PrefacePrologue: America as an Aging SocietyBASIC CONCEPTS I. AGING HEALTH CARE AND SOCIETY The Challenge of Longevity Epidemiology of Aging Economics of Heath Care Long-Term Care Self-Determined Death Late-Life Suicide ConclusionControversy 1. Should We Ration Health Care for Older People? Precedents for Health Care Rationing The Justification for Age-Based Rationing Rationing as a Cost-Saving Plan The Impetus for Rationing Cost Versus Age Alternative Approaches to Rationing Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide The Debate Over Age-Based RationingControversy 2. Should Families Provide for Their Own? Aging and the American Family Abandonment or Independence? Family Responsibility Medicaid and Long-Term Care Financing Long-Term Care Medicaid PlanningControversy 3. Should Older People Be Protected From Bad Choices? The Vulnerabilities of Older People Interfering When People Make Bad Choices Elder Abuse and Neglect Perceptions of Quality of Life Inappropriate Sexuality Crime and the Elderly Intervention in the Lives of the Vulnerable ElderlyControversy 4. Should People Have the Choice to End Their Lives? Depression and Suicide The "Right to Die" Outlook for the FutureBASIC CONCEPTS II. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR AN AGING SOCIETY The Varieties of Aging Experience The Economic Status of Older Americans Public Policy on Aging ConclusionControversy 5. Should Age or Need Be the Basis for Entitlement? A Tale of Two Generations Generational Equity The Least Advantaged Elderly The Targeting DebateControversy 6.
What Is the Future for Social Security? Main Features of Social Security Success--and Doubts Pay as You Go Social Security Trust Fund Eligibility Privatization Women and Social Security Debate Over Social SecurityControversy 7. Is Retirement Obsolete? History of Retirement Origins of Late-Life Leisure Changes in the American Economy A New View of Retirement Debate Over Retirement PolicyBASIC CONCEPTS III. A LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON AGING Age Identification The Stages of Life The Life Course and Aging Theories of Aging Influences on the Life Course Aging in Postindustrial Society The Biology of Aging The Science of Longevity Mechanisms of Physical Aging Aging and Psychological Functioning ConclusionControversy 8. Why Do We Grow Old? The Process of Biological Aging Biological Theories of Aging The Inevitability of Aging Ways to Prolong the Life Span Compression or Prolongation of Morbidity?Controversy 9. Does Creativity Decline With Age? Elements of Cognitive Function The Classic Aging Pattern Measures of Late-Life Intelligence Studies of Age and Cognitive Function Correlates of Cognitive Stability Creativity in an Aging PopulationControversy 10. Does Old Age Have Meaning? The Meaning of Age Leisure Activities in Later Life Religion and Spirituality Social Gerontology and the Meaning of Age The Meaning of Aging in the 21st Century Activity or Reflection?A. How to Research a Term Paper in Gerontology Defining Your Topic Starting Your Search Eight Steps for Carrying Out Library Research Ending the Search Resources for Papers in GerontologyB. Internet Resources on AgingReferencesGlossary/Index.