Abstract Much has been made about potential threats to the Social Security System in the United States today, and the primary threat is seen as deriving from demographic realities
From the Paper "INTRODUCTION
Much has been made about potential threats to the Social Security System in the United States today, and the primary threat is seen as deriving from demographic realities. The intent of the system from the beginning was for each generation to provide for the previous generation through a form of taxation so that the system would pay for itself as it operates. Some believe that they pay in money which is returned to them when they retire, but in fact what they pay in now is paid to those who are currently retired. The baby boom after World War II produced the first generation that was much larger than the one that would follow so that the system is now under strain and will have to be paid for by future generations rather than the one currently working. This suggests that the system needs drastic reform, and a ..."
Abstract "Alzheimer's disease, its causes and cures, has long remained a mystery to medical practitioners. However, the efforts of researchers are beginning to reveal clues that may soon enable physicians to prescribe medications and other forms of treatment that will successfully delay the onset of the disease and may even reverse the course of the illness.
From the Paper "Alzheimer's disease, its causes and cures, has long remained a mystery to medical practitioners. However, the efforts of researchers are beginning to reveal clues that may soon enable physicians to prescribe medications and other forms of treatment that will successfully delay the onset of the disease and may even reverse the course of the illness. Yet for the four million Americans currently diagnosed with the disease, future treatments are irrelevant. Fortunately, there are some effective options currently available that can treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's and/or slow its progression. If caught early enough, the patient can gain valuable time that they may have had the diagnosis been made at a later stage during the disease=s development. Unfortunately, because the symptoms can often be so easily..."
Abstract This paper compares the different living arrangements open to elderly people. These include assisted living, home sharing, nursing homes, staying with children, home care agencies, group homes and hospices. The benefits and fall-backs of each type is examined and the paper analyzes which type of people generally choose which type of arrangment. Statistics and data are provided.
From the Paper "People today are living longer, which means there is a large elderly population in our society. There are many concerns facing the elderly, one of which is housing. The elderly have several options available to them and it's interesting to see how diverse they can be.
Statistics
Before we look at the housing options for the elderly, we should first explore the statistics concerning the population of this growing group. There were over 35.0 million persons over 65 in the United States in 2000. This accounts for 12.4% of the population or one in every eight Americans. Since 1990, the number of elderly has increased 12.0% in comparison to the 13.3% increase of those under 65. The startling fact is those aged 45-64 increased 34%, meaning there will be a tremendous boom in the elderly population over the next 20 years."
Abstract This paper discusses the author's decision to return to college in middle age. The essay looks at the brand new start at college, the process of learning and personal, professional and educational goals. The author describes his reasons behinds each decision and how these decisions have affected him.
From the Paper "Returning to college was a big decision. There were many challenges ahead. One needed to plan all carefully in the goal-setting paper. Most of all, the struggle throughout the personal search during the program was a big obligation to perform.
Just like someone who decided to make a turn on a drive route, taking a second chance in the education might not be everyone's choice to make a leap for the future. It applied especially for one who was in the senior age, who had gone through the best and the worst part of life and was supposed to do harvesting from his or her early workforce day."
Tags: college, goal, develop, education, success, school, return, middle, age
Abstract In this paper the writer cites different medical/psychological studies done with widowed elderly adults to discuss what the effects of widowhood are in this age group. The writer also discusses differences in gender, income, education of the sufferers and how these impact the way they handle the situation. Emphasis is put on the depression that follows elderly bereavement and the healing process. Other topics include geriatric suicide, family support, nutrition and medication management.
From the Paper " Many stereotypes and misconceptions exist today about the aging process, older adults and what to expect in later life. Although depression should not be considered a normal part of aging, is easy to see why it is so common in older adults. So many huge changes take place as people grow older: retirement, dependency on others, loss of physical and mental capabilities and the death of friends and family. All of these losses and adjustments can be extremely difficult to handle. These losses can greatly diminish the meaning and quality of life, therefore increasing the risk of depression. Widowhood is often the hardest and loneliest of these adjustments. Widowhood is a personal, complex issue that varies according to the widow(er) being male or female, rich or poor and according to nationality, cultural expectations, past life experiences, family and social connections, etc."
This paper summarizes the social and economic problems of elderly minorities and critically examines their public assistance policies: Income, jobs, basic necessities, housing, welfare, homelessness, medical issues and education.
3,825 words (approx. 15.3 pages), 16 sources, 1990, $ 135.95
From the Paper "The purpose of this paper is to summarize the social and economic problems particularly affecting elderly minorities and critically examine related areas of public policy which were supposed to assist with their needs during the past three decades. Additional examples of public policy significantly impacting elderly minorities will also be reviewed.
The problems impacting elderly minorities, particularly in major U.S. urban areas, include many which face other demographic groups below the age of 65: income and employment, housing, medical care and nursing home care and educational opportunities. These areas of critical need are often exacerbated in the case of people who have entered the United States as non-English-speaking, elderly minorities (such as many thousands of Hispanic ... "
From the Paper "One of the principal questions in contemporary medical ethics that bleeds into societal morality is the question of euthanasia. At the very heart of this argument is the perception and attitude about death itself. Indeed, death may or may not be perceived as a disease in and of itself, and may be treated in similar ways, with all the ethical predispositions that are inherent in modern medical behavioral.
