deborah brittain-walter univ 4995 – culminating project july 20, 2013 culminating project...

Deborah Brit tain-Walter

UNIV 4995 – Culminating Project

July 20, 2013

Culminating Project Mult imedia Presentat ion

The Impact of Americas Elderly Population is Contributing to the Rise of Multigenerational

Households.

The Impact of Americas Growing Elderly Population

I have chosen to do my final culminating project on the growing elderly population and what their impact will be on multigenerational households. Having owned a construction company and having worked as a nail tech at an assisted living facility I witnessed the various stages of decline in the life of an elderly person. When the recession reared its ugly head in 2008 many of the residents had to leave the facility and move in with a family member due to the high cost of living in an assisted facility.


While attending Middle Tennessee State University I enrolled in courses focusing on ageing, gender and society. Health Care Delivery Issues and Recreation for Persons with Disabilities are the two courses that were most valuable to my research on the impact of the rising elderly population on America. Due to the well known fact that women live longer than men Gender and Society also proved to be a valuable course for this project (Herlofson & Hagestad, 2011).


The elderly, age 60 and older, are the fastest rising societal population globally (Harper & Leeson, 2009). We as a country and as a United Nations will experience historical dynamics due to this rapid increase in the elderly (Blackburn, 2010). These changes will be many and varied. Some elderly anticipated a long life, others didn’t. Those that did not prepare will have to be taken care of.

Retrieved July 19, 2013 from http://coletivomarte.com/elderly-care-services-all-you-need-to-know.html

http://coletivomarte.com/elderly-care-services-all-you-need-to-know.html

http://coletivomarte.com/elderly-care-services-all-you-need-to-know.html


What is happening to the elderly population? The elderly are living longer. This population of

elderly and new elderly is the most rapid rising societal group in America (Harper & Leeson, 2009).

Why are the elderly and new elderly living longer? Medical and technological advancements Health awareness and education


Who and what will be affected by the increased need and demands of the rising population of elderly? Families, communities, taxpayers, and every other

able working body that will exist in the future will be a valuable resource to the elderly.

Caregivers to the elderly, whether familial or formal will be in high demand.

Housing and transportation needs will see an increased need for change to accommodate the ageing.


How is this ageing population affecting Americas’ households and society? Federal and State funding programs are being rapidly

depleted due to the increased healthcare costs attributed to the rising number of elderly (Browning, 2008).

The needs and services required to maintain this rising elderly population will be varied and demanding on health care and social services and care givers.


How will the elderly will be affected? The elderly will become the most poverty stricken

population due to depletion of funds and assets. (Bolender, 2010).

Women will be the most impoverished gender of this population.

There are challenges and obstacles on the rise pertaining to the ageing population that many have not had to consider ever before in our worlds existence.


Please click on film strip and then on play

arrow.ilsTVNews, (2012, April). The Financial Impact of Living Longer. Retrieved July 15, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq-wHiifp9Q

http://www.youtube.com/user/ilsTVNews?feature=watch


The rapid increase in the elderly is creating more multigenerational households – more than ever has existed before in the United States.

Some elderly will be able to age in place due to good health, not being disabled and strategic financial planning. The population of elderly that will be able to age in place consist

mostly of white males with higher earned income in their career life, good health and socially interactive (Tang, F & Pickard, J. 2008).


Removing an elderly person from their surroundings can cause stress to that elderly person (Tanner, Tilse & de Jonge, 2008).

Ageing in place may require modifications to the present residence.The cost of ageing in place versus assisted living is minimal.Accommodating an elderly family member’s needs if becoming a

multigenerational household will cost less than an assisted living facility.

Ageing in place is the most desired and less stressful transaction that can take place in an elderly persons life.


Please click on film strip and then on play arrow.

Harper, S. (2012, August). How Far Should We Extend Life. Retrieved July 15, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqyfhTdHL2k


The previous slides illustrate that we as a country and as a United Nations are having to prepare to face an unprecedented event in history. Due to not ever having experienced the impending challenges of the ageing population, there exist an uncertainty as to how society will adapt and accommodate the elderly and rising elderly. The needs of the elderly will be many and demanding. The workforce will not be populated enough to meet these demands.


Elements of Research

The success in this research project is that it made me aware of the dilemmas of the elderly population that are currently taking place in the world and that will continue to amplify over time. The research has prompted me to be proactive in starting a company that will cater to the housing needs of the elderly and disabled.

The difficulty in doing the research is that most of the references and other findings were from Europe and Nordic countries. America has not researched the ageing population to the extent that European countries have.


Due to unforeseen life circumstances distractions have been inevitable and I can’t seem to keep the same thesis statement due to me not comprehending the requirements. For example: I have a thesis statement and then I have an argumentative thesis statement.

If another research project was in my future I would make

certain I had no distractions and that I had quality time to devote to the project. The project and disturbing events have tested my patience and will to succeed. I enjoyed the subject matter and I am going to use the research to my advantage. I am taking the CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialists) course that is offered through NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) in October and proceed with the development of my company - All Inclusive Design and Build, LLC.

References

Blackburn. M.L. (2010). Limited-income seniors report multiple chronic

diseases inquality of life study. California Agriculture, 64 (4), 195-200.

doi : 10.3733/ca.v064n04p195

Bolender, B.C. (2010). Boom or Bust: Opportunities and Challenges of Aging in

Rural Kansas. Retrieved from The Online Journal of Rural Research

and Policy.Website: http://ojrrp.org/journals/ojrrp/article/view/180/101

http://ojrrp.org/journals/ojrrp/article/view/180/101

References

Browning, E.K. (2008). The Anatomy of Social Security and

Medicare. The Independent Review, XIII (1), 5-27. Retrieved from

http://independent. org/pdf/tir/tir_13_01_1_browning.pdf

Harper, S. & Leeson, G. (2009). Introducing the Journal of Population

Ageing. Population Ageing, 1:1-5. doi : 10.1007/s12062 009-9012-6

http://independent/

References

Herlofson, K. & Hagestad, G.O. (2011). Challenges in moving from macro to micro:

Population and family structures in ageing societies. Demographic Research, 25,

337-370. doi : 10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.10

Kovacs, P.J., Bellin, M.H., & Fauri, D.P. (2006). Family-Centered Care: A Resource

for Social Work in End-of-Life Palliative Care. Journal of Social Work in End-of-

Life & Palliative Care. doi : 10.1300/J457v02n01_03

References

Tang. F, & Pickard J.G. (2008). Aging in Place or Relocation: Perceived

Awareness of Community-Based Long-Term Care and Services. Journal of

Housing For the Elderly, - 13 -22:4, 404-422. doi :

10.1080/02763890802458429

Tanner, B., Tilse, C. & de Jonge, D. (2008). Restoring and Sustaining

Home:The Impact of Home Modifications on the Meaning of Home for

Older People. Journal of Housing For the Elderly, 22:3, 195-215. doi :

10.1080/02763890802232048

deborah brittain-walter univ 4995 – culminating project july 20, 2013 culminating project...

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