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107 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Gerontology |
the study of bio, physical, & social aspects of aging - coined in 1904 by Metchnikoff |
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Social Gerontology |
- Subfield of gerontology - focuses on social aspects of aging ex: family, relationships, health, retirement, economic factors, etc. |
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Chronological Age Groups |
- Young - old - Middle - old - Oldest - old |
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Functional Age |
**Best indicator of old age** - how well you function and/or appearance |
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Social Age |
Defined by social roles Ex. Grandma, means you're older OR retiring after working 30 years (might only be 48) |
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Subjective Age |
You're as young as you feel. - People compensate for functional limitations and still "feel" young ex. getting glasses or maintaining exercise |
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Successful Aging |
Includes things like: Disease prevention Disability reduction attain peak physical & psych functioning participate in rewarding & productive activities |
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Generations |
**Family Concept**
Kinship linkages Ex. My grandmother's generation, my mother's generation, my generation |
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Cohort |
**Not to be used interchangeably with generation** Can be defined as: - the age structure of society - defined by a shared experience Can also vary by race, gender, & ethnic composition |
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Age Cohort |
indicates group that is around the same chronological age |
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Event Cohort |
a group that went through an experience together Ex. 9/11 survivors |
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Longevity |
30% from genes 70% from lifestyle |
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5 Main Cohorts |
1) Swing Generation 1900-1926 2) Silent 1927-1945 3) Baby Boomers 1946-1964 4) Baby Bust 1965-1976 5) Echo Boomers 1977-1994 |
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Cohort (Book Def) |
aggregate of individuals who experienced the same event within the same time interval |
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Ageism |
a set of beliefs about the aged |
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2 Distinct Activities of Ageism |
- Prejudice - negative stereotypes about older people **Thoughts** - Discrimination - people denied opportunities b/c of their old age **Action** |
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Trajectory |
Transitions Recognize there are multiple ways of order life. Norm for work trajectory: prep for work, work, retirement. But can be different |
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Life Course Framework |
combines the study of changing age structure & aging of the individual |
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Micro Theories of Aging |
- Disengagement Theory - Activity Theory - Continuity Theory - Subculture Theory - Exchange Theory - Social Constructionist Theory |
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Macro Theories on Aging |
- Modernization Theory - Age Stratification Theory - Age Integration Theory - Political Econ Theory - Feminist Theory - Critical Gerontology Theory |
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Disengagement Theory |
- 1st Formal Theory on Aging - explains why older people disengage - Universal, intrinsic, & inevitable - normal aging involves a natural, inevitable disengagement which results in decreased interaction btwn individ & society |
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Activity Theory |
-People who age the "best" do it by staying active - Physically & Socially active - Resist shrinkage of their social world Volunteering and Socializing important |
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Continuity Theory |
- Personality plays a major role in adjustment to aging & development is a continual process - definition "normal aging" is controversial |
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Subculture Theory |
- similar to activity & disengagement theories - Happens under 2 circumstances: 1) Share similarities -> form subculture 2) Excluded from society -> form subculture |
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Exchange Theory |
- Resources are unequal & people will continue to engage in exchanges only as long as benefits outweigh the costs - interaction btwn young & old decrease b/c older have less to offer (lower income, poor health, less educated) |
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Social Constructionist Theory |
- Human beings are active creators of their own social reality. **Older people are not passive objects but active participants in their social worlds** - how social meanings of age, self-concepts of age arise through life Ex. find new job or hobby |
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Modernization Theory |
Related to urbanization & industrialization, - > leads to increased life expectancy & aged population - > leads to destroyed extended family - > isolation & downgrading of aged. **Premise that older are poor and have a low societal status is not valid and too generalized** |
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Age Stratification Theory |
- lumps people into social categories - analyzes relationship btwn age & social structure Ex. Young = in school Middle age = working Older = retired *Very influential & enduring theory* |
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Age Stratification Theory's 4 Questions |
1) How does age influence behavior & attitudes? 2) How do individ. relate to each other w/in & btwn age strata? 3) How do individ. pass through key transitions? 4) What is impact of answers on society? |
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Age Integration Theory |
- Society is stratified on basis of age - Society has both age integrated and segregated institutions **Family is an age integrated institution** |
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Age Stratification vs. Age Integration |
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Political Econ Theory |
- Framework of examining larger social context of problems assoc w/ old age. - Structural influences on aging - Emphasize the relevance of social struggles w/ power relationships - Understands nature of old age (socially constructed) |
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Feminist Theory |
- Approach that reflects commitment to illuminate gendered nature of society & aging - Gender relations - Looks at how women's social roles affect opportunities & responsibilities |
