Gerontology 1110

Introduction to Gerontology
About The Course
The Outline will be downloadable from D2L site
Lecture dates with chapters are listed
Most classes will be lectures
Evaluation of course
Midterm- Oct 16 in class- 30% (multiple choice,
true/false and short answers)
Writing assignment Due Nov 11 end of class
Final Exam- TBA- 40% ( Multiple choice, short
answer, short essay)
About the Course
There will be no classes the week of Nov 3
to allow for individual work on the writing
assignment due November 11
You must complete all 3 Evaluation tenants
to complete course ( So come to school on
Oct 16, Nov 11 and attend final exam)
Please read my policy re late assignments
on the course outline. 5% deducted/day
About the Course
I will only be accepting an download of the
writing assignment on D2L A rubric for
marking will be posted on the D2L site.
I do all my own marking, so please be
patient about marks
I will strive to download all class power
points to the D2L site
About the Instructor
About the Instructor
30+years as a Gerontological Nurse (LTC,
Community, Alzheimer Society, PSW
Instructor, Clinical Instructor)
MPH obtained 2005 from LU
Trying to retire!!
I teach study skills for Native Nurses Entry
program
I have 1 husband, 3 grown sons, 1 Rotti
About the Instructor
Very involved with seniors
My maternal grandmother was my sole
guardian from age 5 onwards
This is my first time teaching this class in
ATAC 1001
I have taught larger groups but never on a
consistent basis
I dont mind well articulated questions, but I
am unsure of crowd control !!
Lets Begin Our Journey Together
What is Gerontology?
Greek Word
Geron- old man
Logos Reason or discourse
Discipline that looks at aging from 2 points
of view
1. Influence to Individuals
2. Influence to Society
Why Do You Need this Course?
Why not- we are all aging?
May be beneficial when looking after aging
parents or relatives
Good Job market. Canada has nearly 5
million people over 65 years of age ( The
amount of seniors 65+ increased by 14.1%
between 2006 and 2011.
Maybe you just have to take it!
Who Are Todays Elderly
What Are Some Of The Myths About
Aging
We all age the same way
We are all going to lose our minds
Older persons are grouchy and miserable
Your genes determine your destiny
You cant teach an old dog new tricks
Older adults dont contribute to society
Youll stop having sex
Theres nothing you can do about physical decline
Myth : We All Age The Same
No two adults will age the same way
Our genes, environment and lifestyle all
play big roles in how we age ( thats why
some of us could be like Sir Mick or Martha
Stewart- and others of us not so much!!)
Myth: We are All Going to Lose Our
Minds
There is nothing normal about severe memory
impairment and loss of cognitive functioning
These impairments occur as a result of
degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimers
Estimated 500,000 Canadians now have AD
Currently 1 in 11 Canadians over the age of 65
have AD
Numbers are expected to double in next 5 years
Myth: Old People Are All Grouchy
and Miserable
According to Arthur Stone, Joseph Schwartz and
Joan Broderick( Stony Brook University) and
Angus Deaton of Princeton Happiness is more of a
U bend.
In most countries happiness hits a low in middle
age and then bounces back
Older folks feel less pressure and more freedom,
they may have better coping skills for stress and
are beyond career and family stress.
But there are unhappy folks in all age cohorts
Some elderly do have depression and dementia
Myth: Your Genes Determine Your
Destiny
DNA doesnt tell whole story
Our Environment plays a large role in our
health and aging
Lifestyle choices also play a large part
Important factors are diet, exercise,
smoking habits, how we deal with stress
Myth: You Cant Teach An Old Dog
New Tricks
Consider Michelangelo- designed dome of St
Peters Basilica at 70
Warren Buffet- powerful business magnate
in his 80s
Myth: Older Adults Dont Contribute
to Society
Look at me Im Trying to retire!!
Many over 50 are turning into business
moguls or exploring new careers
Older adults have higher rates of
volunteerism
Older people are traveling more
Older persons are becoming more active
with online courses and education and
sometimes its free for them!
Myth: Youll Stop Having Sex
Aging doesnt change a persons interest or
capacity for sex
But. Ways of expressing sexual feelings
may change
Opportunities for sex may decline (loss of
partner, changes in health and living
arrangements)
Myth: Theres nothing You can Do
About Physical Decline
Lifestyle, Lifestyle, Lifestyle
Stay active- prevent immobility and disease
Quit smoking
Eat healthy
Drink in moderation
We can control our attitudes towards aging

Other Myths About Aging
Youll need less sleep
Older folks take more drugs
Many older persons are preoccupied with
death

Ageism
Social Attitude- Using Stereotypes
Often persons over 65 are treated differently are
less valued and thought to be less capable. Word
coined by Robert Butler in 1969
Ageism allows the younger generations to see older
people as different than
themselves; thus they subtly cease to identify with
their elders as human beings.
(as cited in Butler, 1975) (4)
Ageism
Older people are often stereotyped as weak,
frail, and disabled. However,
sometimes there are positive stereotypes of
aging, when people assume all
older people are wise or caring.
Ageism
Ageism can involve stereotypes and myths, or
outright disdain and dislike (e.g., "I
don't like working with older people").
In some cases, ageism means avoiding
contact with older people.
Ageism includes the wide range of attitudes
that prevent people from accurately assessing
and responding to social problems
Ageism
Ageism can be reflected in discriminatory
practices in housing, employment, and
services of all kinds.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission
describes "ageism" as
a tendency to structure society based on an
assumption that everyone is young,
thereby failing to respond appropriately to the
real needs of older persons.
Ageism
Ageism often intersects with and can be
reinforced by other kinds of
discriminations such as racism, sexism, and
"able-bodied-ism" (where preference
or greater social value is given to people who
do not have impairments or
disabling conditions).
Why Does Ageism Occur
Canada is an industrial society, and many times
peoples perceived personal value is tied to whether or not
they are in paid work.

Past contributions to society are over looked i.e. raising
children, work, volunteering and in paying taxes

Society has an exclusively economically focused
perspective, older adults may
become treated as disposable citizens, and they may be
perceived as some one who has
outlived their usefulness in adding to the economy.
Ageism
Ageism and discrimination are closely
linked. The doctor's office with the sign
"One appointment, one medical problem" is
discriminatory, because older adults
are more likely than other age groups to have
multiple health problems that need
addressing.
Ageism and Language
This use of language ignores the fact there are
wide differences among seniors
Sixty year olds are different in their life
experiences than 90 year olds . People aged 65-74
more closely resemble people under age 65 than
they do those aged 85 and over in terms of their
abilities or impairments.
People aged 85 and over, on the other hand, are
the older adults most likely to be characterized by
disabling conditions that we associate with old
age and aging.
Ageism and Language
Phrases like our seniors, the elderly, or
your loved one can be ageist: these terms
treat older people as they are someone's
property, possessions or objects, not as
individuals.
Ageism and Elder Abuse
The Ontario Human Rights Commission
notes that abuse of older adults occurs
in large part due to negative attitudes
towards older people or their economic or
social vulnerability.
Ageism and Elder Abuse
social policy that assumes all families are
willing, able and capable of providing care
to aging parents, even though in reality,
some of these relationships can be strained
from the outset and can become abusive.
Ageism is apparent when there are fewer
public resources available for abused seniors
compared to other groups.

How Do We Get Past Ageism?
Identify the myths and untrue information.
Go beyond the stereotypes of aging.
Learn more about aging
Learn more about ageism and discrimination.
Listen to seniors who have experienced ageism.
Monitor media and respond to ageist material.