SOC 304 (Ashford) Complete Class
WEEK 1
DQ 1:
- Discuss the differences between activity theory and disengagement theory.
- Compare and contrast one of the other theories mentioned in the chapter (i.e., modernization, exchange theory, subcultural theory of aging, etc.) to activity theory and disengagement theory.
- Discuss how the theory that you selected differs from the activity and disengagement theories of aging.
- Contact a person who would fall into one of the categories of old age (i.e., young old, middle old, or oldest old) and interview them about how their lives have changed since they reached the milestone of being an older adult. In your post, include a brief synopsis of what you learned with regard to that person’s activities, illnesses, social support networks, and employment situation. Based upon your informed opinion, which theory (or theories) provides the best theoretical framework for understanding the process of aging for the person that you interviewed? Be sure to support your answer.
DQ 2: For this discussion, you will need to read Chapters 1 and 2 in your textbook. In addition, you will need to review pages 10 through 13 of Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences and pages 62 and 63 of Aging, Society, and the Life Course.
As your textbook notes, historical events can have different impacts depending upon one’s age cohort. Historical events like the Great Depression, World Wars, and pandemics have had a marked impact on the life course of individuals. How have the social and demographic changes of the last century led to the increased growth and aging of the population? Be sure to discuss this in terms of the demographic transition theory.
How do you expect the current worldwide economic downturn that was discussed in Chapter 2 of your textbook to impact those living in this era? Be sure to explain how this event is expected to influence the life course of the young old, the middle old, and the oldest old.
Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
WEEK 2
DQ 1: After reading about the physical impairments related to age in Chapter 4 of the textbook and watching “
Aging,” visit “
Sociology of Aging: Age Related Impairments: A Simulation Exercise” and select at least two of the impairments that are listed in the exercise. After selecting the impairments that you will be simulating, use the household items that are listed and proceed with carrying out your normal tasks around your home. Then, describe which impairments you simulated and what you experienced. Answer the following questions:
- What was it like to complete your tasks with the selected impairments?
- What were the difficulties that you encountered while completing your tasks? Were any of those difficulties unexpected?
- Have your thoughts or attitudes about older adults who have the impairments that you selected changed as a result of this exercise? Why or why not?
- After having reviewed the required resources for this discussion, which of the major biological theories on aging do you think best explains the impairments that you simulated? Be sure to support your answer.
Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
| DQ 2: Self-Concept in Old Age |
In Chapter 5 of your textbook, you learned about the self-concept, which is how an individual thinks of herself or himself. Although the self-concept is something that is established early in life, it changes as one grows older through life experiences. After reading the chapter, address the following :
- Discuss the experiences that an individual may have in her or his later years that may alter that person’s self-concept. Be sure to discuss experiences that would both positively and negatively impact her or his self-esteem.
- Discuss how your own self-concept may change as your physical capabilities are decreased. Be sure to explain what positive and negative aspects you expect to encounter as part of your aging experience.
Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
Week 2 Assignment: The Aging Connection
How to Begin: Watch the videos below:
Task: Write a paper that identifies at least three sociological concepts that are alluded to in the …………..
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WEEK 3
DQ 1: Chapter 7 in your textbook discusses the unique issues that are experienced by older gay men and lesbians in society. Review that chapter and watch “
Isn’t Aging the Same for Everybody?” to prepare for this discussion. In addition, review the information related to resources for the aging found at the “
LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse” for this discussion. Then, consider what the issues facing older gay men and lesbians are. Specifically, discuss the legal issues that are related to public policies, end-of-life decisions, housing, and health care. Compare and contrast the experiences of older gays and lesbians with those of older heterosexuals.
Please note that this discussion is not about whether you personally support homosexuality. You should focus your discussion on what issues are experienced by this group and how those experiences differ from those of older heterosexuals.
In “Demography of Aging in China and the United States and the Economic Well-Being of Their Older Populations,” you are introduced to the roles of the family and government in the East as well as in the West.
Describe the differences and similarities you learned about in terms of the views on social responsibility when caring for a rapidly increasing older population. What are the reasons for these differences between the treatment of the aged in the West as compared to those in the East? Are those reasons more cultural or practical? Explain your answer.
When looking at the role of family as a support system for the aging in later life, is there a social responsibility in the United States for family members to absorb some of the needs of their aging family members? Why or why not?
