Term
| Gerontology (gerontologist) |
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Definition
the scientific study of the biological, psychological, and social
aspects of aging |
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Term
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Definition
subfield of gerontology; concerned primarily with social aspects of
aging, including family relationships, economics, health and ability, retirement, grief, and
long-term care; draw knowledge from interdisciplinary fields, including the social sciences,
social work and public affairs fields, and the natural sciences |
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Term
| geriatrics (geriatrician) |
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Definition
the branch of medicine, often referred to as geriatric medicine, dealing
with the care of those of older age; generally refers to the care of individuals aged 70 years and
older |
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Term
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Definition
while chronological age can be a clear marker of one’s age at a given point in
time, it is largely an arbitrary marker of old age; based on life expectancy in a given region at a
given point in time and reflects population characteristics and sociocultural values |
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Term
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Definition
| often change over time and are sometimes used to designate old age |
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Term
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Definition
| determination of age based on how one looks and what they are able to do |
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Term
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Definition
| people who are healthy and active |
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Term
| somewhat impaired elderly |
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Definition
those in a transitional stage; may need some assistance with
daily tasks |
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Term
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Definition
show some mental or physical deterioration and depend on others for carrying
out their activities of daily living |
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Term
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Definition
how we classify our own age based on our chronology and functional
limitations; those of low socioeconomic classes tend to identify old age and functional
deterioration as beginning at a younger age than those of higher socioeconomic classes |
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Term
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Definition
generally thought to include freedom from disease and disability, an intact
mental capacity, and an active engagement with life |
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Term
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Definition
the systematic prejudice, stereotyping, and/or discrimination on the basis of age; of all
forms of stratification, ageism is the most widespread and the least likely to be challenged |
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Term
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Definition
occurs when discrimination based on age is viewed as an
accepted, established, and even fair way of doing things, but on close analysis, such
practices put a certain age group at a disadvantage relative to those in other age groups |
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Term
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Definition
general term for the decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life;
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia; many dementias are progressive and
some are fatal |
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Term
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Definition
memory, communication and language, ability to focus and pay attention,
reasoning and judgment, visual perception |
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Term
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Definition
| age, genetics, low physical activity, dietary factors, cardiovascular risk |
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Term
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Definition
no single concrete mode of prevention; regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet,
good cardiovascular health, brain health, and social activity may play a role |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior; symptoms develop slowly over time and worsen, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks; the most common form of dementia (~60-80% of all cases); Alzheimer’s disease is progressive and fatal with no current cure; characterized in the public health field by the 10 Warning Signs (http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp) |
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Term
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Definition
a social insurance program funded by payroll taxes; provides income for the
majority of retirees, a large number of individuals who continue to work past the common age of
retirement, and spouses of a retired workers; intended to be supplemental and not one’s sole
source of income in older age |
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Term
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Definition
a health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as some disabled
individuals of a younger age |
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Term
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Definition
a health insurance program for those with very low income; eligibility and some aspects
of coverage vary according to geographic location |
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Term
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI) |
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Definition
primary cash benefit for those who are either disabled or
of older age and whom are poor; disproportionately received by older women and minority elderly |
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Term
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Definition
provide temporary or long-term, non-medical residential care services to
adults who are substantially unable to live independently; resident dependence may be the result
of physical or other limitations associated with age, physical or mental disabilities or other factors;
residents of adult homes, enriched housing, and assisted living programs are provided with
personal care and services on a long-term basis; most residents of adult care facilities are in need
of supervision and personal care services necessary to enable the resident to maintain good
personal health and hygiene, to carry out the basic activities of daily living, and to participate in
the ongoing activities of the facility; personal care includes direction and assistance with grooming
(including care of hair and ordinary care of nails, teeth and mouth), dressing, bathing, walking and
ordinary movement from bed to chair or wheelchair, eating, and assisting with self-administration
of medications; however, residents of adult care facilities must not require the continual medical
or nursing services provided in acute care hospitals, in-patient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing
homes or health related facilities, since adult care facilities are not licensed to provide any nursing
or medical care |
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