Table of Contents
List of tables, figures and boxes ix
Glossary of terms xi
About the authors xviii
Acknowledgements xix
Preface xxi
1 What is population ageing? (Demography) 1
Introduction 1
Our approach 2
Outline of chapters 6
What is population ageing? 9
Myths and facts about population ageing 12
Why is population ageing a big deal? 13
Population ageing in the context of population change 15
Population pyramids 18
A final thought 20
Review exercise 1 20
2 When am I officially past it? The ageist Zeitgeist (Ageism and ageist stereotyping) 21
Introduction 21
What is an attitude? 22
What is ageism against older people? 26
How do we acquire attitudes? 27
What are stereotypes and why do we use them? 29
Is it all doom and gloom? 31
A final thought 31
Review exercise 2 33
3 Will I ever have enough money to retire? (Retirement, active ageing and working longer) 35
Introduction 35
Pensions 36
A brief history of pensions in the UK 37
The concept of the dependency ratio 39
Neoliberalising retirement 40
Does everybody get a pension? 41
Pension reform 42
Active and successful ageing (and their many detractors) 43
Work, retirement and the institutionalised lifecourse 45
Extending working lives: supply of and demand for older workers 47
A final thought 50
Review exercise 3 50
4 Will I need care when I am old? (Care and support in later life) 51
Introduction 51
Physiological changes that may accompany ageing 54
World Health Organization approach to healthy ageing 57
Long-term care 59
Who cares for whom? 63
Quality of care 66
A final thought 68
Review exercise 4 69
5 All old people are pretty much the same, aren't they? (Diversity among the ageing population) 71
Introduction 71
Sexual orientation and gender identity 74
An overview of minority ageing 78
Diversity and dementia 79
New ageing populations 81
A final thought 83
Review exercise 5 83
6 Aren't gender differences neutralised by age? (Gender) 85
Introduction 85
Why do women live longer than men? 86
How do pension and care policies affect women and men? 87
Intersectionality: men, women and ageism 89
Studying women versus using a feminist framework 91
Masculinity: sometimes it is hard to be a man … 93
A final thought 95
Review exercise 6 96
7 Why do older people have it so good? (The myth of intergenerational conflict) 97
Introduction 97
What is a 'generation'? 98
That's generation - now what about solidarity? 102
Lessons from other crises 103
Neoliberalism and the myth of generational conflict 105
Grandpa renting 107
A final thought 108
Review exercise 7 109
8 Why do older people vote, while younger people protest? (Politics of ageing) 111
Introduction 111
The political roots of population ageing as a policy problem 111
Social policy demands of the 21st century 113
Political demography: linking population change to government and politics 116
Are we heading towards an era of 'gerontocracy'? 119
A final thought 122
Review exercise 8 123
9 What does it mean to live a long life? (Cultural gerontology) 125
Introduction 125
Cultures of Ageing 126
Human ageing: rational, scientific management of old age 129
Cultural critique of the 'narrative of decline' 131
Material culture: the 'Lively project' 132
The re-embodiment of old age 133
A final thought 136
Review exercise 9 137
10 What are my next steps? (Conclusions, reflections and actions) 139
Introduction 139
Chapter overview 139
Pulling it all together: themes and issues for further research 145
Language and the moral economy of ageing 148
11 Now that you know about ageing … (Additional questions and revision) 151
Questions
Chapter 1 Demography 151
Chapter 2 Ageism and ageist stereotyping 152
Chapter 3 Retirement, active ageing and working longer 153
Chapter 4 Care and support in later life 154
Chapter 5 Diversity among the ageing population 155
Chapter 6 Gender 156
Chapter 7 The myth of intergenerational conflict 158
Chapter 8 Politics of ageing 159
Chapter 9 Cultural gerontology 160
Answers
Chapter 1 Demography 161
Chapter 2 Ageism and ageist stereotyping 161
Chapter 3 Retirement, active ageing and working longer 162
Chapter 4 Care and support in later life 163
Chapter 5 Diversity among the ageing population 163
Chapter 6 Gender 164
Chapter 7 The myth of intergenerational conflict 164
Chapter 8 Politics of ageing 165
Chapter 9 Cultural gerontology 165
Appendix 1 Review exercise 1 - detailed instructions on constructing a population pyramid 167
Appendix 2 World Health Organization liveability framework domains 177
Appendix 3 Care Quality Commission fundamental standards 179
References 191
Index 203
