Contemporary Issues In Gerontology

International appeal: contributions from leading authorities from around the world Presents the latest research as well as innovative new thingking and approaches in aged care The problems linked to the aging population is a hot topic in the UK – ‘the pension crisis’; the allocation of housing and inadequate healthcare for the elderly are issues that affect everyone

The aged population of the developed world is dramatically and increasingly outnumbering the young. Contemporary Issues in Gerontology helps students and practitioners to better understand and provide for the needs of our ageing population.

Opportunities and optimism in Aging. Issues in Aging, 3rd edition takes an optimistic view of aging and human potential in later life. This book presents the most up-to-date facts on aging today, the issues raised by these facts, and the societal and individual responses that will create a successful old age for us all. Mark Novak presents the full picture of aging--exhibiting both the problems and the opportunities that accompany older age. The text illustrates how generations are dependent on one another and how social conditions affect both the individual and social institutions. Learning Goals -Upon completing this book, readers will be able to: -Understand how large-scale social issues--social attitudes, the study of aging, and demographic issues--affect individuals and social institutions -Identify the political responses to aging and how individuals can create a better old age for themselves and the people they know -Separate the myths from the realities of aging -Recognize the human side of aging -Trace the transformation of pension plans, health, and opportunities for personal expression and social engagement to the new ecology of aging today

This timely volume provides an up-to-date and comprehensive summary about what is known about aging and work and addresses the challenges and opportunities confronting older workers and organizations. The authors describe current and emerging topics related to work and aging adults such as working in teams, the increasing diversity of the labor force, work and caregiving, the implications of technology for an aging workforce, and health and wellness issues. The authorship is international; the authors are renowned for their respective work in the topical areas and represent a broad range of disciplines within academia, as well as offer perspectives from government and policy. Jobs, organizations, the labor market, and the workforce are experiencing dramatic change. Workers of all ages, including older workers, need to interact with the wide variety of ubiquitous technologies that are reshaping work processes, job content, work settings, communication strategies, and the delivery of training, and this book aims to update readers on the particular issues facing today’s aging adults in the workplace. The chapters’ broad and inclusive scope encompasses: Workplace aging and jobs in the 21st century The retirement income security outlook for older workers Population aging, age discrimination, and age discrimination protections Older workers and the contemporary labor market The role of aging, age diversity, and age heterogeneity within teams The intersection of family caregiving and work Current and Emerging Trends in Aging and Work is relevant to a broad audience of academic researchers, practitioners, and students in psychology, sociology, management, engineering (industrial and human factors), the health sciences, gerontology/geriatrics, and public health. It is also a useful resource for government and policy leaders, as well as workers and managers in the public and private sectors.

In the last two years, a wealth of new information has accumulated regarding both clinical and research aspects of health care for the elderly. Although many controversial issues have been resolved, many still remain. Volume 2 of Contemporary Geriatric Medicine is once again dedicated to the clinician who cares for the elderly on a continuing basis. Although, for the most part, general topics first introduced in Volume 1 have been retained, all infor mation in this volume is new and represents the current state of the art. In addi tion, several new topics-including falls, interpretation of laboratory data, and oral health care-have been introduced to enhance this volume's usefulness to the busy clinician. Through these easy-to-read essays, we attempt once again to keep the non geriatrician abreast of the current state of the art regarding the special needs and problems of the elderly. Each chapter is not meant to be an exhaustive review of all topics in the field, but rather to focus on issues receiving a great deal of atten tion. Our goal is to create an exciting approach to contemporary issues in gerIatric medicine.

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The Aging Self and the Aging Society Ethical issues involving the elderly have recently come to the fore. This should come as no surprise: Since the turn of the century, there has been an eightfold in crease in the number of Americans over the age of sixty five, and almost a tripling of their proportion to the general population. Those over the age of eighty-five- the fastest growing group in the country-are twenty one more times as numerous as in 1900. Demographers expect this trend to accelerate into the twenty-first century. The aging of society casts into vivid relief a num ber of deep and troubling questions. On the one hand, as individuals, we grapple with the immediate experience of aging and mortality and seek to find in it philosophical or ethical significance. We also wonder what responsi bilities we bear toward aging family members and what expectations of others our plans for old age can reasona bly include. On the other hand, as a community, we must decide: What special role, if any, do older persons occupy in our society? What constitutes a just distribution of medical resources between generations? And, How can institutions that serve the old foster imperiled values, such as autonomy, self-respect, and dignity? Only recently have we begun to explore these themes, yet already a rich and fruitful literature has grown up around them.

The growing number of older adults in the United States poses a significant challenge to families, healthcare systems, mental health services, and many other caregiving groups. Using the Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative as a framework, this text evaluates critical policies and issues pertaining to older adults, identifying both the overall systemic inequalities currently working against older adults as well as specific areas that require updated policies and interventions. It calls for active attention to the implementation of science-based research, policy, and practices to promote health and well-being. Among the topics addressed: Family violence against older adults Disaster planning and preparedness Building financial capability for aging families Health needs of incarcerated older adults Closing the gap in healthcare services for older adults Social isolation and its effects on mental health and well-being A useful gerontology resource for students, social work scholars, and practitioners, Gerontological Social Work and the Grand Challenges advocates for justice and equal opportunity for older adults, and highlights important social issues that must be urgently addressed in the near future.