Aging in the social environment

Abstract

"By 2050, the number of adults aged 60 and over will double. More than ever, students in the helping professions must develop the knowledge, skills, and values needed to work with older adults. The goal of this book is to change the perspective on aging and the aging process while offering broad, introductory level knowledge on gerontology. It examines aging from a holistic, intersectional, strengths-based, life span perspective to integrate aging into the human development process. The authors aim to challenge stereotypes about aging and help readers understand aging as an integral part of the human experience, rather than a separate process that "others" older adults. In a changing and aging world, challenges of aging intersect with other challenges such as economic inequality, instability caused by climate change, global patterns of migration, political polarization, and, recently, the pandemic, which highlighted that social isolation is a detrimental and growing concern. Despite growing understanding and awareness of its impact, ageism remains a force in a youth-oriented world. This book examines the aging process from micro, mezzo, and macro lenses. The micro lens looks at individual processes of aging such as biological, emotional, spiritual, and psychological factors along with topics such as health, resilience, sexuality, and creativity as we age. The mezzo lens looks at processes beyond the individual including work, roles, family, caregiving, living arrangements, religious involvement, and health care. The macro lens looks at factors such as culture, media, laws, policies, language, and stereotypes about aging"--