Associate Program Material Chasity Halfhill

Aging and Disability Worksheet

Part I

Identify 2 or 3 issues faced by the aging population.

1. Elderly Abuse
2. Ageism
3. Loss of a loved one

Answer the following questions in 100 to 200 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use.

 What is ageism? How does ageism influence the presence of diversity in society? Ageism is where a group of old aged people are shown prejudice and discriminated against due to being old, usually people over 40 years of age. In today’s society older aged individuals are considered to be useless, by the younger aged individuals. The younger individuals see the older individuals as people who can not do things in a timely manner and con not compete with the younger individuals any longer. This is by no means fair seeing as how people are living longer now a days and even the older aged individuals can still out do the younger aged individuals.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ageism)

 What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? How does the ADA address issues for the aging population? ADA or the Americans with Disabilities Act is a comprehensive federal civil rights statue protecting people with disabilities and their rights. The ADA is equal opportunity, and it prohibits discrimination. They make sure that the elderly get fair treatment whether it be trying to get a job, already have a job by keeping them from being fired for their age. In other words it is like a protection plan for the ones that are in their 40’s or older to keep them from being discriminated against for just their age.
(http://www.accessiblesociety.org/)

 What is being done to address the issues you identified? The employment act and policies made it so that no matter the age, everyone is to be treated fairly. Many changes are made after the employment act and policies went into affect. Here where I live, I noticed that the hospitals and other businesses were offering a high amount of early retirement funds to those of a certain age. The only thing with that was after the individuals of a certain age accepted the early retirement fund, the hospitals and businesses hired individuals younger to the older individuals places.

 Is the number of aging population expected to rise in numbers or decrease? According to the aging statistics of Administration on Aging (AOA) individuals of the 65 and older were numbered at 39.6 million in the year 2009. Which is the latest available date to show up made 12.9 percent of the United States population. By the year 2030 it is estimated to raise to 72.1 million older aged people. More than two times the number. Individuals age 65 and older made up 12.4 percent population in 2000 and was expected to grow 19 percent by 2030. (http://www.aoa.acl.gov) I do not understand the percentages and stuff like that when it comes to this stuff but to me I would say that there will continue to rise as the years continue to pass seeing as how people live longer now a days.

 What types of legislation may or may not be affected by the aging population? One legislation that comes to mind that could possibly or possibly not be affected by the aging population would be the Affordable Care Act of 2010. The aging population could affect the financial markets if they dip into their assets during the time they work and spend during their retirements. Demand could rise for certain things such as corporate stocks, the stocks could abate after retirement and could cause problems. (Tonihansberry, 2012)

 How does poverty affect the aging population? Poverty affects the health of the older aged individuals more so than on the younger aged individuals. Most are unable to afford health care let alone their medicines. Then there is not being able to afford dental and eye exams thus causing problems on their social lives. The solution to those problems for them is they isolate or cut