Using Intersectionality Theory as a Lens in a Perspectives on Aging Class

The presenter will discuss strategies for using intersectionality as a theoretical lens in her Perspectives on Aging class in order to support students to understand the relevance of aging studies—including health and social disparities in aging—for their contemporary lived lives, as well as for prior generations. With this relevance established, the class also examines the significance and justification for the development of policy, such as Social Security legislation, as well as the need for aging-related career areas. The presenter will discuss the application of key course resources, including research that looks at aging in historic contexts, as well as content highlighting the importance of Age Friendliness and the diversity of career areas to support Age Friendliness and more optimal aging experiences overall. Examining historic roots of aging-related experiences in social contexts creates an informative platform for understanding experiences of aging in society today.

The Positive Effect of Aging in the Case of Wine

This paper examines the positive aspects of aging. Some items, such as valuable and rare stamps, old coins, works of art, and antiques, become more expensive over time. More popular examples demonstrating the positive effect of aging that influences price are the aging of boutique wine and artisan cheese. The present paper examines the wine aging process that brings about quality improvement. This process also leads to determining (i) optimal aging periods for different wines; (ii) optimal grape juice inventory allocations and prices for different wines; (iii) optimal quantities of different kinds of wine; and (iv) the time durations of wine production and consumption from each vintage. These aspects are considered in an environment in which the demand increases over time due to the aging and rarity of the product.

GERONTOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SOMATIC DISEASES: OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH

This article is devoted to a review of theoretical and empirical data on the current state of gerontological researches in the field of somatic diseases. Presented the main models and theories of aging, revealed their basic idea and understanding of the causes and processes of aging. Considered the concept of gerotranscendence as a resource for optimal aging. Gerotranscendence examines the aging process from both biological and psychological points of view (an integrated approach). It is noted that there are no studies of optimal aging and gerotranscendence under conditions of somatic disease (only conditionally healthy respondents were studied). Three groups of somatic diseases are listed, which, according to UN statistics, are the main causes of mortality in the world (malignant neoplasms, stroke, heart disease). Presented the results of the empirical studies about the effect of somatic diseases on the psychological characteristics of elderly people (emotions, psychological well-being, attitudes towards illness, etc.). In order to more fully and comprehensively study the aging process, to understand the mechanisms of overcoming the disease, which will help to form the optimal level of psychological well-being of the elderly and, therefore, optimal aging, it is relevant to study the phenomenon of gerotranscendence in elderly people in conditions of severe somatic or lifethreatening disease.

Towards a Greater Contextualization of Music and the Arts in Aging and Cognitive Disorders

There is an increasing prominence of arts and cultural interventions related to aging and cognitive disorders in the scholarly literature and at gerontological conferences. However, the mechanisms of the salience and relevance of aesthetics, culture and leisure in the lives of older people remains unclear. One aspect which has emerged is that of aesthetic deprivation and its consequences for well-being. This symposium aims to provide perspectives from a range of researchers involved in programs of research and implementation to try to contextualize and better understand the perspectives of older people, arts practitioners and therapists the place and context of arts, culture and leisure in optimal aging.

When I’m 75: College Students’ Self Perceptions of the Challenges of Aging

Despite robust literature on people’s attitudes toward aging, far less is known about attitudes toward one’s own aging, especially among college students. We examined college students’ self-perceptions of the challenges of aging using essays from a “When I’m 75” assignment implemented at the beginning and end of the semester in an introductory gerontology course. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze 24 students’ perceptions of their own aging at age 75. The superordinate theme, challenges of aging, was identified along with five subordinate themes: deterioration, age-related impairments, mental health, loneliness and loss, and experiencing ageism. Findings suggest that after completing the course, students both demonstrated an understanding of realistic age-related changes and had (contradictory) stereotypical ideas of what it would be like to be 75. Findings have implications for research that continues to evaluate self-perceptions and contributes to the development of pedagogical strategies and tools that promote students’ optimal aging.