Four Processes of Aging. How does Chronological age relate to the other three?
Four Aging Processes: Social Gerontologists use these processes to asses older people, social attitudes toward aging, and agings place in the social structure.
CHRONOLOGICAL AGING: Number of years old. Not necessarily related to other processes.
- Senescence (at what age does it begin?)
- Cohort
*Aging in Gerontology is NOT primarily the study of diseases of the elderly.
- SENESCENCE: Normal decline in all organ systems AFTER AGE 30. Gradual decline in viability of systems and increased vulnerability to disease.
- COHORT: Group of people of the same generation sharing a statistical trait such as age, ethnicity or socioeco
Older Population is Diverse." Is Oldest-Old growing more rapidly than other aged groups?
- Old-old,Over 85 years old fasted growing part of elderly.
- Yes, Oldest-Old is growing rapidly. Generally female (71%) with less education and more poverty.
- 7% of world population over 65 now; projected to be 12% by 2030.
- Active Aging
- Life Course
- ACTIVE AGING: defined by World Health Organization. Process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age.
- LIFE COURSE: Individual life span development that takes account of cultu
- Person-Environment Perspective
- Individual competence
- PERSON-ENVIRONMENT: Perspective focuses on the changing environment of older persons - older persons take from it what they need, control what can be modified and adapt to conditions that cannot be changed. It is a dual process in which the individual a
- Life Expectancy
- Maximum Life Span
- LIFE EXPECTANCY: average length of time person is expected to live.
- MAXIMUM LIFE SPAN: biologically programmed maximum number of years that each species can expect to live.
Who are the Oldest-Old
Participants aged 80+. Oldest old generally female (71%) with less education and more poverty.
What is cross over effect? Does genetics appear to be a primary factory in living to be 100+?
CROSS OVER EFFECT: Racial Cross Over - tendency of people of color over the age of 75 to live longer than whites.
- Genetics Primary Factor for people age 100+?
Genetics appears to be a primary factor. Lifestyle, social support, and personality also appea
Elders of Color:" Which group has longest life expectancy? (elders of color or whites?)
Which group is projected to have the greatest improvement in life expectancy? (elders of color or whites?)
- Racial Crossover: tendency of people of color over the age of 75 to live longer than whites
- Anglos (Whites) are decreasing as percentage of elder population and ethnic minorities are increasing.
- The developing world is becoming old at faster rate th
Aging and Geography - states with most elderly and largest percentage of elderly
In 2007; for those over 65+:
- State with largest percentage elderly population is FLORIDA (18.5%).
- State with largest number of elderly is CALIFORNIA (4 million)
Aging and educational achievement- Does the young-old or old-old have more education?
Young-Old: 1960, 20% over 65 finished high school. 2007, 76% over 65 finished high school.
Old-Old: 71% female with less education and more poverty
Active VS Dependent Life Expectancy
Active VS Dependent Life Expectancy: not all gains in life expectancy are positive.
-Distinguishes b/w living a long life and living an active, healthy long life.
-End point of "Active" life expectancy - loss of independence or need to rely on others for
Compression of Morbidity
Person experiences only a relatively short period of illness and dependency in the last few years of life compares to a relatively long period of prior healthy existence. Major chronic diseases (arthritis, arteriosclerosis, respiratory problems) appear 10
Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Research designs - most commonly used? Who drops out of longitudinal studies and who remains?
CROSS SECTIONAL RESEARCH (Age Difference):
- **Most common form of research
- Least expensive (easily gathered)
- Tests different age groups at the same time
- Can miss cultural/historic factors (cohort group influences)
LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH (Age Change)