This study will define the importance of growing the field of gerontology by a more cross-disciplinary approach to the problem of gender, race, and income inequality for women in the aging process. In the 21st century, the field of gerontology is continually adjusting the “baby boomer” generation that will provide challenges for workers in an aging society. Gerontology should provide a more holistic approach to the problem of gaining in female populations, since the issue of gender and income inequality tends to neglect this part of the population. More so, the marginalization of racial identity provides more barriers to study of gerontology, which should become more aware of the struggles of aging women in a social framework. These complex …show more content…
Gerontology practitioners must continually understand the broader implications of a patriarchal society that does not take into account the needs of women in the aging process. In this capacity, women have often been marginalized in the domestic sphere or with low-paying jobs, which makes them vulnerable to the high financial costs of healthcare in the aging process: “A new form of patriarchy has arisen with women primarily performing hindered labor in the service sector of the capitalist marketplace, and the unpaid domestic labor of home” (Baars et al, 2016, p.78). In the field o gerontology, it is important to understand the needs of women that will need financial services and planning in order to help them adjust when they become elderly. For instance, the gerontologist can play a part in helping the elderly woman decipher some of the challenges of financial services and healthcare planning: “When Marcie Graham was planning her retirement, no one ever sat her down and told her to save an extra $160,000 because she was a woman” (Nice, 2010, para.1). In this cross-disciplinary approach, the gerontologist is no longer focusing in healthcare issues as a primary requirement for care, but they are expanding the field of gerontology into the financial and gender-based issues that affect women in the aging
Takamura, J.C. (1999). Getting ready for the 21st Century: The aging of America and the older
Medcohealth. Women and Aging: Our lives due change (2002). Retrieved November 18, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.medcohealth.com
Nursing home residents are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. That is probably why most states, including Florida, have specific laws that are designed to ensure the safety and security of these residents and to minimize the risk of abuse and neglect. If you reside in Palatka, Florida and if you or someone you love is a victim of nursing home abuse, you should know that there are laws that will protect you and those you care about. You can find out about these protective regulations by speaking to a nursing home abuse attorney in Palatka, Florida.
"Child Care and Elder Care." Women in American Society. Melissa J. Doak. 2010 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 May 2014.
Hiller, S. M., & Barrow, G. M. (2011). Aging, the individual, and society. (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Within the U.S. Healthcare system there are different levels of healthcare; Long-Term Care also known as (LTC), Integrative Care, and Mental Health. While these services are contained within in the U.S. Healthcare system, they function on dissimilar levels.
Long-term health care consists of personal medical, and social services rendered to elders with chronic indispositions. These types of services are carried out through several different means, such as nursing homes, home health care, and respite care. The focus on long-term care is to provide an environment assisting with treatments plans, personal up keep and rehabilitation. As the largest part of our growing population reaches retirement age, several new questions and issues have arose. Financially, long term health has is an ever growing concern of the elder population and those who have accepted the financial burden. A large portion of the economy struggles with the cost of the ever rising prices of health care. The economy has been hindered with financial difficulty and it has had several implications on the ways we spend our money. For some of the baby boomers, it has left them with no choice but to continue to work in order to provide. For others, it has left them no option but to live with family members or seek assistants elsewhere. Income has evolved into a stressor for elders planning retirement.
Aging is universal and it is a process that everyone has to go through. The only difference is that everyone goes through this process at their own pace influenced by factors that will be discussed later on in this paper. When we think about factors that have an influence on older adults and how their life may be affected, we must consider the different social institutions while analyzing influences from social factors, cultural factors, and personal values. Abuse to older adults, stereotyping and informal care and technological advancements that affect older adults are the three topics that will be discussed in this reflection. Furthermore, will connect the three topics I have chosen to the knowledge that I have gained from my interaction
...6 in 2050” (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2012, p. 15). Comparatively, in 1900 the average life expectancy was 47 (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2012, p. 15). This is relevant with regards to ageism in that the need for trained health care professionals in the field of gerontology will be astounding, but because of the current perceptions of older adults there is a gross lack of these specialty providers. “It has been estimated that by 2030, 3.5 million formal health care providers-a 35 percent increase from current levels-will be needed just to maintain the current ratio of providers to the total population” (Ferrini & Ferrini, 2013, p, 15). The prediction is that all health care providers will spend at least 50 percent of their time working with older adults; increased competency while eliminating ageist attitudes is paramount for quality health care (Ferrini & Ferrini, 2013, p. 15).
Hooyman, N., & Kiyak, H. A. (2011). Social gerontology: A multidisciplinary perspective (9th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. (Original work published 2005)
Kick, Ella. "Overview: Health Care and the Aging Population: What Are Today's Challenges?" The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. N.p., n.d. Web.
In addition, declining birthrates may cause people to have less familial care and support as they age. To be able to provide the necessary care for senior citizens, a government funded long term care insurance program is needed. Medicare is the federal program that provides health coverage for people who are 65 and older (Green, 2003). Although many assume that Medicare provides long-term care, these benefits are very limited and are not efficient enough to accommodate the much needed care services for older adults. For example, Medicare programs do not help pay for personal care services such as eating, dressing or using the bathroom, even though these “activities of daily life” are the most needed services for most seniors (Green, 2003).
The Elderly individuals face problems like Ageism. The older society is not given the same options in treatment as the younger society. The Elderly who battle cancer do not receive chemotherapy like the younger generation. Some people believe that doctors are genuinely worried about their patients and others believe that age discrimination is the reason of treatment discrepancy (Dockter & Keene, 2009).
America is a country where everyone is free to live however they like, but it is possible for some people to live a happy life, if no one is around to take care of them. Nearly three hundred million people reside in the America, and out of those three hundred million populations, senior citizens make a 12 percent of the entire population. A senior citizen is commonly known as a person who is over the age of 65 and living on retirement, or known as social security benefits (Census Bureau). Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt implied the act of Social Security in 1935, seniors are regularly provided a financial help, but seniors, along with financial help, seeks also accompany of someone who can look after them. Because of constantly growing needs of senior citizens, government as well as many non-profit organizations is working on helping seniors. Therefore I decided to research on this particular issue in my community, and I found that 64.5% of seniors are living alone in metropolitan area of Atlanta.
The liberals unlike conservatives think that the government should assist the elderly because many older people never had the opportunities to earn the money needed to carry them through old age. They also state that many families now need both spouses’ earnings to achieve their own needs. And lastly the radical-left view states that due to the capitalist U.S economy the elderly are viewed as a costly burden to society (Macionis). To help explain this social problem even more we can use the social-conflict theory: aging and economic inequality. This theory focuses on age stratification and points to ways that the U.S. society limits the opportunities and resources available to elders. Even though there are laws that ban age discrimination in the workplace company still prefer to hire younger workers as well as wanting older people to retire so they can be replaced with the younger crowd. In conclusion, company while in pursuit of profit treat older people as second-class citizens (Macionis). Given these points, there are many solutions offered up. With the conservative view point they believe that a culture of self-reliance will motivate people to provide for their own old