About the Author/EditorPrefacePrologue: America as an Aging SocietyBasic Concepts I: A Life Course Perspective on Aging Age Identification The Stages of Life The Life Course and Aging Life Transitions Theories of Aging Modernization Theory Disengagement Theory Activity Theory Influences on the Life Course Social Class and Life History Social Institutions and Policies Aging in the 21st Century Time and the Life Course The Moral Economy of the Life Course The Biology of Aging The New Science of Longevity Mechanisms of Physical Aging Wear and Tear Free Radicals The Immune System Aging and Psychological Functioning Self-Concept and Social Relationships Social Roles Cognitive Functioning Conclusion Toward a New Map of LifeCONTROVERSY 1 Why Do We Grow Old? The Process of Biological Aging Biological Theories of Aging Wear-and-Tear Theory Autoimmune Theory Aging Clock Theory Cross-Linkage Theory Free Radicals Cellular Theory Is Aging Inevitable? Ways to Prolong the Life Span Environmental Approach Genetic Approach Compression or Prolongation of Morbidity? FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Health PromotionREADINGS 1. Why Do We Live as Long as We Do? Leonard Hayflick 2. Vitality and Aging: Implications of the Rectangular Curve James F. Fries and Lawrence Crapo 3. Aging, Natural Death, and the Compression of Morbidity:Another View Edward L. Schneider and Jacob Brody 4. The Sunny Side of Aging James F. Fries 5.
The Changing Face of Health Care, Alan M. Garber and Dana P. Goldman 6. "We Will Be Able to Live to 1,000" Aubrey de Grey 7. Don''t Fall for the Cult of Immortality, S. Jay Olshansky FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: "I Dated a Cyborg!" Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateCONTROVERSY 2 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 Population FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Older Adult EducationREADINGS 8. Age and Achievement Harvey Lehman 9. Age and Achievement: A Critique Wayne Dennis 10.
Creative Productivity Through the Adult Years Dean Keith Simonton 11. The Creative Age Gene Cohen 12. "The Wisdom Paradox," Elkhonon Goldberg FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Late-Life Learning in the Information Society Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateCONTROVERSY 3 Does Old Age Have Meaning? The Meaning of Age Leisure Activities in Later Life Changing Leisure Participation Patterns Explaining Patterns of Leisure Religion and Spirituality Religion Over the Life Course Religion and Well-Being Spirituality and the Search for Meaning Social Gerontology and the Meaning of Age The Meaning of Aging in the 21st Century Activity or Reflection? FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Reminiscence and Life ReviewREADINGS 13. The Coming of Age Simone de Beauvoir 14. Vital Involvement in Old Age Erik H. Erikson,Joan M. Erikson, and Helen Q. Kivnick 15.
Successful Aging John Rowe and Robert Kahn 16. The Measure of My Days Florida Scott-Maxwell FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Conscious Aging Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateBASIC CONCEPTS II SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR AN AGING SOCIETY The Varieties of Aging Experience Social Class Race and Ethnicity Gender and Aging Multiple Jeopardy Economic Well-Being The Economic Status of Older Americans Sources of Retirement Income Changing Financial Outlook Public Policy on Aging The Aging Network Aging Interest Groups Trends in Public Policy and Aging ConclusionCONTROVERSY 4 Should Age or Need Be the Basis for Entitlement? A Tale of Two Generations Generational Equity Poverty Among the Old Poverty Among Children and Young People The Dependency Ratio Taxation and Generational Accounting Power and Competition for Scarce Resources The Least Advantaged Elderly Help for Those Most in Need The Targeting Debate FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Intergenerational ProgramsREADINGS 17. Growing Older Lester Thurow 18. Gray Dawn: Target Benefits on the Basis of Need Peter G. Peterson 19. "Generational Equity" and the New Victim Blaming Meredith Minkler 20. The Generational Equity Debate John B. Williamson, Diane M.
