The Age of Aging

Ageing has become a high priority issue on the agenda of legislators, public forums, and human service agencies. Social scientists are acknowledging that the American society is ageing - that is, older persons live longer and are increasing in numbers relative to the rest of the population. In "The Age of Aging", Abraham Monk has collected some of the most engaging and useful essays on ageing ever to have appeared in one volume. This book contributes to a better understanding of the processes of ageing and their impact on society as a whole. It goes beyond a mere descriptive account of the aged population, for it probes the images held about them and compares these views with their actual life styles, developmental transitions and crises. It also examines those experiences in light of social gerontological theories.Among the contributors, all of whom are leading researchers in the field of gerontology, are: Donald O Cowgill, Irving Roscow, Beverly A Yawney and Darrell L Slover, Dan Rubenstein, Helena Lopata, Marjorie H Cantor, and Martin B Sussman. This is not a single discipline book. It is not psychology, sociology, or social work, in the strict sense, but a combination of all. Thus, it is geared to a wide professional and educated laymen audience. Students in the social sciences and human service careers, and anyone seeking a better understanding about issues and concerns of old age will find this anthology a most invaluable and useful sourcebook.