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Questions Feminist Theory Asks |
- Why are women paid less than men? - How do women's family responsibilities affect their employment? - Why are women more poor? |
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Critical Gerontology Theory |
- Encompasses all theories; derived from political econ & feminist theories - Challenge traditional theories to change - How globalization affects policies & programs for the aged |
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Structural Lag |
When outdated social structures prevent participation due to old age. Ex. Zoning residential & commercial as separate areas - makes seniors who don't drive dependent on others. OR preventing electric wheelchairs on on city streets |
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Age Structure |
proportion of people in each age cohort |
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Demography |
The study of population processes: *Fertility *Mortality *Migration |
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Cohort is determined by: |
- Fertility - Mortality - Migration |
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Census for population is every ____ years. |
10 |
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Life Span |
longest # of years any member of a species has been known to survive |
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Life Expectancy |
the avg # of years people in a given population can expect to live OR the mean age at death |
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Life expectancy worldwide is higher for _____ than ______. |
Females than males. |
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Sex Ratio |
# of males for every 100 females Declines progressively over lifecourse |
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Fertility rate |
# of babies born |
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3 Imp Demographic Processes that can dramatically change Age Structure |
1) Fertility Rates 2) Mortality Rates 3) Migration |
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2 Types of Life Expectancy |
1) At Birth 2) At 65 yrs |
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What is the difference btwn the two types of life expectancy? |
They're averages, so the life expectancy at birth includes the entire population; whereas the life expectancy at age 65 includes only those 65 and above. So anyone who died prior to age 65 is not included. |
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3 Stages of Demographic Transition |
First Stage Second Stage Third Stage 3-stage shift from high mortality & fertility rates to low mortality & fertility rates |
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First Stage of Demographic Transition |
Agricultural economy, young marriage age, high birth rates and death rates - Few people reach adulthood & fewer old age - Perfect triangle in population pyramid |
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Second Stage of Demographic Transition |
- Declining death rates & population growth - Improved sanitation & healthcare - Mortality declines & old pop begins to age (As more babies survive, age structure grows younger) - Bottom of pyramid expands |
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Third Stage of Demographic Transition |
- Population as a whole begins to age - Birth & Death rates low (fertility & mortality) - More Deaths caused by chronic ailments - Pop pyramid becomes more rectangular |
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Total Dependency Ratio |
Combined ratio of children and older people to workers **Another way to measure population aging** |
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3 Types of Dependency Ratio |
1) Elderly Dependency Ratio 2) Child Dependency Ratio 3) Total Dependency Ratio |
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Race Crossover |
After age 85, mortality rate for African Americans falls below that of whites. Meaning in advanced older age - blacks have a better chance of living than whites. |
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SSI |
Supplemental Security Income |
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Welfare |
- Refers to "well being" of people - Including meeting the basic needs: food, shelter, & care for disabled, poor, young, & old **Most welfare is preventative** |
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Welfare Programs |
- Refers to all programs that protect people from the risks of loss of income |
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Risks of Loss of Income |
- unemployment - disability - divorce - poor health - retirement |
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Why is Social Security a form of welfare? |
Social security prevents people from falling into poverty when they aren't in the workforce. |
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3 Types of Welfare |
1) Public Assistance 2) Social Insurance 3) Fiscal Welfare |
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Why are health insurance deductions a form of welfare? |
B/c health insurance protects people from falling into poverty due to illness and not being able to work as a result. Therefore health insurance tax breaks are a form of welfare. |
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Public Assistance |
Provides minimal benefits, subject to a means test, progressive taxes **For the very needy** |
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Social Insurance
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Provides economic security, earned entitlement, people contribute to a common pool, share common risks - paid thru payroll taxes |
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Fiscal Welfare |
indirect payments to individuals through tax system, tax expenditures, employee contributions to employee provided health insurance |
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Medicaid |
Funded by income tax and state tax Health insurance for the aged, blind, and disabled poor |
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SSI |
SSI - Supplemental Security Income Funded by income tax Income for aged, blind, and disabled poor Often receive medicaid too |
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Social Security
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Funded by payroll tax - paid by workers & employers Income for workers aged 62 and older or dependents |
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Medicare |
Funded by payroll tax - paid by workers & employers Health insurance for Social Security recipients & spouse at age 65 |
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Disability Insurance |
Funded by payroll tax - paid by workers & employers Income for disabled worker who has contributed to social security; also eligible for Medicare |
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Tax expenditures for Pensions |
Offers a tax break for employees
