Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Preface to the Third Edition -- 1 Aging and Society -- Dimensions of Aging -- Physical Aging -- Psychological Aging -- Social Aging -- Societal Aging -- Ways of Categorizing People by Age -- Chronological Age -- Functional Age -- Life Stage -- The Rise of Old Age as a Social Category -- Generational Consciousness -- The Aging Population as a Social Force -- The Life Course and Old Age -- Social Perspectives on Aging -- Social Gerontology -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- 2 Studying Aging -- Why Do We Conduct Research? -- The Role of Theory -- How Do We Conduct Research on Aging? -- Age as a Variable -- Sorting Out Age, Period, and Cohort Effects -- Designs and Methods Targeted to Research on Aging -- Longitudinal/Panel Studies -- Secondary Analysis -- Qualitative, Quantitative, Combined Methods -- Event History Analysis -- Life History and Reminiscence -- Other Special Issues in Studying Aging -- Cohort-Centrism, Dynamism, and Limits of Current Knowledge -- Sociology of Knowledge and Research Activism -- Applying Theory: Cohort Size and Life Chances: The Easterlin Hypothesis -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- Topical Essay: Will They Play the Rolling Stones at the Nursing Home? -- 3 Aging People in an Aging World: Demographic Perspectives -- The Aging of Societies -- Applying Theory: Demographic Transition Theory -- How Do Populations Age? -- Measures of Population Aging -- Global Aging -- Applying Theory: Modernization Theory -- Demographic Characteristics of the U.S. Aging Population -- Living Arrangements -- Geographic Distribution -- Gender Composition -- Increasing Diversity -- Centenarians -- Interpreting and Using Demographic Data -- The Fallacy of the Demographic Imperative -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms.

Questions for Thought and Discussion -- 4 The Aging Individual in Social Context -- Setting the Stage: Psychology of Aging -- Human Development and Aging -- Social Context and Individual Aging -- The Life Course -- Social Roles -- Age Norms -- Structural Lag -- Analyzing Theory: The Emergence of Developmental Science -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- Topical Essay: Love, Sex, and Longevity -- 5 Family as an Age-Integrating Institution -- The Family Institution -- The Meanings of Generation -- Aspects of Family Variation -- Core Norms and Expectations of Family Relationships -- Independence and Dependence -- Voluntarism and Obligation -- The Cultural Basis of Family Norms: The Chinese Case -- Applying Theory: Family Life Cycle Theory and Individual Dependency in the Family -- The Waltons Myth: Coresidence of Grandparents in the United States -- Social Changes and the Family's Future -- Changes in Marriage -- Changes in the Size and Shape of Families -- Future Changes in the Timing of Family Life Events -- Greater Complexity of Family Relations -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- 6 Aging Persons and Their Families -- Families as Personal Network Versus Public Institution -- Strengths in Later-Life Families -- Continuities in Later-Life Families -- Key Familial Roles and Relationships -- Spouses/Aging Couples -- Parents and Children -- Siblings -- Grandparents -- Families as Caregivers -- Applying Theory: Exchange Theory and Family Caregiving -- Context of Ongoing Norms of Mutual Assistance -- Intergenerational Support -- Family Members as Caregivers to Frail Elders -- Caregiver Burden and Rewards -- Involvement of Older Adults in Their Care -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion.

Topical Essay: Ironies of Crime: Silver-Haired Victims and Criminals -- 7 Work and the Life Course -- Employment as an Organizing Force in the Life Course -- Dynamics of the Labor Force -- Employment and Life Chances -- Productive Aging: Expanding Our Definitions of Work -- The Occupational Life Cycle -- The Occupational Life Cycle Model -- Contemporary Changes -- The Future for Older Workers -- Older Workers and the Dynamics of the Labor Force -- Skills and Employability of Older Workers -- Special Programs for Older Workers -- Applying Theory: Rocking Chairs or Rock Climbing: Disengagement and Activity Theories -- Age Discrimination in Employment: Problems and Policies -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- 8 Retirement -- Defining Retirement -- The Social Construction of Retirement -- Theoretical Perspectives on Contemporary Retirement -- The Role of Social Security -- The Role of Employer Pensions -- Trends in Retirement -- Women's Retirement -- Early Retirement -- Variations in Retirement Trends -- Individual Retirement -- Determinants of the Retirement Decision -- Employment After Retirement-Bridge Jobs -- Retirement Consequences for Individuals and Couples -- Rethinking Retirement for the Future -- Changes in Policies and Political Attitudes -- Applying Theory: Continuity Theory and the "Busy Ethic" -- Changes in the Economy and the Nature of Work -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- Topical Essay: E-Elders -- 9 Economics and the Aging of Society -- The Role of Economics in Aging -- Policy and the Economic Status of Older Adults -- Sources of Income -- Economic Well-Being of Older Americans -- Economic Well-Being and Inequality Among Older People -- Effects of Population Aging on the Economy -- Applying Theory: The Stratified Life Course and Economic Diversity.

Prospects for the Future Economic Status of the Elderly -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- 10 Aging and the Health of Individuals -- Physical Aging -- The Health Status of Older People -- Prevalence Rates for Chronic Conditions -- Functional Ability -- Self-Assessment -- Mortality -- Mental Health and Aging -- Explaining Gender and Race Variation in Health -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- Topical Essay: Anti-Aging: Cosmetics and Aesthetics -- 11 Aging and the Health Care System -- The Medical Model of Health Care -- Elements of the Health Care System -- Access and Utilization -- Applying Theory: Political Economy of Health Care Access -- Financing of Health Care for Older Americans -- Long-Term Care in the United States -- Unpaid Long-Term Care -- Nursing Homes -- Assisted Living -- Community-Based Long-Term Care -- Continuing Care Retirement Communities -- Financing Formal Long-Term Care -- Long-Term Care System Redesign -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- 12 Politics, Government, and the Welfare State -- Age-Based Government Policies -- The Old-Age Welfare State -- Aging and Politics -- Age Norms and Rules for Political Participation -- Aging, Period, and Cohort Effects on Political Behavior -- Working the Political System: Age-Based Advocacy -- Generational Politics: Conflict and Consensus -- The Generational Equity Debate -- Applying Theory: Age Stratification Theory -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Key Terms -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- 13 The Dynamics of Aging in Our Future -- Aging in a Changing Social World -- Rethinking Old Age and the Life Course -- Implications of a Global Economy -- Changing Family Structure -- Future Cohorts of Older People -- What Can We Accurately Predict?.

Speculations About Coming Cohorts -- The Risks of Prediction -- Challenges and Opportunities for the Field -- Disciplinary Frameworks -- Micro-Macro Distinctions: Implications for Policy and Practice -- Firming Our Theoretical Foundations -- Addressing Diversity in Policy and Practice -- Transforming Knowledge To Inform Policy and Practice -- Summary -- Web Wise -- Questions for Thought and Discussion -- References -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Instructor's Guide -- Contents -- Introduction -- 1 Aging and Society -- 2 Studying Aging -- 3 Aging People in an Aging World: Demographic Perspectives -- 4 The Aging Individual in Social Context -- 5 Family as an Age-Integrating Institution -- 6 Aging Persons and Their Families -- 7 Work and the Life Course -- 8 Retirement -- 9 Economics and the Aging of Society -- 10 Aging and the Health of Individuals -- 11 Aging and the Health Care System -- 12 Politics, Government, and the Welfare State -- 13 The Dynamics of Aging in Our Future.