Discussion 1

Study of the Family in Later Life

The need for high-quality applied research on the family in later life escalates as the population ages and we seek solutions to many related social issues. The main challenge for the human service and public service leader is to identify the problems and issues of the family in later life. One way to accomplish this is to use the multidisciplinary approach of gathering information, synthesizing and analyzing the information, making recommendations based on the information, and developing a plan of action based on the recommendations.

Using the topical essay on page 51 of your textbook, "Ironies of Crime: Silver-Haired Victims and Criminals," discuss the following:

How does this essay use the multidisciplinary approach? Was the information based on the four steps?

How does this essay tell us more about the family in later life?

What would your role be as a human service and public service leader when learning more about the family in later life?

Support your position with scholarly and professional research from the current literature.

Discussion 2

Riverbend City: Grief and Family Systems

Transcript

Demographic Perspectives

Research has illustrated that the increased size and proportion of our older population has an impact on the family in later life. In the United States, the number of elderly people is projected to exceed 70 million by the year 2030, at which time all of the baby boomers will have reached age 65; older individuals will represent about 20 percent of our population by then-one in every five people you see on the sidewalks and in the grocery store will be 65 or older! Of equal magnitude are the challenges for the global community to plan for their aging societies and to propose and implement culturally relevant solutions to the challenges of health care and economic security. The demographic frame of reference will continually direct our attention to the distinct yet diverse characteristics, situations, and needs of the family in later life; to the aging of our society; and to global aging.

As a human service and public service leader, you have increased your awareness of the abundance and utility of demographic information about the family in later life and aging in the United States and elsewhere. For this discussion, consider the demographic information that might be useful concerning the family in later life for one or more of the following audiences: your chosen profession, your local community, politicians or policy makers, or marketers or product developers. Using one of the sources cited in the assigned chapter readings for this unit and integrating your thoughts from the Intergenerational Timeline, the Riverbend City simulation, and course readings, complete the following:

Find three or four facts about the family in later life that would be useful for the audience(s) you have identified.

Identify the audience(s) and discuss the information and how you would share it.

Discuss the implications of the information for your chosen audience.

Support your position with scholarly and professional research from the current literature.