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Health insurance deductions |
Offers a tax break for employees who have health insurance. |
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Home Mortgage Interest |
Offers a tax break for home owners |
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Difference btwn social security and SSI |
Social Security was est. to provide income to retired workers Supplemental Security Income is for the aged poor. |
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Does the Social Security tax have an income cap? |
Yes it does, in 2015 it's $118, 500 |
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What percentage does an employed person pay towards Medicare (social insurance)? |
6.2%, the company pays the other 6.2%. If self employed then the individual pays 12.4% |
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Where does Social Security dollars go? |
85% goes to a fund to pay current retirees 15% goes to a fund to pay disabled & their families |
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Replacement Rate |
Amount of pre-retirement pay that is replaced by the Social Security retirement benefit. Ex. Worker earns $35K a year, when retiring will earn 37% of pay or $13K a year *The more you make the lower the replacement rate, the less you make the higher the replacement rate. |
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The US replaces about ___% of prior earnings for retirement income. |
40 **US is one of the worst offenders regarding replacement rate** |
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The longer you wait to retire the more social security you will receive. |
True |
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4 Types of Medicare |
1) Medicare Part A - Hospital Ins 2) Medicare Part B - Doctor Ins 3) Medicare Part C - HMO (Donut Hole) 4) Medicare Part D - Meds |
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OAA |
Older Americans Act Passed in 1965 - now funds senior centers and meals on wheels and other community based facilities |
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Progressive Taxes |
This means the higher one's income, the higher the tax rate. This can cause hostility - middle class gets resents paying taxes for programs for poor |
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Medigap Policy |
B/c medicare doesn't cover many expenses a lot of people purchase medigap insurance to cover what medicare doesn't. |
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Welfare State |
Refers to all government programs that serve these objectives. |
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Aged of the Future are less secure b/c of: |
- Less Retirement Savings - Housing & Stock mkt crash of 2008 |
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Today's Older Generation |
- Benefiting from rising tide of prosperity since WWII - Higher levels of education - Stable jobs and increase of median income - Much of net worth tied up in house - Wealth rises till age 65 then goes down due to housing & living expenses |
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People have the highest net worth right before retirement. |
True |
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Baby Boomer Trends |
- Married later - Men lost some earning power - Women's incomes became crucial to family security - Will enter retirement with more: savings, pension, & inherited wealth |
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Social Security is the least successful program of the American Welfare State. |
False |
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The status of social security has had a recent boost in confidence from American public. |
False |
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# of Workers Supporting a Retiree have gone down |
True |
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# of Workers Supporting a Retiree |
1960's - 5 workers:1 retiree Now - 1.9 workers:1 retiree |
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What doesre "Social Security will go bankrupt" mean? |
It means that the government will pay less - probably about 74% of what they promised to pay. Bankruptcy is the wrong term to use; it's not true. We need to think on a national level and it's going to be replenished but there won't be as much to go around. |
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Ways to Save Social Security |
- Raise the retirement age for full benefits from 67 to 70 - Privatization - provides a small basic benefit w/most coming from individ. contributions - Raise the Social Security tax to 14.4 vs. 12.4 - Means testing or Affluence Testing (done in Australia) - Raise the cap on the taxable amount |
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COLA |
Cost of living adjustment |
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Private Sources of Income in Old Age |
- Employer Pensions - Defined Contributions - Personal Savings |
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Three-legged Stool |
Three legs of the stool are: 1) Social Security 2) Employee Retirement Plan 3) Personal Savings All the legs need to be solid to hold up the seat of the stool. |
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Four-legged Stool |
The same three legs as the three-legged stool but also includes the fourth leg of additional income from a part-time job or a new job. "Pure" Retirement rarely happens anymore, usually people get another job after "retiring" |
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Defined Benefit Plan |
A monthly benefit, a **fixed** income at retirement paid by the employer based on years of svc & prior earnings. - Usually vested after 10 years |
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Defined Contribution Plan |
Like a 401k (which is most popular type), where you contribute a % of your income *pre-tax* (also thought of as tax deduction) into a private savings plan. Often the employer matches the employee contribution. |
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U.S. Companies are often fully funded in their Pension requirements. |
False |
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ERISA |
Employee Retirement Income Security Act Requires companies to establish minimum vesting standards, report plan benefits & finances to workers. 1974 |
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PBGC |
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation When a company terminates pension plan, PBGC assumes responsibilities to pay (usually pays much less though) |
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IRA |
Individual Retirement Account |
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Median Net Worth |
Total value of all assets (house, property, savings, etc.) minus any debts. |
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Normal Retirement Age |
Normal age - 65 Early age - 62 Best age (get most soc. sec.) - 70 |
