Some Discussion points from Chapter 2:

Aging and Inequality: (Discussion Points from Chapter 5)

1. Some general terminology: “Life span” is the average length of time that a human could expect to live under ideal conditions—(Generally 120 is given as the total potential “life span” for humans, although you do occasionally come across higher figures). Life expectancy is how long you can “expect” to live in your current society. For example, for men in the U.S., today life expectancy is 73; for women 78. This has interesting implications for the sex ratio of a population: At age 65 there are 100 women for every 60 men. At 85 the number of men per 100 women drops to 39. Socially, the U.S. elderly population is increasingly female—“a surplus of widows.” There are also different perspectives from which to define aging (Palen, 2000). Physiological definitions focus on what happens to the body over time. (Some people age “faster” than others but, generally we use chronological age as an indication of physiological aging). Social definitions of aging depend on what society “defines” an elderly person to be. One example here would be actors who would normally be considered “old” play the roles of much younger people, e.g. Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Susan Sarandon. (At the Olympics a 25 year-old gymnast is considered “old” and “over the hill.” Legal definitions are formal statements that label chronological ages. For example In Virginia, you can vote when you are 18; drink alcoholic beverages at 21, etc.

2. First, lets consider the impact that an increasing elderly population will have on U.S. Society. Many sociologists feel that the major problem facing the elderly is social—not financial or physical. Social security and Medicare have gone a long way in relieving the financial burden of growing old. Look at the statistics: In 1960, about one-third (30%) of people over 65 years of age were officially poor. Today, about 10 percent of senior citizens fall under the official U.S. poverty guidelines. As recently as 1970 the elderly comprised the poorest segment of the population. Today taking into account household size, taxes, health insurance, and other benefits, the elderly in the U.S. have a median per-capita income that is two-thirds (66 percent) higher than the general population (Palen, 2000). (Minority elderly groups have not done as well as white elders, however).

3. What about physical health? Macionis makes a distinction between the “younger old,” the “older old,” and the “oldest old.” The “younger old” range in age from 65 to 74. They are quite healthy—After the age of 74, illness and disability become major issues and there is a greater need for support services. The “oldest old” starting at age 85 are the fastest increasing segment of elderly and their health needs are the greatest. Currently they comprise about 2 percent of the population (p. 115). At this time, only about 5 percent of the elderly are currently in nursing homes, but nearly half of all elders can expect to be in a nursing home at some time in their lifetimes (p. 124). Moreover, there is an issue of cost—Medicare (which provides health care for people over 65) is now about 11 percent of the federal budget and is expected to grow to 17 percent by 2005. (Update: AARP Budget data estimate that Medicare expenditures in 2006 will be about 13% of the federal budget). To cast this into perspective, the military consumes about 21 percent of the federal budget. (Update: in 2006 approximately 17 percent of the federal budget goes to the military according to AARP estimates). On average, nursing home care costs about $37,000 per year (Palen, 2000). As the number of elderly continues to grow, so is the proportion of the national budget spent on social security, Medicare and other programs for the elderly. (Update: AARP estimates that approximately 20 percent of the federal budget goes to Social Security). Sociologist, John Palen has observed; “Virtually no aspect of American life—educational, economic, political, or recreational—will remain untouched by the aging of America… Already, excluding interest on the national debt, half the federal budget goes to the elderly” (Palen, 2000). (Remember, about 12-13 percent of the population today is over 65 today—By the year 2025 it will be close to 20 percent). Source for AARP estimates: http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/presscenter/fedbudget_FY06.pdf

These estimates are based on the 2006 Federal Budget. The AARP’s budget statement can be found at: http://www.aarp.org/research/economy/budget/budget_statement_2005.html

4. Much public debate is occurring over the future of Social Security—The number of elderly people is growing twice as fast as the population as a whole in the U.S. and by the time we get to the year 2025, people over 65 will comprise nearly twenty percent of the population. Can the social security system handle this increase? As it is currently structured, the it will go bankrupt in 2011—When the baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 will start retiring (Palen, 2000). When do you “break even” with social security—That is, when do you begin to collect more than you paid into the system? (If you retired in 1990 it was 4 years, at age 69; 2000; 8 years at age 73; 2010, 12 years at age 77) (Palen, 2000). More statistics—In 1945 there were 35 workers for every one social security recipient; in the 1960s, the number was 7; in 2000 its just 3! In 1935 when social security was set up, the average life expectancy was 62—A good deal for the government when you couldn’t collect until 65! Today, the average life expectancy is around 75! Furthermore, if you make it to the age of 65, you can expect to live another 15 years if you’re a male; 19 years if you’re a female—Not so good a deal for the government. (Remember, social security payments account for about 40 percent of elderly income. What are we going to do? (Sociologist, John Palen suggests reducing COLAs and increasing the retirement age to 70). What do you think of this proposal?

5. What kinds of “social” problems confront the elderly?

a.) Retirement: About 30 percent of people over 65 report having difficulties with retirement (Palen, 2000). Most Americans retire as soon as they are able to). Satisfaction with retirement is related to the types of jobs people held. If your social status is defined by your work, you’ll have trouble with retirement. People with boring, routine, dull tasks will look forward to retiring. Statistics involving workers from General Motors indicate that 2 percent of the blue collar workforce stay on after 65 while 11 percent of salaried workers stay at their jobs beyond retirement.

b.) Victimization: Some elderly who are poor live in high-crime areas, and because of their age, are unable to protect themselves from assault. The elderly also appear to be more susceptible to con-artists. For whatever the reason—a desire to enhance fixed incomes; inexperience and naiveté, illness, debilitating pain, etc., the elderly may fall victim to “get-rich-quick” schemes and other scams. These scams include contests, sweepstakes, quack “cures” for medical conditions, and “confidence schemes” that lure the elderly into handing over their life’s savings to embezzlers.

c.) “Disengagement Theory” argues that the elderly are slowly, but firmly encouraged (forced) to “disengage” from active roles in society. Examples are the retirement age of 65; social norms that encourage them to take on new roles as “old folks,” portrayals in the media that show them “sitting by the fire,” etc.

d.) Ageism—The elderly are subject to prejudice (see p. 117) and discrimination (p. 118).

e.) Elderly Abuse: About one million elderly (3% of the elderly population) suffer serious abuse each year. (It is estimated that only 10 percent of abuse cases are actually reported.

f.) Poverty: Although improvement has been seen since the 1960s, ten percent of the elderly fall below the official poverty line today and the percentage is much higher for elderly minorities, especially Hispanic- and African-Americans.

6. The debate over Euthanasia (passive and active):

7. Theoretical perspectives on ageism: Functionalism; conflict Theory; and Symbolic Interactionism.

8. Political perspectives on aging:

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