Abstract This paper discusses age discrimination in the work place. In order to illustrate the complex nature of age discrimination issues, this paper analyzes the experiences of a long-term female employee of the Bank of America who was a victim of age discrimination.
Abstract This paper analyzes age discrimination, keeping in view employment laws. It discusses the reasons behind age discrimination and what has been done to curtail it. The paper explains how age discrimination lawsuits are particularly damaging to employers. It shows how discrimination may cost an employer a lot of money to discriminate on the basis of age. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects older workers or job applicants against ageism. The paper concludes that since there is value in older workers, there is no need to hurt them by excluding them from the workforce.
Abstract This paper discusses the film "Fried Green Tomatoes," in which we see a profound theme of aging, and what it means in this society. There is an inter-related theme of possible lesbianism, which transgresses the boundaries that the heterosexual patriarchy tries to mould.
Abstract This paper questions what problems nursing homes have and how these problems proceed from assumptions made about the elderly by both healthcare workers and people in general. The primary source is an interview with a geriatrics specialist. The paper concludes that nursing homes would be much better places if the patient-for-profit mentality was not so widespread and if adult children were more willing to take in their elderly relatives.
Abstract This paper examines how Americans are facing a crisis in health care, characterized by rising costs for providing health care, along with an increase in the number of people who are either uninsured or under-insured, which only adds to the cost for society. It looks at how different proposals have been made to reform the system, but few have been implemented as yet. It also shows how the aging of the population is another reason why a crisis is seen, for more and more older Americans also means more people in need of extended health care, many of them also uninsured.
From the Paper "Many of the elderly depend on payments from government sources for their health care, and there is concern that this part of the system is also in decay. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and for certain disabled people. Medicare was enacted in 1965 as part of Title 18 of the Social Security Act. Medicare is operated by the Health Care Financing Administration, a federal agency, and local Social Security Administration offices across the country take applications for Medicare and provide basic eligibility information to applicants. However, it is known that most Social Security offices in truth know little about Medicare coverage because all they really do is take applications for it."
Abstract This paper is a research proposal for a project that will attempt to determine the relative importance of the aging of the baby boomer generation. The paper explains the three main issues concerning the aging baby boomer population that the project will address. These issues to be studied are the perceived cost of lost labor by the actual retirement of the baby boomers, what steps people entering the labor force today are taking to address this, the perceived national financial projections for overall benefit procurement for baby boomers according to their children, and perceived projected costs to individual families for care and assistance of those people retiring, today and over the next twenty to thirty years.
From the Paper "The generation in America known as the baby boomers, born after WWII between roughly the years 1946 and 1964, is a significant part of the population today. Those individuals are aging, just as we all are and will within the next twenty plus years become a population of people in need of those services associated with aging. "In 2011, the oldest boomers will turn 65, retirement age. And for at least 20 years after that, we'll hear more than we want to hear abut their Medicare coverage and retirement finances. " (Williamson) Services that mainly consist of medical care and retirement benefits are costly and the generation of workers who are in their working prime today and who will be in the foreseeable future is a significantly smaller proportionate demographic than the baby boomers."
Abstract This paper analyzes various studies that deal with the success or failure of animal therapy with the elderly. The treatment discussed is, specifically, the use of domestic and farm animals in helping elderly people deal with depression that is a consequence of their lack of independence.
From the Paper "For many elderly citizens, the problems of aging can be compounded by depression -- an illness that affects the body as well as the mind. A major depression affects people's ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy activities that they once found pleasurable. Symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness and anxiety, which can compound other physical illnesses as well."
Abstract This paper explains that older employees and job applicants, who are 40 years of age or older, are protected under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The author states that claimants can use time-consuming and costly processes of litigation, mediation, or dispute resolution to reach a settlement or decision on their complaints. The paper states that age discrimination claims continue to be the fastest-rising claims with the EEOC because American workers are living and working longer, sometimes into their 70s.
From the Paper "The EEOC recently settled a major age discrimination suit against Foot Locker. In any discrimination case, the following qualifications must be met: the claimant must be a member of a protected class, adverse employment action has occurred, legitimate reasons exist for the cause of action. When an employee feels that he has been discriminated against, he can file a claim with the EEOC who will investigate. In the case against Foot Locker (who owned Woolworth Inc.), employees 40 years old or over were laid off. But immediatley after these layoffs, younger workers were hired from the outside and filled the vacant positions that were left by the older workers (EEOC)."
This paper discusses elder abuse in nursing homes. Elderly abuse refers to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.
Abstract This paper reports that 30 percent of nursing home facilities are cited for instances of abuse, and the majority of all instances are never even reported. The author points out that, to prevent this abuse in nursing homes, communities must enhance facility security, improve background checks of staff, establish systems to monitor rates, places, and times of death, and expand death investigations and autopsies. The paper states that many states have long-term care ombudsmen, who have the primary responsibility of advocating for residents' rights and quality care, educating consumers and providers, resolving residents' complaints, and providing information to the public about abuse, but much more must be done.
From the Paper "Laws are also changing to support the patients and their families. In Florida, for example, the Supreme Court drew a clear distinction between medical and nursing home care by ruling that plaintiffs in cases alleging nursing home abuse and neglect can sue for wrongful death and negligence without meeting the state's requirements for filing a medical malpractice claim. The court noted that nursing homes employ a variety of workers and that the failures the plaintiff alleged "may have been caused by the nursing staff, by the nursing home in not having adequate staff, by the negligence of aides or other workers, or by a combination of the above.""
