pdf

Students will be able to

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 1st Edn: Introduction to Public Health - Scan Chapters 14 & 16 for relevant material.
Schneider 2nd Edn: Introduction to Public Health - Chapter 28

Consider The UK definition of aging, the second heading on the page - Ageing and the Life Course.

Data from the US Census Bureau, March 2006: People in the United States are living longer and healthier lives
than ever before. Average life expectancy at birth rose from 47.3 in 1900 to 76.9 in 2000. US Census Newsroom

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. Look at how longevity has changed since 1900.
• 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.

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 the NYT "Longer LIves - The Ties that Bind Us."
DVD- Living Old Excerpts & Discussion, Web Site

TAKING CARE: ETHICAL CAREGIVING In OUR AGING SOCIETY
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.)
It is a large file and will take about 1 minute to download.

WHO - Long Term Care

 

Who Cares for the Elderly - Editorial - Lancet
Who will pay for LT Care - The UK Dilemma (About to become the US Dilemma)
American dream: Live long and prosper
Turning the Disability Tide
Pictorial Description of the Aging Network
Nurrsing Home Culture
Videos on the Future of Aging.

Dr Cotter's Links

2008 Links

For those interested in pursuing this topic further "The Epidemiology of Aging", William A Satariano. James & Bartlett, 2006