Deck 12: Is 70 the New 40 Population and Aging

Question 1

While other countries show deference and respect to older family members, often seeing their care as a form of honorable role reversal as a parent gets older, sometimes referred to as _____, in the U.S., there seems to be greater willingness to require outside providers to offer that care.

A) Family obligation
B) Elderly commitment
C) Filial piety
D) Aging valorization

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What are some of the persistent social problems for the elderly in the U.S.?

A) Health care, poverty, and isolation
B) Boredom, technology, political intolerance
C) Cultural irrelevance, technology, health care
D) Isolation, political intolerance, cultural irrelevance

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The generally accepted age in the U.S. when one is considered elderly

A) 55.
B) 50.
C) 65.
D) 70.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

As of 2019, how big is the US elderly population?

A) 52.4 million elderly people, or 32% of US population
B) 52.4 million elderly people, or 16% of US population
C) 104.8 million elderly people, or 32% of US population
D) 104.8 million elderly people, or 16% of US population

Question 5

Between 1960 and 2016, US life expectancy

A) decreased from 78.9 years to 69.7 years.
B) decreased from 82.1 years to 78.9 years.
C) increased from 58.7 years to 71.4 years.
D) increased from 69.7 years to 78.9 years.

Question 6

What percentage of the US elderly are married?

A) 70%
B) 50%
C) 30%
D) 10%

Question 7

Baby Boomer are known for each of the following except

A) some of the most dramatic changes in American history including the Civil Rights Movement.
B) for their emphasis on narcissism and individual pleasure.
C) their lack of optimism for the future and an absence of trust in traditional values.
D) focusing on their careers and leisure activities rather than marrying young and starting families.

Question 8

While elderly income can come from pensions, investments, or savings, the largest source for most people comes from

A) Social Security.
B) Medicare.
C) Other family.
D) Employment.

Question 9

Most workers do not receive retirement pensions anymore, but instead may be offered a 401k plan. What is this?

A) A guaranteed savings plan set up for an employee by the employer that the employee can access upon retirement. The employer pays into the fund over each pay period.
B) Health care insurance coverage.
C) A contract for guaranteed employment over a long period of time, keeping a worker in a job (unpaid) even if the employee experiences long periods away from work.
D) The employer contributes to the fund based on matching from the employee's own contributions deducted from the paycheck. The employee is then responsible for managing the plan.

Question 10

The number of Americans over age 55 is expected to represent nearly what percent of the overall labor force by 2026?

A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 33%
D) 50%

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an advantage to having elderly workers remaining in the workforce?

A) More experience, wisdom
B) Fewer health-related complications
C) Mentorship of younger co-workers
D) Improved quality of life and psychological functioning

Question 12

How does ageism show up in the labor force against elderly workers?

A) If they are paid higher salaries, older workers might be seen as too costly compared to workers who may be willing to work for less pay.
B) Ageism typically favors elderly workers such that younger workers are discriminated against for their lack of experience.
C) If they do not have the same competence and skill level, older workers are often fired due to low performance.
D) By being denied promotion opportunities or being chosen for layoffs due to age, or by being blocked from new training in favor of younger workers.

Question 13

How much do financial experts suggest that people should have saved by age 55 if they are planning to retire at age 65?

A) At least $500,000
B) 7 times their current working salary
C) Typically they can afford to wait until age 55 to start saving
D) Enough to cover 3 years of expenses

Question 14

What is the biggest financial challenge for today's older Americans?

A) Health care
B) Student loan debt
C) Credit card and loan debt
D) Housing

Question 15

Compared to other age groups, elderly victims have _____ rates of actual victimization.

A) Slightly higher
B) Very similar
C) The highest
D) The lowest

Question 16

Which type of crime presents the greatest threat to those age 65 or older?

A) Elder abuse
B) Violent crime
C) Property crime
D) Intimate partner violence

Question 17

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, for every case of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect reported to authorities, an estimated ______ more go unreported.

A) 2
B) 5
C) 10
D) 15

Question 18

Spouses were found to account for just 11% of the offenders of elder abuse in nursing homes. The largest group of perpetrators were

A) female family members.
B) nursing home staff.
C) adult male children.
D) other residents of the facility.

