Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction to Aging FamiliesData and MethodsStructure of the ChaptersOrganization of the book

Chapter 1. Introduction to Aging Families

Provides an overview of major social changes in aging Vignette-Older woman who is more what the face of the future will be than what is today

Chapter Objectives

Increase of older adult populationThe Baby Boomers

Life Expectancy in the United States

The past, present, and future

Box-How to become a centenarian

Changes in world populationBox about future world population

Box-What is a family?

Facts about families
Diverse Family Forms

More options

Trends in the Aging Family

Longer Life Span

More Needs for Caregiving

Changes In Diversity-Race And EthnicityCurrent Versus Future Population in the U.S.

The Changing Landscape of the Population

Changes in socioeconomic statusIncreased Standard of Living for Most

Continued Inequality

Changes in health Healthier than before

Chronic illness

Communicable Illness

Health Disparities

Summary Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 2. Diversity in American Society

The story is one of diversity in the 21st century. Begins with postmodern theory about diversity of society etc. Diversity is about changing landscape of more common and visible types of families.

Chapter Objectives

Theory of postmodern complex lifeIncreasing diversity of families

Modern versus traditionalIncreasing diversity of realitiesMajor trends in intimate relationships: the impact on aging families

Divorce

Remarriage and stepfamilies

Single parenting

Cohabitation

Singlehood

Childlessness

Box-Childfree by Choice

DINKS

LGBTQ Families

Families of Choice

Biracial and Multiracial/Multiethnic Families

Religiosity

Traditional PullsSummaryCritical Thinking Questions

Chapter 3- Changing Gender Roles: Effects on Aging Experience

Women now are coming of age during time of more options, different family patterns, more work, more likely to have different expectations of men. For many older women, they came of age in the 1970s, during the women’s revolution, after the civil rights movement, and during a time when the world was opening up to them.

Chapter Objectives

Feminist Theory Six Propositions

Changes in Gendered Lives Over TimeSpouse

Parenting

Worker

Gender, Dating and SexualityDating

Sexuality in Later Life

STIs and Aging

WidowhoodSocial Roles, Sex Roles, and Mental HealthSummaryCritical Thinking Questions
Chapter 4. Parenthood Later In Life

Provides an overview of having children in later life, and issues relevant to all parents as they get older.


Chapter Objectives

The life course paradigm
increasing heterogeneity

Increasing Age at First BirthReproductive Medicine and TechnologyAdvanced maternal age-women 35 and over

chart- Risks and Benefits of Women Having Children Over 35

Down Syndrome

Table 5.1 Incidence of Down syndrome by age of mother

Box-World’s Oldest Moms

Twins and multiples

Older Parents and Psychosocial ImplicationsBoomerang children

Intergenerational linkagesThe Sandwich Generation

transfersDispossessionSummaryCritical Thinking Questions
Chapter 5.Work and Retirement

The story of how people interact with their cohort and the social structure. Each cohort is different because it is had different experiences. New cohorts will be different from before because women have worked, more educated population, rise of technology. How economic and family issues affect work careers, retirement etc.

Chapter Objectives

Theory-age stratificationChanges in the dependency ratioChanges in estimated work lifeEstimated Work Life

Work in later life

Work and Family in Later Life

Retirement

Duration and Reasons for Increase in retirement

BOX—Financial Planning for Retirement

Phased retirement

Savings in later life

The great recession and the effects on working

Debt

Unemployment

SummaryCritical Thinking Questions
Chapter 6. Activities in Later Life

The story to tell is about activities in later life, work, and retirement with trends in both early retirement and working later in life. Activities may center around things people liked to do their whole life, but also when an extra 30 years is appended to a life. One activity is increasing grandparenting. Discussion of where seniors live.

Chapter Objectives

Theory-activity theory and continuity theoryActivities in later lifeMore leisure time and opportunities

Consumerism: America’s favorite hobby-shopping?

The other side

Travel and adult education programsGrandparentingextended time grandparenting, quality and quantity

grandparenting as an identity

styles of grandparenting

Box-an example of custodial living

Divorce/reconstituted families and grandparents

Moving, activities and families in later lifeTechnologyConnectivity and social media

SummaryCritical Thinking Questions
Chapter 7. Health and Caregiving

Story is that we are living longer, and generally healthier. There’s been an expansion of morbidity, but also a compression. We can be healthier longer, but have new things to worry about such as wear and tear of joints, being kept alive artificially too long etc. Increasing need for caregiving.

Chapter Objectives

Theory-cumulative advantage and disadvantageImproved health overall, vitality and aging wellHealth

Activities of daily living

D. Expansion versus compression of morbidity

E. Socioeconomic status and health

F. Caregiving

caregiving measures

men’s caregiving

increase in male caregiving

Need for social supportAlzheimer’s disease-a special case in caregiving and social supportBox-warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

Living arrangementsAssistive technologyAssisted Care, Advanced Care Planning, and End-of-Life DecisionsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsChapter 8. Conclusion

Chapter Objectives

IntroductionSocietal ChangesDominant Social Changes: Future Directions for SocietyTechnology and CommunicationGlobalization and familiesIntercultural marriage and increasing heterogeneity of familiesIncreased distance from familiesIncreased choices for living arrangementsMore social roles for later life Elder MistreatmentSummaryCritical Thinking Questions
GLOSSARY

REFERENCES

INDEX