Week 14 DB Families Later in Life Chapter 16

Select an option from the list below:

Option 1:  Would you undergo medical treatments to increase your life span to 120 years? Why or why not?

“Living a long life depends on a number of variables: About 50 percent is based on lifestyle; 25 percent on genes; and 25 percent on other factors, especially social class (Schneider, 2002; Dato et al., 2017). We can’t change our genes or often our social class, but we can live longer and better by changing our lifestyles.” (Benokraitis & Buehler, 2018, p. 422)

Option 2:  How does the concept of ageism impact marriages and families today? Provide at least two examples.

“A common stereotype is that older people are stuck in the past and have outdated interests and skills. In fact, 67 percent of Americans age 65 and older use the Internet, and 42 percent own a smartphone. As age increases, however, technology adoption decreases. For example, almost half of people under the age of 75 use social networking sites compared with only 20 percent who are 75 and older. A major reason for not being online is the cost of computers and monthly fees for Internet connections rather than disinterest or fear of modern technologies (Anderson and Perrin, 2017).” (Benokraitis & Buehler, 2018, p. 425)

Option 3:   How have the family roles changed for the elders in your family? How should families care for their elders?

“As people age, their family roles change. Retirement is a major transition for most older adults, but whether or not they reenter the labor force depends on many factors, especially economic security.” (Benokraitis & Buehler, 2018, p. 426)

Benokraitis, N. V., & Buehler, C. (2018). Marriages and Families (9th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780134736143