Ageing - introduction

Marta Santacreu, PhD.
marta.santacreu@universidadeuropea.es
PSYCHOGERONTOLOGY
Introduction

Block 1. Introduction
 Unit 1. Introduction
 Unit 2. Stability and change in ageing
 Unit 3. Comprehensive assessment (bio-
psycho-social) of the elderly

Unit 1. Introduction
 Demographic change
 What is age and ageing?
 Stereotypes on ageing
 Research on ageing

Demographic change
http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/spain-population-pyramid
THE WORLD IS AGEING

Demographic change
Men
Women
Average
0 20 40 60 80 100
Bronze
Iron
Greece
Rome
Mid.age
Napoleon
End XX

Demographic change
9.2 11.7
21.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1990 2013 2050
Population
Over 60 yrs.
2013
841 million old people
More than 2 billion
2050

Demographic change
Why are we experiencing a
demographic change?

Demographic change
Increased life expectancy

Demographic change
Decreasing mortality (children)
Declining fertility

In 2047
Demographic change
Children Old people
So, maybe working with old people is not such a bad idea…

 Europe has had 150
years to get older. It is
believed that in
countries from Latin
America, Africa and
Asia, just 20!
 By 2050, nearly 8 in 10
of the world’s older
population will live in
the less developed
regions.
Demographic change

Demographic change
How does the ageing
population impact our
society?

 Impact of ageing population.
Demographic change
The old-age support ratios decrease
Fiscal pressure on support systems for older persons

Demographic change
Increased prevalence of chronic
diseases and disability

– Increased % of old people living independently (alone
or with their spouse only).
– Support themselves financially with their own labor
earnings, income from their assets, and through public
transfers.
– In most countries, older persons make financial
contributions to younger family members until rather
advanced ages.
Demographic change

 The older population is itself ageing.
 There will be 392 million persons aged 80
years or over by 2050, more than three times
the present.
Demographic change
86%
14%
2013
<80 ≥80
81%
19%
2050
<80 ≥80

 The older population is predominantly female.
 Because women tend to live longer than men,
older women outnumber older men almost
everywhere.
Demographic change
54%46%
60 yrs. Group
Women Men
62%
38%
80 yrs. Group
Women Men
80 men per 100 women 61 men per 100 women

 Globally, 40 per cent of older persons aged 60
years or over live independently.
Demographic change
75%
25%
Developed
independent other
25%
75%
Developing
independent other
12%
88%
Least developed
independent other

 Many older persons still need to work, especially in developing
countries.
– Labor force participation among older men is decreasing in the less
developed regions, but it is increasing in the more developed regions.
 Developed countries: Public transfers are a major source of old-age
support.
 Developing countries: The labor earnings of older persons are an
important source of economic support in old age.
Demographic change
8%
92%
Developed
Working Retired
31%
69%
Developing
Working Retired

What is age and ageing?
What is age?
What is
ageing?
Who is old?
Are you
ageing?
When does
ageing start?
Does age determine
something?
What does
ageing involve?
Do you feel as old
as you are?

 White locks
 Toothlessness
 Sunken cheeks
 Lackluster eyes
 Shriveled skin
What cut-off??
The old 40s are
the new 30s
Chronological age:
 Passing of time from birth onwards.
 Easy to measure.
 Increased age-specific mortality rates.
 Variable cut-off for “old” determined by unemployment rates.

Biological age – pathological model:
 Presence or absence of physical disease, functional, or
cognitive impairment.
 Increased incidence of chronic disease in late life.
 Presence of age-associated conditions.
 Better marker of health status than chronological age.
 Medical profession: Old age = disease
 Critics
– Age increases prevalence of disease, but incidence is reduced
in advanced age
– Age related diseases appear also in young people (e.g. cancer)
– Age related diseases do not appear in all old people
 Alternative to age-criteria  Normal ageing changes:
universal, degenerative, progressive and intrinsic

Successful ageing:
 Variability in the ageing process.
 Old age presents the opportunity for positive change,
new developments.
 Medical model: compression of morbidity, absence of
physical illness and functional impairment.
 Social model: ability to adapt to changes in society to
maintain role and status
 Psychological model: maintenance of mental competence
and well being.

 Longitudinal Studies: variability
– Intra-individual plasticity and ability to learn

GainsLosses
 Longitudinal Studies: variability
– Intra-individual plasticity and ability to learn

 All old people are the same
 Older people are sick, have functional
dependence and are fragile
 Seniors are lonely and isolated
 Older people cannot learn and have cognitive
decline
 Old people are rigid and do not adapt to
changes
 They do not face aging changes
 Older people should not continue working
 The don’t have sexual relationships
Ageing stereotypes

 All old people are the same
Ageing stereotypes

 Older people are sick, have functional
dependence and are fragile
Ageing stereotypes
Male impaired
Female impaired
Male (Total pop.)
Female (Total pop.)

 Seniors are lonely and isolated
Ageing stereotypes

 Older people cannot learn and have cognitive
decline
Ageing stereotypes

 Old people are rigid and do not adapt to
changes
– Experience
– Personality traits
Ageing stereotypes

 Older people should not continue working
– Knowledge compensate decline
– Benefits from continuing work
Ageing stereotypes

 Effects of self-stereotypes in older
people:
–Psychophysiological responses
–Memory training
–Longevity
 Effects of stereotypes in professionals
Ageing stereotypes

people:
–Psychophysiological responses
Ageing stereotypes

people:
–Memory training
Ageing stereotypes

people:
–Longevity
Ageing stereotypes

 Effects of stereotypes in professionals
Ageing stereotypes

 The designs:
–Cross- sectional
Generational problems
–Longitudinal
Berlin Ageing Study
–Experimental
Stereotypes
 Assessment techniques
Research on ageing

Researching on ageing
BIOLOGY
PSYCHO
BIO
SOCIAL

Research on ageing
 Gerontology
– Study of the aging
process.
– Includes physical,
mental, and social
changes.
– The information is used
to develop strategies and
programs for improving
the lives of older people.
 Geriatrics
– Branch of medicine
specialized in the care of
older people.
– Involves managing many
disorders and problems
at the same time.
– Study of the ageing
process to better
distinguish between
changes resulting from
ageing itself and
disorder.

 Lutz, W., Sanderson, W., & Scherbov, S. (2008). The coming
acceleration of global population ageing. Nature, 451(7179),
716.
 Balcombe, N. R., & Sinclair, A. (2001). Ageing: definitions,
mechanisms and the magnitude of the problem. Best Practice
& Research Clinical Gastroenterology, 15(6), 835-849.
 Levy, B. R., Zonderman, A. B., Slade, M. D., & Ferrucci, L.
(2009). Age stereotypes held earlier in life predict
cardiovascular events in later life. Psychological Science, 20(3),
296-298.
 WHO. (1999). Ageing: exploding the myths.
References

Ageing - introduction

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