Watts-Ray, and Eric R. Kingson FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Walled Retirement Villages? Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateCONTROVERSY 5 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 Security FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Investment Decisions for Retirement IncomeREADINGS 21. "How to Save Social Security: A Balanced Approach," Peter Diamond and Peter Orszag 22. "The Necessity and Desirability of Social Security Reform," Ramesh Ponnuru 23. Social Security Reform and Benefit Adequacy, Lawrence H. Thompson 24. Social Security for Yesterday''s Family? C. Eugene Steuerle and Melissa Favreault FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Two Scenarios for the Future of Social Security Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateCONTROVERSY 6 Is Retirement Obsolete? History of Retirement Origins of Late-Life Leisure Changes in the American Economy A New View of Retirement Productive Aging Debate Over Retirement Policy FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Preretirement PlanningREADINGS 25.
Achieving a Productive Aging Society, Francis G. Caro, Scott A. Bass, and Yung-Ping Chen 26. Prime Time, Marc Freedman 27. The Busy Ethic: Moral Continuity Between Work and Retirement, David J. Ekerdt 28. Moving Toward a Creative Retirement, Ronald J. Manheimer FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: The U.
S. Wisdom Corps? Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateBASIC CONCEPTS 3 AGING, HEALTH CARE, AND SOCIETY The Challenge of Longevity The Case of the Struldbruggs Normal Aging Longevity and Disease Epidemiology of Aging Major Diseases in Old Age Responses to the Geriatric Diseases Economics of Health Care Reimbursement Systems Prospects for the Future Long-Term Care Housing for the Elderly Chronic Care in Old Age Functional Assessment The Continuum of Care Paying for Long-Term Care: An American Dilemma Self-Determined Death Late-Life Suicide ConclusionCONTROVERSY 7 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 Rationing FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Managed CareREADINGS 29. Why We Must Set Limits, Daniel Callahan 30. Pricing Life: Why It''s Time for Health Care Rationing, Peter Ubel 31. The Pied Piper Returns for the Old Folks, Nat Hentoff 32. Letting Individuals Decide, Terrie Wetle and Richard W. Besdine 33. Aim Not Just for Longer Life, but Expanded "Health Span," Daniel Perry and Robert Butler FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Scenarios for Rationing:Fiction or Forecast? Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateCONTROVERSY 8 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 Planning FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Long-Term Care InsuranceREADINGS 34.
Medicaid and Long-Term Care, Peter J. Strauss and Nancy M. Lederman 35. Shame of the Rich: Making Themselves Poor, Jane Bryant Quinn 36. The Fallacy of Impoverishment, Stephen Moses 37. The Case Against Paying Family Caregivers: Ethical and Practical Issues, C. Jean Blaser 38. For Love and Money: Paying Family Caregivers, Suzanne R.
Kunkel, Robert A. Applebaum, and Ian M. Nelson FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Genetic Screening for Alzheimer''s Disease? Questions to Ponder Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateCONTROVERSY 9 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 Elderly FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Adult Protective ServicesREADINGS 39. The Right to Freedom From Restraints, Robert N. Brown 40. Ethical Dilemmas in Elder Abuse, Terrie T. Wetle and Terry T. Fulmer 41.
A Legal Perspective on Elder Abuse, Candace J. Heisler and Mary Joy Quinn 42. Elder Self-Neglect: A Blurred Concept, Dorothy R. Fabian and Eloise Rathbone-McCuan FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Inheritance in an Aging Society Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateCONTROVERSY 10 Should People Have the Choice to End Their Lives? Depression and Suicide The "Right to Die" Outlook for the Future FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Advance DirectivesREADINGS 43. Why Do People Seek Physician-Assisted Death? Robert A. Pearlman and Helene Starks 44. A Time to Die: The Place for Physician Assistance, Charles F. McKhann 45.
Last Rights: Aunty''s Story, Sue Woodman 46. Neither for Love nor Money: Why Doctors Must Not Kill, Leon Kass FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Neighborhood Suicide Clinics? Questions for Writing, Reflection, and DebateAPPENDIXESA. 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 Gerontology Encyclopedias and Handbooks Abstracts and Databases Statistics Guides to Research and Information Other Valuable Reference Works Textbooks Important Journals and Other PeriodicalsB. Internet Resources on AgingBibliographyGlossary/Index.