What does it mean to age successfully? Take some time to think about this question for yourself. Develop a thorough list of everything it would take for you to say that youwill have aged successfully when the time comes. Then ask this question to several people of different ages and backgrounds. Compare their answers. Do […]

Most attention in health promotion and disease prevention programs is on tackling a handful of behaviors that have tremendous payoff, such as keep­ing fit and eating properly. In turn, these programs educate adults about good health care practices and help identify conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and elevated blood sugar levels, which, if […]

By now you’re probably wondering how to promote successful aging. You may not be surprised to learn that there is no set of steps or magic potion you can take to guarantee that you will age optimally. But research is showing that there are some steps you can take to maximize your chances (Guralnik, Table […]

Although most older adults are not as computer literate as Jack, the man introduced in the vignette, increasing numbers of older adults are discover­ing that computers can be a major asset. Many take advantage of the growing resources available on the Web, including sites dedicated specifically to older adults. E-mail enables people of all ages […]

Even though changing unhealthy habits such as smoking and poor diet are difficult, chronic diseases such as arthritis make exercise challenging, and terminal disease makes it tough to see the benefits of changing one’s habits, the fact remains that such changes typically increase functional capability. Current models of behavioral change are complex and include not […]

Few political issues have been around as long and are as politically sensitive as the issues relating to making Social Security fiscally sound for the long term. The basic issues have been well known for decades: the baby-boom generation and the following smaller workforce will greatly stretch the current system, and the present method for […]

Without doubt, the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries saw a dramatic improvement in the everyday lives of older adults in industrializedcountries. The increase in the number of older adults and their gain in political power, coupled with increased numbers of social programs address­ing issues specifically involving older adults, created unprecedented gains for […]

LEARNING OBJECTIVES • What key demographic changes will occur by 2030? • What are the challenges facing Social Security and Medicare? N ancy, a 35-year-old new employee at a mar­keting and public relations firm, was flipping through the company’s benefits package. When it came to the retirement plan, she commented to the human resources person, […]

14.1 DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND SOCIAL POLICY Demographic Trends: 2030 • Social Security and Medicare • Current Controversies: Saving Social Security 14.2 HEALTH ISSUES AND QUALITY OF LIFE Health Promotion and Quality of Life • A Framework for Maintaining and Enhancing Competence • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention • Lifestyle Factors 14.3 SUCCESSFUL AGING Discovering Development: […]

The losses that confront us in adulthood are many. For most of us, the loss of parents and partners becomes more likely the older we get. For some, the loss of a child can be extremely hard to deal with. How we handle the grief related to each loss depends in part on how old […]