and in many other nations
as well.
24. True or false: Older people have a higher rate of criminal victimization than person under 65.
False.
References:
Kausler DH and Kausler BC. The Graying of America. 2nd Ed. Urbana and Chicago: University of
Illinois Press, 2001.
Olson, LK. The Graying of the World. New York: The Haworth Press 1994.
Palmore, E. The Facts on Aging Quiz. New York: Springer Publishing, 1998.