Question 19

Operationalization of age in data on elder offenders varies across crime data sources. This means

A) the definition of "elderly" is fixed but some agencies refuse to collect this information.
B) the starting age of "elderly" may differ such that reports do not match up to give a full picture.
C) the public may not have access to demographic information about offenders such as age.
D) some databases focus solely on adults ages 18-64, so any summary of crime among elderly offenders would be missing.

Question 20

Which group is more likely are more likely to describe themselves as being in fair or poor health (as opposed to good health)?

A) Older Whites
B) Older Asian Americans
C) Older African Americans
D) Older Hispanic Americans

Question 21

What percentage of people over age 65 in the U.S. live in long-term care facilities?

A) 4%
B) 14%
C) 34%
D) 54%

Question 22

The average annual cost of nursing home/long-term care is _____ while that for assisted living is _____

A) $40,000 ; $75,000.
B) $65,000 ; $100,000.
C) $100,000 ; $65,000.
D) $75,000 ; $40,000.

Question 23

The most likely living situation in the U.S. is that the elderly

A) live with family other than spouses.
B) are in assisted living facilities.
C) reside in nursing homes.
D) age in place (live in own home).

Question 24

What is dementia?

A) A viral infection causing mental fogginess and memory issues that is common among the elderly due to weakened immune systems.
B) A cumulative psychological condition stemming from years of PTSD and/or high emotional stress.
C) A progressive fatal neurological condition whose symptoms over time include loss of language, inability to identify objects or people, loss of some motor skills, and inability to carry out complex tasks.
D) A typical forgetfulness and short-term memory recall failure that commonly occurs with aging.

Question 25

Place the Kübler-Ross five-stage process of acknowledging death and grief in order from first to last stage.

A) Denial, anger, bargaining, negotiation, acceptance
B) Shock, disbelief, bargaining, anger, acceptance
C) Anger, shock, negotiation, acceptance, moving on
D) Denial, shock, anger, acceptance, moving on

Question 26

In dealing with death and dying, what do different models or approaches have in common?

A) They all center religious practice and one's faith in the process of approaching death.
B) They all focus on whatever control the dying person can have in terms of their care, expectations, and decisions in the dying process.
C) They all take into account a goal of incorporating distractions and activities to keep the dying person occupied for as long as possible.
D) They emphasize the role of caregivers, spouses, and children in making important decisions for the patient such as living wills or advance directives.

Question 27

Even if one is financially secure in older ages, it is likely to experience

A) dementia.
B) heavy depression and suicidal thoughts.
C) at least one bankruptcy over the course of one's adult life.
D) the loss of spouses, partners, and loved ones and/or social isolation from family and friends.

Question 28

What does the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale measure?

A) Cardiac stress levels at different levels of exertion.
B) Socioeconomic variations in accumulated stress over the life course.
C) How and in what way stressful life events influence or affect one's health.
D) How different racial/ethnic and gender groups handle stress over the life course.

Question 29

Who comprises the vast majority of widowed people in the U.S.?

A) Elderly men
B) Elderly women
C) All elderly (equal for men and women)
D) All middle-aged people 40-55 (equal for men and women)

Question 30

The notion that people gradually distance themselves from previous positions in society and transition to retirement and/or new responsibilities is referred to as

A) transitional retirement.
B) social isolation.
C) disengagement theory.
D) activity theory.

Question 31

The notion that people who are more active tend to report higher levels of life satisfaction is referred to as

A) age-is-just-a-number theory.
B) momentum theory.
C) engagement theory.
D) activity theory.

Question 32

The compounded negative impacts of both gender inequality and ageism for women is referred to as

A) double marginality.
B) unequal standardism.
C) anti-aging feminism.
D) the 'aging gracefully' factor.

Question 33

Functionalists want to maintain social equilibrium and ensure that people fulfil the roles necessary for society to thrive. Looking at the aging population, this means for functionalists that

A) there needs to be a process whereby people whose age makes them unable to perform those roles they were formerly useful for are replaced by people who can take over the work.
B) it is important to help older adults transition into retirement, rest, and relaxation after having contributed so much to society.
C) more respect and honor must be recognized for the elderly because older people have fulfilled the most service for society in the past.
D) elderly populations need to be protected from discrimination and ageism even if they are not contributing as much to society in their current capacity as younger members of society.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT considered to be one of the drawbacks to the retirement of older workers, transition to Social Security income, and replacement with new workers?

