Aging Matters An Introduction to Social Gerontology

 

Presents Social Gerontology from Multiple Perspectives

 

Aging Matters illuminates cultural, biological, physiological, emotional, cognitive, economic, and social aspects of aging. A useful guide to a range of disciplines, this title helps readers of all educational backgrounds understand the dynamic interactions between older people and their environments.

 

 

 

Nancy Hooyman holds the Hooyman Professorship of Gerontology and dean emeritus at the University of Washington School of Social Work. She is author of 12 books and over 130 articles and chapters. Her books include a widely used text, Social Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective (9th Edition); Aging Matters: An Introduction to Social Gerontology; Feminist Perspectives on Family Care: Policies toward Gender Justice; Taking Care of Older Relatives, one of the first widely used books on family caregiving, and Grief and Loss: Interventions across the Lifespan. She is Principal Investigator of the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) National Center for Gerontological Social Work Education. She is the recipient of the 2009 CSWE Significant Lifetime Achievement Award in Social Work Education and the 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work Education, and was inducted into the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare in 2011.

Dr. Kevin Y. Kawamoto, a faculty member at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and previously at the University of Washington in Seattle, received his Ph.D. in Communications and M.S.W. (with a specialization in multigenerational social work) from the University of Washington. A former student of Professor Nancy R. Hooyman, he has helped to update her co-authored text Social Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective and worked on other projects with her over the years. His research interests include issues related to aging and technology; aging and mental health; and active aging.

In this Section:

1. Brief Table of Contents

2. Full Table of Contents

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1. Brief Table of Contents:

 

Introduction

Chapter 1:     Older Population in the United States

Chapter 2:     Global Aging and Older Immigrants in the U.S.

Chapter 3:     Physical Well-being:  Physiological Changes and Health

Chapter 4:     Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Chapter 6:     Family, Friends, and Other Informal Supports

Chapter 7:     Informal and Family Caregiving

Chapter 8:     Productive Aging: Leisure, Spirituality and Civic Engagement

Chapter 10:   Economic Well-being: Retirement, Employment and Poverty

Chapter 11:   Community Well-Being: Living Arrangements and Social Interactions

Chapter 12:   Enhancing Older Adults’ Well-being through Technology

Chapter 13:   Policies to Promote Older Adults’ Well-Being

Chapter 14:   Careers in Aging

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2. Full Table of Contents

 

Introduction

Why Study Gerontology?

Key Terms

How Do We Study Older Adults?

Organization of the Text

 

Chapter 1:     Older Population in the United States

Changing Demographics of the U.S. Population

Maximum Life Span

The Rapid Growth of the Old-Old and Oldest-Old

Increasing Diversity Among the Older Population

Longevity in Health or Disease? What does the Future Hold?

 

Chapter 2:     Global Aging and Older Immigrants in the U.S.

Global Trends in Aging

Economic Implications for Industrialized Countries

Older Adults in Traditional Societies and the Impact of Modernization

Immigrants to the United States

 

Chapter 3:     Physical Well-being:  Physiological Changes and Health

Biological Theories of Aging

“Normal” Physiological Changes with Age

Common Chronic Diseases

Accidents

Use of Physician Services

Health Promotion

 

Chapter 4:     Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Aging and Cognitive Function

Personality in the Later Years

Mental Disorders among Older Persons

Chapter 5 Social Theories of Aging

The Importance of Social Theories of Aging

Social Gerontological Theory before 1961: Role and Activity

The Next Stage of Theory Development: Disengagement and Continuity Theory         

Newer Social Theoretical Perspectives

A Focus on Structural Factors:  Political Economy and Social Constructionism

Recent Developments in Social Gerontological Theory

 

Chapter 6:     Family, Friends, and Other Informal Supports

We All Need Informal Social Support        

The Centrality of Family Supports

Older Partners as Social Support

Sexuality, Intimacy and Emotional Support

Other Family Supports

 

Chapter 7:     Informal and Family Caregiving

What is Informal Caregiving?

Services and Support for Caregivers

Underpaid Caregivers Direct Care Workers

 

Chapter 8:     Productive Aging: Leisure, Spirituality and Civic Engagement

Defining Productive Aging

Leisure

Religious Participation, Religiosity, and Spirituality

Civic Engagement

 

Chapter 9:    Loss within the Context of Aging

The Nature of Grief

Typical Non-Death Losses Faced by Older Adults

Death of Loved Ones

Approaching One’s own Death and the Dying Process

End-of-Life Care: Palliative Care and Hospice

The Right to Die

Legal Options Regarding End-of-Life Care

 

Chapter 10:   Economic Well-being: Retirement, Employment and Poverty

Retirement

Employment

Economic Status

Changing Conceptions of Work and Retirement

 

Chapter 11:   Community Well-Being: Living Arrangements and Social Interactions

The Aging Experience in Rural, Urban, and Suburban Areas

Housing Patterns of Older People

Social and Health Services to Promote Aging in Place

Housing Policy and Growing Housing Needs

 

Chapter 12:   Enhancing Older Adults’ Well-being through Technology

Information and Communication Technologies

Managing Health Online

Technology in the Workplace

Technologies to Help Aging in Place

Can Computer Games Promote Elders’ Well-being?

 

Chapter 13:   Policies to Promote Older Adults’ Well-Being

Understanding Policies, Programs and Regulations

Historical, Economic and Political Context

Social Security: An Income Security Program

Social Services through the Older Americans Act

Medicare and Medicaid

Directions in Long-term Services and Supports

 

Chapter 14:   Careers in Aging

Why Consider a Career in Aging?

The Wide Range of Jobs in Aging

Preparing for a Career in Aging

A Multidisciplinary, Multigenerational Outlook