Should, for instance, modern medicine do all it can to save a patient, or should quality of life issues enter into the question? What is the moral balance between preserving life and preventing a once vital human from remaining comatose, sometimes for years? Should religious beliefs prevent medical professionals from helping to ease the pain and suffering of prolonged treatment in a terminally ill patient? These are but ... "
From the Paper "There are indications that demographic factors distinguish between groups providing care to elderly patient populations. ... observed that successful Nursing Home caregivers (nursing home aides) significantly differed from unsuccessful Nursing Home caregivers on the demographic factors of age, whether aides had training in health care (yes or no) and years of experience working with the elderly. The finding that amount of training and length of experience with the elderly contributed to a greater degree of success in work with the elderly, supports the notion that education is a pivotal component of caring for the elderly; a ... "
Tags: RESEARCH: DESIGNS & PROPOSALS, AGING, MEDICAL: GENERAL
From the Paper "This research examines the implications for the office of the future of child day care and elder care requirements. In this examination, the problem is described, responses and suggested responses to the problem are explained, and the implications for the office of the future are discussed.
The Problem
The need for child day care and the need for elder care stem from two separate problems. The responsibility for addressing each of the problems, however, most often falls to the same group of people--persons employed outside of the home. Thus, responses to each of the problems hold implications for employers--for the office."
This paper examines selected demographic and marketing information on the elderly population in the United States: Income, assets, population and spending. Tables.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 5 sources, 1991, $ 39.95
From the Paper "This research develops selected demographic and marketing information on the elderly population in the United States. For purposes of this research, elderly is defined as age 50 and older; however, the principal focus, where possible, is on the 65-74 year old age group.
Income
With respect to income levels of the elderly, the areas of interest are (1) household income, and (2) individual disposable income. Data pertaining to these factors are presented in the discussions which follow.
Household Income
Household income data for those persons aged 50 and older ... "
This paper discusses geriatric nutrition, age-related changes and dietary needs: Adequate intake, proteins, carbohydrates, fats/lipids, vitamins/minerals, water/fiber and diabetics.
4,725 words (approx. 18.9 pages), 18 sources, 1991, $ 135.95
From the Paper "There have been many researchers who have indicated that nutritional practices among the elderly both affect the aging process and are, in turn, affected by same. ... reports that nutrition may interact with the aging process in three important ways. Foremost is that most tissue functions tend to decrease during adult life, with nutrition and other intervening variables tending to somewhat ameliorate this age-related loss of tissue substance and function. Second, the frequency of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, increases with advancing age and evidences the highest frequency for those aged individuals falling between 50 and 90."
From the Paper "Until the late 1800s, employees provided their services to their employers for a fixed wage with little or no other available compensation. Retirement planning was a mixture of savings and dependence on younger family members. By the end of the nineteenth century, that situation was changing. Railroads, banks and utilities began to provide retirement benefits to employees who had worked for the companies for a number of years, and employees began to consider those benefits as part of a larger compensation package. Initially, most employers set up defined benefit plans; the latter half of this century has seen the rise of defined contribution plans, as well. By 1987, more than 40 million American workers were covered by more than 232,000 defined benefit plans with assets of almost 900 billion dollars (Seburn, 16). This research examines the two prominent types ..."
From the Paper "This study will review ten articles on hormone replacement therapy following menopause, which is associated with age-related changes in the reproductive system and efforts to control the effects of those changes.
Robert Berne and Matthew Levy write in "Hormonal Patterns During the Menstrual Cycle" that there are three phases in the menstrual cycle --- the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase, and the luteal phase --- and that these phases and the entire menstrual cycle are regulated by gonadal steroid hormone production.
When menopause sets in, these hormones are not produced in the same way or at the same rate. The question asked by Berne and Levy in the middle of their paper focuses on what causes and regulates the primary "surge" of hormones and the ovulation which ..."
From the Paper "Women and Aging: A Sociological Perspective
Women growing old in America today face a variety of issues and challenges. In fact, the needs of today's older woman have received increased attention in the media and in the halls of Congress. Yet, who are today's older women? Is there really a single definition of women growing old today? Are there differences within this group, and how do these differences account for the varying experiences known to old women? It is the purpose of this paper to answer some of these questions and, in particular, to explore ways in which aging women are affected by gender-specific concerns, demographic, economic, and physiological changes in late life.
Some of the experiences of the later stages of life are influenced by gender. According to Lou Glasse, researchers and..."
An assessment of the treatment options (mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy) including incidence, fatality rate, diagnosis, misconceptions and prognosis.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 7 sources, 1994, $ 55.95
From the Paper "Breast Cancer Treatment in the Elderly
More people are surviving to old age than ever before. In the elderly, cancer is a quite common occurrence; only the circulatory diseases are seen more frequently. One type of cancer, breast cancer, frequently occurs in elderly women. Currently, there is some controversy over how the elderly breast cancer patient should be managed.
In the next several decades, the number of older persons in the United States is expected to double in size (7:2507). By the year 2030, over 65 million Americans, or one in five, will be 65 years of age or older. Furthermore, even within this population of seniors, significant age.shifts will occur. In general, the old will become older: by the year 2000, almost 48% of the elderly will be over 75 years of age. It is within this group that cancer..."
