Students will be able to
- describe the role of public health in dealing with a special population, the senior citizens
- describe the criteria for labeling a person aged
- describe the elements of aging
- describe governmental agencies responsible for assisting/ measuring aging
- describe non governmental agencies who assist aging persons.
- describe how ageing can be expected to affect public health services over the next 25 years.
- Competencies 1C (1,2, 7,8) !D (1,2,3,5,7,10) 1E(1`,4,6,9) IIA (1,2,3,4,)
Key Words
Aging, aged, seniors, nursing homes, homes for the aged, retirement centers, senior citizens advocacy, home visiting, senior centers, mental health and aging, Alzheimer's diseases, Parkinson's disease, Osteoporosis, chronic diseases.
Concept:
Aging starts at birth. Getting older is not necessarily accompanied by significant declines in either physical or mental function. There are many resources available to assist people as they age. Misunderstanding and lack of knowledge is the greatest detriment to health maintenance while aging.
References:
Schneider 2nd Edn: Introduction to Public Health - Chapter 28Consider The UK definition of aging, the second heading on the page - Ageing and the Life Course.
Data from the US Census Bureau, August 2008: the 85 and older population is expected to more than triple, from 5.4 million to 19 million between 2008 and 2050.
Future Implications
• The social and economic implications
of the aging of the Baby
Boom generation will be a significant concern for policy makers, the
private sector, and individuals. The
size and longevity of this group
will trigger debate about possible
modifications to Social Security,
Medicare, and disability and retirement
benefits, among other issues. What is happening to the population pyramid.
• The changing marital and family
composition that is occurring
in the United States is likely to
change the types of familial support
that are available to people at
older ages.
• The future older population is
likely to be better educated than
the current older population, especially
when Baby Boomers start
reaching age 65. Their increased
levels of education may accompany
better health, higher incomes, and
more wealth, and consequently
higher standards of living in
retirement.
• Older women will be increasingly
more likely to have been in
the labor force long enough to
have their own retirement income,
although their lower median
earnings may translate into lower
incomes in retirement.
• Research on genetic, biological,
and physiological aspects of
aging is likely to change the future
for the older population. In the
medical and public health arenas,
research to understand chronic
diseases, such as diabetes and
Alzheimer’s disease, may produce
significant improvements for treatment
and prevention.
Think about the changing use of health services as the population ages and its ramifications. WHat has happened snce the economc depression started in 2007?
Review Dr Cotter's Slides
(pdf handouts)
Review the .pdf file CDC's State of Aging Report with particular attention to the discussion starting page 26. You may also want to review the report from the National Association of State Units on Aging and compare its comments with those in the CDC report (pay particular attention to page 3, PH & aging; exhibit 3, page 4;exhibit 8, p 11; barriers to health p12; and discussion page 22-24); . A recent concern has been with Older Driver Safety, see web site.
David Broooks in Frontline "Longer Lives - The Ties that Bind Us."
DVD- Living Old Excerpts & Discussion, Web Site The first and last segments are the most important.
TAKING CARE: ETHICAL CAREGIVING
In OUR AGING SOCIETY ( this is a large file andwill take about 1 minute to download, save it to your hard drive and dip into it as necessary)
The President's Council on Bioethics;
Washington, D.C., September 2005
(Scan the Conclusions and recommendations section with attention to highlighted areas- start at p 228 ff.)
WHO - Long Term Care pp6&7 (Anonther long file [28mg] to save to your hard drive)
American dream: Live long and prosper
The Aging Network When on the web page select the "Tool & Resources" link for further information about the members of the netwqork.
Changing the Nursing Home Culture
New Readings 2009(scan only)
Editorial on Aging AJPH
Conquering old age (Editorial BMJ-July 08)
Baby Boomers and aging
Who Pays for Long Term Care (Pooicy Analysis for refernce)
Who Cares for the Elderly
Dying at Home from Drugs (Fatal Medications
Bereavement Adjustment (Sept 08 JAMA)
For those interested in pursuing this topic further "The Epidemiology of Aging", William A Satariano. James & Bartlett, 2006