Abstract This paper explains that the prospective payment system has been used to offset the cost of care and to alleviate the complications faced by those who enter the nursing homes. The author points out that the prospective payment system has undergone criticism and scrutiny since its inception, but is still considered the most viable plan for the financial responsibility of those entering nursing homes. The paper states that the foundational objective of the prospective payment system is to reduce the rates of increase when it comes to Medicare inpatient payments.
From the Paper "The Prospective Payment System has changed the way the practice admissions in 70 percent of the nursing homes across the nation. According to nursing home administrators the patient's medical history is scrutinized at a much more close range than they were before the implementation of the Prospective Payment System. "Most administrators state that they scrutinize patients" medical status to a greater extent than they did prior to the implementation of the prospective payment system. Medical condition has become more important in nursing home admissions decisions. Seventy-four percent of nursing home administrators report that a patient's medical condition has become a more important factor in admissions decisions under the new reimbursement system.""
Tags: admissions, objective, medicare, criticism, plan
Abstract This paper explains that limiting elderly health care is a substantial ethical question. The author points out that the current health system is based upon gaining profits by cutting corners on standard preventative care and by offering substantially overblown services to those who can afford to pay for them or who have no voice to say no. The paper urges that cost caps be set on new technology, pharmaceutical profits, administrative inefficiency, and the reduction in duplicate services.
From the Paper "Within the debate, there are some foundational ideas associated with just how the costs for elderly care will be covered. The ideas are sound, even when argued by those who advocate severe restrictions for the care of elderly. Gleaning from this debate the actual meat of the problem and the solution can be difficult but the most reasonable summation of the issue is made by Alan Sager, who by the way advocates for guaranteed full access to health care by the elderly, ?Priorities must be set democratically. Community representatives, patient advocates, organized workers, and other affected parties---not just physicians and hospital administrators---should make the difficult decisions about how to allocate resources...?"
Abstract This paper explains that case management involves helping the patient find, access, and benefit from the medial procedures, treatments, and lifestyle solutions available to his or her particular needs. The author points out that case management, which usually is administered under the centralized direction of a case manager, is indicated for complex or chronic patients, including those in long-term or geriatric care, in order to insure that their unique and usually complex needs are adequately met. The paper relates that CCPED provides home and community-based services for Medicaid-eligible persons who are 65 years of age or older or persons of any age who are disabled, including traditional home health care services, medical day care, medical transportation, respite care, and social adult daycare.
From the Paper "Some examples of services that can be coordinated and supported through good case management is the creation of an individualized treatment/care plan, establishment of a connection between the patient and government support or benefits, education aimed at helping the patient manage his or her condition in a positive way, coordination between the many providers often required in complex, chronic or long term cases, as well as help in scheduling needed treatment or services."
Abstract Medicare and Social Security stand to be stretched if not fall into jeopardy if there are not some major changes in the policies that secure these parts of the American culture. The important thing is not to state the problems but come to some workable solutions. The problem is that many of the possible solutions could have unforeseen problems of their own that we won't be aware of for years to come. This paper explains some of these problems and solutions and gives suggestions to what might happen in the next 30 years following the trend of aging in America and its lasting economic effects.
From the Paper "United States is among many developed or industrialized countries that are facing a new economic challenge as the demographics of population shift. What has happened in the recent years is a trend that will continue and grow into the next few decades; there has been a growth in industrialized nations' elderly populations due to declining fertility rates and a rise in life expectancy. These growth trends are manifested in a slow growing population and labor force and an increase in the ratio between the elderly and those still working age. (Greenspan) In fact, in 2000 there were 35 million Americans or 12.4% of the population over the age of 65 years, and 4.5 million or 1.6% over 85 years old. By the year 2030 it is projected that the number of US citizens over 65 will more than double and those over 85 will be up to 9 million. (Brookings) Life expectancy in US increases and the retirement age seems to diminish, as some opt to quit working at 62 instead of 65, (with less benefits) and the aging US population is looking at 20 more years of living, consuming and sometimes needing regular expensive healthcare services after the more preferred retirement age. We in America have only just hit the tip of the iceberg with this issue as the baby boomers will not start hitting 62 until 2008. In the 30 years, following 2008 the number of 62 year olds will increase from 40 million, now, to 80 million, while the working force will only grow 12% compared to the boomers' double. (NBER)"
Abstract This paper focuses upon both the needs and the challenges faced by both the family as a whole and by individuals entering the final phase of the family life cycle. It looks at how the final phase of the family life cycle encompasses two separate stages, the launching phase (55-69 years of age), which is characterised by the last dependent member of the family exiting from the family system and the 'later life' stage (70 to 100+ years of age), which is characterised by the acceptance of a shift in generational roles.
Outline
Family Systems Theory
Launching Stage
Assessment and Treatment Issues within the Launching Stage
Transition from the Launching Stage to Later Life
Later Life
End of Life and Loss
Assessment and Treatment Issues in Later Life
Summary
From the Paper "Self-concept plays a large role within this stage, which is best portrayed by Erikson's psychosocial theory of development. Here, the middle aged adult looks outside of themselves and aspires to care, or to be of service to others; such a notion is coined: generativity. Generativity is analogous to unselfish love and is given regardless of whether or not it is reciprocated (Erikson, 1963). On the other side of the notion of generativity is stagnation, in which the individual becomes completely self-absorbed. Such a stage of conflict contributes to one's sense of purpose and their expanded identity. Here, individuals re-evaluate their career goals, they have a shift in family responsibility and they must begin to deal with one's own mortality (Erikson, 1963)."
