Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about life expectancies?

Accepted Answer

Women tend to live longer than men. This is consistently observed in studies and can be attributed to various biological and societal factors.

Question 2

The people listed below are all between the ages of 70 to 75. Who is most likely to be living in poverty?

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

In conversations, Brady tends to speak at great length about the aging population of Canada and how this age wave is like a tsunami that will soon sink health care services and social programs currently in place. What term can be used to characterize Brady's belief?

Accepted Answer

Brady's belief can be characterized as "apocalyptic demography" because he is using extreme and dramatic language (such as "tsunami" and "sink") to describe the potential impact of an aging population on Canada's health care and social programs. This term refers to the idea that demographic changes (such as aging populations) can have catastrophic consequences for societies, economies, and political systems.

Question 4

What is the main reason for the increasing proportion of older adults in the Canadian population?

Accepted Answer

The main reason for the increasing proportion of older adults in the Canadian population is declining fertility rates. As the birth rate decreases and life expectancy increases, the proportion of the population that is elderly continues to grow.

Question 5

What is a likely consequence of abolishing mandatory retirement?

Accepted Answer

Abolishing mandatory retirement will allow more people to continue working past age 65, leading to an increase in the number of older individuals in the workforce. This will likely result in more people being employed into their 70s and 80s, as they are given the option to continue working.

Question 6

What are some of the complex variables associated with health and aging?

Accepted Answer

Social class, gender, and ethnicity are all complex variables associated with health and aging. These factors can impact access to healthcare, nutrition, and opportunities for physical activity, as well as exposure to stressors and discrimination that can negatively impact health outcomes. While other factors like mentality, physical attributes, and attitude may also have an impact, social determinants of health like class, gender, and ethnicity have been shown to have significant and pervasive effects on health and aging.

Question 7

The federal government calls a meeting of all the provincial premiers to discuss the looming crisis in Canada's old-age security pension financial condition. It is underfunded for the wave of baby boomers who will soon begin to collect. What term best describes the framing of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The term "apocalyptic demography" refers to the impending crisis caused by the demographic shift of an aging population and its impact on government programs such as old-age security pensions. It suggests a sense of urgency and a potential catastrophic outcome if not addressed properly.

Question 8

Rosa was widowed last year at the age of 70. According to your text, which of the following would be an UNLIKELY occurrence in her future?

Accepted Answer

It is generally less common for older widowed women to remarry compared to men, due to factors like a smaller pool of eligible partners and societal norms.

Question 9

An elderly woman had an accident with her car. The woman's doctor met with her, at her daughter's insistence, and consequently the elderly woman's driving privileges were suspended. Later, the daughter learned that her mother's car was part of a recall for a mechanical defect that might have caused the accident. What term best describes the circumstances in this case?

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the scenario is an example of medicalization, which refers to the idea that medical professionals and institutions have increasingly come to define and address various social problems and behaviors as medical issues. In this case, the doctor met with the elderly woman and suspended her driving privileges based on a medical evaluation, but it was later discovered that the accident was likely caused by a mechanical defect rather than the woman's age or health status.

Question 10

Karl was widowed last year at the age of 70. According to the text, which of the following would be an UNLIKELY occurrence in his future?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Karl was widowed last year at the...

Question 11

Sam is great! I always thought he was a grouchy old man, but when I finally spoke to him I found out he had lots of interesting stories and a great sense of humour. Which social construction of the elderly did Sam help me overcome?

Accepted Answer

Sam helped the speaker overcome ageism, which is a social construction that involves stereotyping and discriminating against individuals based on their age. The speaker's initial perception of Sam as a grouchy old man is an example of ageism, which was overcome once they got to know him better.

Question 12

Gerald is 75 years old. His daughter visits him every day, cooking meals, cleaning, and visiting. Gerald sometimes gets upset with his daughter because she treats him like he is an invalid, unable to care for himself. Which point of view has Gerald's daughter taken toward her father?

Accepted Answer

Gerald's daughter is assuming that just because he is old, he is unable to care for himself. This is a form of ageism, which is discrimination or prejudice based on a person's age.

Question 13

At the age of 68, Evelyn is job hunting since her pension benefits barely cover her monthly expenses. At one job interview she is told that she should not be looking for work but should be home taking it easy, and enjoying her "golden years." What has Evelyn experienced?

Accepted Answer

Evelyn has experienced ageism, which refers to discrimination or prejudice against individuals on the basis of their age. The comment made to her suggests that she is too old to be working, which is a form of age-based discrimination.

Question 14

Which of the following is a criterion for admitting immigrants to Canada?

Accepted Answer

The Canadian immigration system prioritizes independent immigrants with education and professional skills who can contribute to the Canadian economy and society. Therefore, choice A is the correct criterion for admitting immigrants to Canada. Option B does not reflect the Canadian immigration system's goal of economic development. Option C is incorrect because having a relative in Canada can actually improve an applicant's chances of being admitted. Option D is also incorrect because Canada generally prioritizes immigrants with good health to avoid placing a burden on the healthcare system.

Question 15

An elderly woman lives next to a house that is rented to university students. When the students move out, a middle-aged man rents the house. A few days after he moves in, he says good morning to his senior neighbour. The elderly woman tells the man how nice it is to talk to a neighbour for once, since the previous tenants dismissed each of her attempts to have a conversation. What term best accounts for the elderly person's treatment by the younger tenants?

Accepted Answer

Ageism refers to discrimination or prejudice against an individual or group based on their age. In this case, the previous tenants dismissed the elderly woman's attempts to have a conversation, which can be seen as an act of ageism. Discrimination (A) and prejudice (C) are also related to ageism, but ageism specifically refers to discrimination against older people. Sexism (D) is discrimination based on someone's gender, which does not apply in this scenario.

Question 16

What is the major cause of death in old age?

Accepted Answer

Chronic degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease are the major causes of death in old age. This is because as we age, our bodies experience wear and tear, and our cells become more vulnerable to damage and mutations that can lead to these diseases. While lack of health insurance, poverty, and poor healthcare can certainly impact health outcomes, they do not necessarily cause chronic degenerative diseases.

Question 17

Two people suffer from insomnia. One joins a yoga class to relax as a treatment for insomnia, while the second person goes to a doctor and gets sleeping pills. Which of the following would describe the attitude of the second person?

Accepted Answer

The second person's choice to go to a doctor and get sleeping pills suggests that they view insomnia as a medical condition that requires pharmaceutical intervention. This indicates that insomnia has been medicalized, or treated as a medical problem rather than a natural part of the human experience.

Question 18

After 45 years of marriage, Alvin's wife dies. Which of the following will be a likely outcome for Alvin?

Accepted Answer

The answer of After 45 years of marriage, Alvin's wife...

Question 19

What is the differential in aging between women and men in Canada?

Accepted Answer

According to Statistics Canada, women tend to live longer than men and therefore there are more elderly women than there are men in Canada. This is due to various factors such as biological differences, lifestyle choices, and societal factors.

Question 20

Every Sunday, Ruth sorts her pills: one for her heart, one for arthritis, one for diabetes, and vitamins to prevent other health issues. Which phenomenon associated with old age is related to taking all these pills?

Accepted Answer

Ruth's need to take multiple pills to manage her health conditions is an example of medicalization, which refers to the process of defining and treating normal aspects of aging as medical problems requiring intervention.

Quiz 17: Health and Aging