The Aging JourneyChapter 1

HPR 452

Introduction

More over 65 than ever before Healthier, financially secure,

independent Visible, Vocal, Everywhere you go Archaic view of aging still exists –

period of declining and little feeling of hope The future of aging individuals is

viewed as….at best “stability” for as long as possible….at worst “death after confinement in a LTC facility”

Another more appropriate view

People do not do things in spite of being old. They achieve success because of who they are.

Gerontologists view activities as important for quality of life - replacing what has been lost due to aging, retirement, etc.

This perspective doesn’t recognize the power of leisure activities

“Ulyssean” McLeish (1976)

Leisure can provide new pathways to growth and development

Individuals dedicated to living No focus on quantity of activities Focus on openness to new ideas

and opportunities Trained professionals assisting older

individuals with leisure enhance quality of life

Successful Aging

1st of the Baby Boomers have turned 65 # of Americans enrolled in Medicare due

to a disability has decreased from 25%-20% (1984-1999)

(Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, 2006

Not about what happens to people as they age but what they do while they age

Growth and Development can occur at any age

Not only of interest to TR but all Rec Professionals

The Aging Journey

“Leisure” and “Aging” – both often misunderstood terms

Leisure = Frivolous Aging = Decline & Loss

Authors perspectives Leisure = Primary realm of behavior

where growth and development may occur

Aging = Natural part of the life cycle accompanied by advantages as well as losses

Stereotypes of Aging

Social uselessness Life ends at 65 Elderly need things to “fill their

time” and keep them busy until death

What are some others????

http://www.wimp.com/residentsperform/

http://www.curiositiesbydickens.com/letter-from-a-mother-to-a-daughter/

http://video.staged.com/preacher/getting_old__mary_maxwell

Reality

No such thing as a typical old person They are all unique individuals just like

unique students They all have different needs and

interests Later life can be an opportunity for

growth, development and happiness Leisure Delivery professionals must

understand the needs and possibilities

Positive Perspective

The text views aging as a journey or series of journeys and not an arrival or terminal point

Free time after retirement is not a problem but an opportunity

Ulyssean adult is one who continues to seek new opportunities and adventures

Only death can stop it – Process…not a state

Social Aspects

Changes in social roles Process of socialization – process through which

we absorb values, beliefs and knowledge that guide our behavior as a member of a social group – Lifelong

Assume certain roles – multiple roles No set “norms” for the aging – spent their

lives conforming to social demands (spouse, parent, employee)

Now – What? Why? Result?

Social Responses

# of aging individuals is increasing Younger individuals will provide

caregiving, leisure service providers, volunteers, policy makers

Attitude is important Stereotypes are a response

Stereotypes

Two primary dimensions Competence

Independence, skill, ability Warmth

Trustworthiness, sincerity, friendship Elderly are generally viewed as

warm but not competent More examples in book pgs 6-8

Self-Perception of Aging

Things keep getting worse as I get older

I have as much pep as I did last year As you get older you are less useful I am as happy now as when I was

younger As I get older things are (better,

worse, about the same) as I thought they would be

Results

“Median survival of those in the more positive self-perceptions of aging group was 7.6 years longer than the median survival of those in the negative aging stereotype group”

Greater impact on survival than gender, socioeconomic status, functional health and loneliness

Ageism

The ultimate prejudice, the last discrimination, the cruelest rejection…it is the third great “ism” in our society, after racism and sexism. Palmore (2001)

Personal, Institutional, Intentional, Unintentional ageisms – text pg 11

“Police in Norway stopped a 94 y/o runner because they thought she escaped from a Nursing Home” Sports Illustrated (June 16, 2003)

Examples in book pg 12

Leisure Service Providers

Confront our own perceptions Assist the elderly to overcome their

perceptions Intergenerational activities – Quality

of interaction Accurate knowledge of aging

Forgetfulness/senility - interest in sexuality/dirty old person – time spent alone/isolation and loneliness, etc

Demography of Aging

Demographics are a composite picture – not about a given individual

A starting point to understand forces resulting in the social phenomenon of aging

