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Fred C. Pampel describes how age combines with other components of inequality by comparing the influence of group membership on social inequality before and after the life course transition to old age. He looks at the differences in public policy and how age inequality -- more than the other sources of inequality -- relates closely to government policies and studies other societies in which both age group differences and overall inequality differ from those in the United States. Pampel makes a comparison of the United States with other nations a central component of the book, providing greater understanding of the larger forces that shape old age.

A history of aging in America surveys and compares actualities and attitudes in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries and suggests practical improvements on the current inadequate system of pensions, social security, medicare, and other programs.

Kolektivní monografie je výsledkem výzkumné práce autorského týmu katedry sociální práce Filozofické fakulty UK. Reaguje na všeobecné přesvědčení, že kvalitu života seniorů pozitivně ovlivňuje aktivita ve stáří. Zkoumá, zda a jak současná sociální politika vlády, občanská společnost a aktuální systémy sociálních služeb aktivity a samostatnost stárnoucí populace skutečně podporují. Autoři na základě analýz dospěli k řadě kritických závěrů a předkládají i návrhy ke zlepšení. Současně upozorňují, že sociální služby a sociální práce budou muset v 21. století řešit nové sociální výzvy, vyvolané nejen demografickými jevy, ale také digitalizací, globalizací či novodobým stěhováním národů. Varují, že na to naše sociální systémy nejsou připravené.

Mirroring a worldwide phenomenon in industrialized nations, the U.S. is experiencing a change in its demographic structure known as population aging. Concern about the aging population tends to focus on the adequacy of Medicare and Social Security, retirement of older Americans, and the need to identify policies, programs, and strategies that address the health and safety needs of older workers. Older workers differ from their younger counterparts in a variety of physical, psychological, and social factors. Evaluating the extent, causes, and effects of these factors and improving the research and data systems necessary to address the health and safety needs of older workers may significantly impact both their ability to remain in the workforce and their well being in retirement. Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers provides an image of what is currently known about the health and safety needs of older workers and the research needed to encourage social polices that guarantee older workers a meaningful share of the nation's work opportunities.

In nearly every industrialized country, large aging populations and increased life expectancy have placed enormous pressure on social security programs—and, until recently, the pressure has been compounded by a trend toward retirement at an earlier age. With a larger fraction of the population receiving benefits, in coming decades social security in many countries may have to be reformed in order to remain financially viable. This volume offers a cross-country analysis of the effects of disability insurance programs on labor force participation by older workers. Drawing on measures of health that are comparable across countries, the authors explore the extent to which differences in the labor force are determined by disability insurance programs and to what extent disability insurance reforms are prompted by the circumstances of a country's elderly population.

This paper investigates the prevalence of incapacity in performing daily activities and the associations between household composition and availability of family members and receipt of care among older adults with functioning problems in Spain, England and the United States of America (USA). We examine how living arrangements, marital status, child availability, limitations in functioning ability, age and gender affect the probability of receiving formal care and informal care from household members and from others in three countries with different family structures, living arrangements and policies supporting care of the incapacitated. Data sources include the 2006 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe for Spain, the third wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2006), and the eighth wave of the USA Health and Retirement Study (2006). Logistic and multinomial logistic regressions are used to estimate the probability of receiving care and the sources of care among persons age 50 and older. The percentage of people with functional limitations receiving care is higher in Spain. More care comes from outside the household in the USA and England than in Spain. The use of formal care among the incapacitated is lowest in the USA and highest in Spain.

This paper examines the changing face of deep poverty in the United States over the past fifty years and the role of family structure, employment patterns, and governmental taxes and transfers in explaining these trends. Using a newly developed historical measure of poverty based on the Census Bureau's supplemental poverty measure, we find that deep poverty rates have been fairly constant over the past fifty years, both overall and for families with children. In view of changes in family structure and government policy over this period, the intransigence of deep poverty is surprising. However, this overall stability obscures changes in the demographics of individuals and families in deep poverty, as well as the role of government policy. Governmental transfers reduce the risk of deep poverty for all subgroups examined, but the significance and the role of these programs have changed over time.

As our population ages, the need for comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge about aging services in the United States becomes more and more crucial. This highly accessible and exhaustive text about such resources provides students and practitioners of gerontology-along with all professionals whose work concerns the wellbeing of older adults --with a current, detailed description and analysis of federal, state, local, and global programs and services for older people with, or without, cognitive, physical, and social needs. This eighth edition has been thoroughly updated to encompass the wealth of new information available concerning later life. It reflects critical changes to legislation, health care, and current trends, and focuses on the strengths of older adults, their diversity, and the role our multi-layered aging network plays in advocacy, community independence, and engagement. Commentary and critical thinking challenges from policy-makers, program directors and educators facilitate high-level thinking and independent analysis of the aging networks present and future. The eighth edition is reorganized to underscore recent policy changes and explain how these changes will impact the lives of older adults. \"\"Perspectives\"\" boxes throughout the text highlight complex themes addressed by seasoned experts, and \"\"Critical Thinking\"\" topics encourage reflection. The new edition also describes evidence-based initiatives that highlight best practice approaches, and model projects designed to facilitate positive change. Along with a vast amount of new and revised information reinforced with plentiful case studies, the book features an international perspective to highlight the collaborative efforts driving many future aspects of aging network programming. Additionally, the book focuses on the unique issues of the LGBT population along with programs designed to address them. New to the Eight Edition: Expert analyses of complex themes Reflects major legislative and policy changes including CLA and the ACA International perspectives such as WHO's Age Friendly Cities Project Evidence-based initiatives and innovative model projects Expanded focus on issues unique to the LGBT population The influence of changing social determinants on aging networks Kinship care Disaster and emergency preparedness Increased risk and incidence of HIV/AIDS in elderly population Affects of economic downturn on the aging population Older driver safety and mobility Elder mistreatment Changes in employment and retirement patterns Expanding housing options Increasing complexity of health and mental health care for well and frail elders Sample workshop, classroom, and presentation projects New and expanded educator' ancillary packet

As millions of Americans age and exercise their preference for long-term care in the least restrictive environment, policymakers search for ways to increase community-based services. A new federal program-Money Follows the Person-is off to a slow but promising start. The program's \"downstream\" approach moves residents out of nursing homes and into community care settings. For example, states with mature nursing home transition programs have managed to relocate 25-35 percent of their nursing home residents to assisted living. Other programs successfully using \"upstream\" strategies to keep people out of nursing homes have not been widely copied. The challenge for policymakers is to maintain funding and flexibility so that nursing homes are no longer the default option for older adults and people with disabilities. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]