215 Outcome: Challenges Facing the Elderly
Describe and give examples of challenges facing the elderly
As people enter old age, they face challenges such as ageism, poverty, or abuse. Ageism, which involves stereotyping and discrimination against the elderly, leads to misconceptions about their abilities. Although elderly poverty has been improving for decades, many older people may be detrimentally affected by the 2008 recession. Some elderly people grow physically frail and, therefore, dependent on caregivers, which increases their risk of elder abuse.
What you’ll learn to do:
- Understand the historical and current trends of poverty among elderly populations
- Recognize ageist thinking and ageist attitudes in individuals and institutions
- Learn about elderly individuals’ risks of being mistreated and abused
Learning Activities
The learning activities for this section include:
- Reading: Poverty
- Reading: Ageism and Abuse
- Self-Check: Challenges Facing the Elderly