Week 3 Assignment: Outline & Annotated Bibliography
How to Begin: Review the Final Research Paper instructions in Week Five. To prepare for your Final Research Paper, complete the following assignment and submit it to your instructor for feedback.
Task: Provide a full-sentence outline for your Final Research Paper. Be sure to include your thesis……………
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WEEK 4
DQ 1: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits discrimination against individuals who are aged 40 and older. This law acknowledges that age discrimination is a violation of an individual’s civil rights. Aging is inevitable and ADEA addresses the needs of older individuals who need access to opportunities for gainful employment. Consider what this law does and what aspects of employment it covers.
After reading Chapters 8 and 9 in your textbook and reviewing the information available on the “
Age Discrimination Fact Sheet” to prepare for this discussion, please address each of the following:
- Describe what ADEA means in terms of what employers can and cannot do when interviewing, hiring, promoting, and firing older employees. How does this assist older employees? How does this impact younger workers?
- In your informed opinion, was ADEA a logical policy response to age discrimination? Explain your answer.
- Are there still ways that age discrimination can occur despite the existence of ADEA? Elaborate upon your response.
- Explain how ADEA impacts you life (if you are aged 40 and older) or explain how you expect ADEA to impact your life (if you are less than 40 years of age).
- Has there been a change in the way that older Americans are perceived following the passage of ADEA? If not, why do you believe this is? If so, what are some examples of the changes in perceptions of older Americans?
DQ 2: A growing number of American employees are having to care for their elderly parents. Caregiving may include taking extended periods of time off from work. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 addresses this need by providing some employees with up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave per year without fear of losing their jobs.
After reviewing the required resources for this discussion, please address each of the following questions:
- How has the passage of FMLA impacted the older population in the United States?
- How has FMLA reduced the challenges and stress associate with caregiving?
- How has FMLA not relieved the stress of caregiving?
- How has FMLA impacted your life?
- How might the U.S. government encourage more support for the caregivers of the elderly?
Week 4 Assignment: Images of Aging
How to Begin: For this assignment, you will analyze images of aging that surround us in popular culture. This can include images about aging seen in ads, programs, magazines, birthday cards, etc.
Task: You will determine the message about aging that comes from these images. Using your images and readings (e.g., course text, supplemental materials provided by your …………………
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WEEK 5
DQ 1: According to Chapter 10 in your textbook, the process of dying has become increasingly bureaucratized in that hospitals and long-term care facilities have made the handling of death a routine. In addition, the preparation of the deceased’s body for burial has also been allotted to funeral directors rather than the family of the deceased.
After reading Chapter 10 in your textbook in preparation for this discussion, please address the following:
- Discuss how death has been bureaucratized and what that means in terms of the experience of dying for the elderly and their families.
- What are the sociological factors that have led to this bureaucratization of death?
- How has this bureaucratization impacted society?
DQ 2: As Chapter 11 in your textbook notes, the costs for health care have risen dramatically and are expected to continue to rise. While Medicare is a public insurance program that provides coverage to almost everyone who is 65 and older, it only covers a portion of health care expenses. In fact, the authors of your textbook note that “if current trends continue, by 2030 half of those aged 65 and older will spend more than 25% of their income on medical bills and insurance premiums” (Markson & Stein, 2012).
- Compare and contrast the services provided to older individuals under Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Compare and contrast the health care services provided under Medicare versus Medicaid. Be sure to address how each program is funded, what they cover, who qualifies for them, and what role each plays in paying for health care of the elderly population.
- Discuss the current funding for Medicare and why there is debate regarding the program.
- What changes (if any) do you think that there will be in the Medicare program over the next 20 years?
- Do you believe that the eligibility requirements should be changed in order to receive the health services provided by Medicare? Why or why not?
Week 5 Final Research Paper
How to Begin: This week you will incorporate feedback from the Week Three Assignment to complete the Final Research Paper. You will have formed your own conclusions about these issues, based on factual information and evidence from scholarly sources. At this point, you have examined the social aspects of aging. In addition, you have assessed the impact of aging on society in the areas of economics, discrimination, and political influence, and assessed the role of demographics on aging in terms of health, income, employment, and retirement. Moreover, you have had the opportunity to examine the numerous policies that are in existence for the purpose of assisting the aged in our society.
Task: The Final Research Paper will focus on the impact of a growing aging population in the United States and the aging population in general. This impact could be defined in terms of
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