Introduction to Sociology

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CONTENT

• 
  The Brittany Maynard Story. Provided by: CompassionChoices. Located at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPfe3rCcUeQ. License: Other. License Terms: Standard YouTube License
  

Your assigned reading continues on the next page

Introduction to Sociology and Aging

What you’ll learn to do: describe perceptions, challenges, and theories on aging and the elderly

As people enter old age, they face challenges such as ageism, poverty, or abuse. Ageism, which involves stereotyping and discrimination against the elderly, leads to misconceptions about their abilities. Although elderly poverty has been improving for decades, many older people may be detrimentally and disproportionately affected by the 2008 recession. Some elderly people grow physically frail and thus more dependent on caregivers, which may increase the possibility of elder abuse.

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS
CC LICENSED CONTENT, SHARED PREVIOUSLY

• 
  Introduction to Challenges Facing the Elderly. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
  
• 
  Challenges Facing the Elderly. Authored by: OpenStax CNX. Located at: https://cnx.org/contents/AgQDEnLI@10.1:oczeqG_4@2/Challenges-Facing-the-Elderly. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/02040312-72c8-441e-a685-20e9333f3e1d@3.49
  
• 
  An elderly man and woman sitting in chairs. Authored by: Elien Dumon. Provided by: Unsplash. Located at: https://unsplash.com/photos/zdvrozV4Lr8. License: CC0: No Rights Reserved. License Terms: https://unsplash.com/license
  

Retirement and Poverty

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• 
  Explain the historical and current trends of poverty among elderly populations
  

As already observed, many older adults remain highly self-sufficient. Others require more care. Because the elderly typically no longer hold jobs, finances can be a challenge. And due to cultural misconceptions, older people can be targets of ridicule and stereotypes. The elderly face many challenges in later life, but they do not have to enter old age without dignity.