General characteristics of the aging population

Life Expectancy

Overall: 1900 = 47.3 yrs 1996 = 76.1 yrs 2004 = 76.9 yrs 2009 = 78.2 After age 65: (more accurate indicator of later life

longevity) 1900 – 65 + 11.9 yrs = 76.9 1996 – 65 + 17.7 yrs = 82.7 2003 – 65 + 18.4 yrs = 83.4 2009 – 65 + 18.8 yrs = 83.8

Effects of Gender and Race

Female born in 1997 – L.E. 79.4 yrs Male born in 1997 – L.E. 73.6 yrs Female reach 65 in 2003 +19.8 yrs Male reach 65 in 2003 +16.8 yrs Female reaching 65 = L.E. 85 Male reaching 65 = L.E. 82 2003 at 65 – w/f = 19 b/f = 18 w/m = 17 b/m = 15

Age Composition

1900 >4% of population 65 or over 2010 – 13.1% (approx 40 mil) 2010 – 2.6 mil celebrated 65th bday

7000/day Annual Net increase in over 65 pop

• 814,000 people • Projection –

• 2020 55 mil over 65• 2030 71.5 mil over 65 (20% of population)

Oldest Old

85 y/o or older – “oldest old” Fastest growing age group 2005 – 5.1 mil (42 x larger than in

1900) – 14% of elderly population By 2050 – will be 24% of 65 and

older pop – 5% of US pop

Race and Ethnicity

Approx 15% of white pop 65 or over 8.2% non-Hispanic black 4.9% Hispanic 7.8% American Indians & Native

Alaskans 7.8% Asians and Pacific Islanders

Older pop among minorities increasing 2010 – 20% of elderly pop in US was other

than non-Hispanic white Will increase to approx 24% by 2020 1999-2030 – over 65 white up 81% Same period – Minority expected up 217% Largest in Hispanic – 322% Asian – 301% African-American – 128%

Living Arrangements

2010 – Lived with spouse 70% of males 41% of females

2010 -Lived alone 19% of males 37% of females

2011 – 47% of women and 29% of men over 75 lived alone

2009 – 4.1% over 65 lived in LTC 2009 - 13% over 85 lived in LTC

Gender

# of males per 100 females = sex ratio for total population

2000 – 65 or over ratio = 70 65 – 74 age ratio = 82 85 and over ratio = 41

Marital Status

2005 72% of noninstitutionalized men

and 42% of women living with spouse 46% of women over 65 were widows 77% of women over 85 were widows

35% of men 85 and over were widowed

Economic Characteristics

Older pop is poorer than general pop

2005 – 10% household income below $15,000.00

53.9% household income over $35,000.00 Poverty rate among African-Americans

and Hispanics higher than that of whites and Asians

Employment

2005 – 5.3 mil (15.1%) working or seeking work

1/3 of men 65 or over and 13.5% 70 or older were in labor force

Women – 23.7% 65-69 and 7.1% over 75 were in labor force

Education

Aging pop is more educated than at any other time

HS diploma – rose from 28% to 74% between 1970-2004

In 2005 at least 19% had Bachelor’s There are racial and ethnic

differences

Health Characteristics

Older less healthy than younger Over ½ 65 and older reported

disability Leading causes of death among

older individuals – heart disease (31.2%), cancer (21.6%), stroke (7.7%), chronic lower respiratory disease (6%)

Inactivity a major cause

Baby Boomers

26.8% of Americans 3 mil boomers turned 60 in 2006 By 2030 boomers will be 66-84

(20% of pop) 17% of boomers people of color 1/3 are obese Annual spending power $2 trillion Over 75% expected to work past 65

So What?

More older people Increasing diversity (racial, ethnic,

financial) Providers must prepare for ageing

of America Don’t lose sight, as providers, on

individual needs Aggregate data provides basis for

policy making

Conclusion

Maintaining function vs. Personal Growth Model (harmonious with Ulyssean lifestyle)

Aging means they have successfully negotiated at least 65 years of life

Don’t let myths and stereotypes deprive them of needed services and opportunities