A) Some people have difficulty giving up their roles and are still fulfilled by their work.
B) The wisdom and skills of older workers may not be adequately matched by younger workers.
C) People who retire tend to die at earlier ages than those who remain working the same jobs in their older years
D) Social Security and Medicare are costly programs that are difficult to sustain.

Question 35

From a conflict theory perspective, getting older, particularly in a capitalistic society, generally means the person transitions into a lower social class. Conflict theorists emphasize this is especially problematic for

A) children of retired workers who are hoping to be left a large inheritance.
B) workers in the capitalist and upper classes who are not psychologically prepared to drop any of their status in retirement.
C) people who worked hard to save enough money for retirement only to see a big chunk of those funds subsidizing social programs like Medicare and Social Security for other older Americans.
D) workers at the lower end of the class ladder who have not had access to enough income to save money for retirement.

Question 36

Which theory offers keen insight into how gender factors into the discussion and experience of aging in the U.S.?

A) Queer theory
B) Conflict theory
C) Feminist theory
D) Symbolic Interactionism

Question 37

What accounts for the double marginality of women who are aging?

A) The reality of being physically more vulnerable and with a shorter life span than men.
B) The beauty standards and appearance norms that require women to maintain a more youthful appearance as they age than for men.
C) Being further marginalized by race and/or sexual orientation.
D) The state of living in a patriarchal society where men have power and women are subordinated.

Question 38

A phrase like "70 is the new 50" would be of interest to which sociological theorist examining aging?

A) Queer theory
B) Conflict theory
C) Feminist theory
D) Symbolic Interactionism

Question 39

Symbolic interactionists who study aging focus on 2 main areas.

A) Role theory and activity theory
B) Disengagement theory and double marginality
C) Gender and class inequality
D) Income and family status

Question 40

What are the 2 greatest challenges for the elderly in the U.S., aside from medical concerns?

A) Divorce and grandparenting
B) Crime victimization and fraud
C) Economic vulnerability and social isolation
D) Stigma and aging anxiety

Question 41

Meals on Wheels addresses 2 major challenges faced by the elderly.

A) Elder abuse and nutrition
B) Diabetes and physical activity
C) Food insecurity and social isolation
D) Stigma and crime victimization

Question 42

What were the origins of the Meals on Wheels program?

A) The great hunger needs during the Great Depression inspired local leaders to deliver food to peoples' homes and spare families from long food lines.
B) A women's volunteer program in England during WWII delivered home-cooked meals to service personnel and civilians whose homes had been destroyed by bombs.
C) Civil War practices of food and mail delivery by wagon and/or on horseback by the Union army.
D) The Civil Rights Movement whereby women's participation in the labor force increased and communities sought new ways to provide cooked meals to families.

Question 43

In 2016, how many people were served by Meals on Wheels?

A) 2.4 million
B) 24 million
C) 12.4 million
D) 240,000

Question 44

What law provided rationale and funding for nutrition services and other programs to help the elderly were funded by what law?

A) Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967
B) Older Americans Act of 1965
C) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of 1996
D) Social Security Act of 1965

Question 45

Meals on Wheels is dependent upon volunteers to deliver meals, and the absence of a sufficient number of people willing to deliver meals means that less than ______ of eligible older Americans receive meals; and, on average, they receive less than three meals per week.

A) 5%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 70%

Question 46

According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, exercise programs designed for the elderly have been shown to be effective in

A) older Americans between ages 55 and 65 but not in those over age 65.
B) women but not men, generally.
C) significant weight loss and better blood sugar control for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
D) reducing the number of falls and injuries, and slowing the onset of problems like osteoarthritis.

Question 47

Research shows that ______ is the most common and disabling of all chronic conditions of older adults. Fit and Strong is an evidence-based physical activity program that targets adults age 60 and above with this condition.

A) diabetes
B) high blood pressure
C) Alzheimer's
D) osteoarthritis

Question 48

Long-term programs are designed to sustain the goals achieved by short-term intervention programs, by keeping people connected and focused on improving their overall health. One example is

A) Fit and Strong.
B) Active for Life.
C) A Matter of Balance.
D) YOLO.