National Institute of Aging. the Home Page of the U.S. Government Agency, Provides Information

Weblinks

National Institute of Aging. The home page of the U.S. government agency, provides information on the latest research on aging, links to additional sites, and information on funding for research on aging.

Section on Aging and the Life Course of the American Sociological Association. This research section is affiliated with the American Sociological Association that provides access to information on section activities, including news about the latest sociological research on aging and the life course.

Issues of age and ageism loom large in our present society. People are living longer in a society that worships youth, a society in which the media relentlessly categorizes age as an evil to be avoided, or at least to be hidden as long as possible. Cruelty jokes about older people are common, as are largely inaccurate stereotypes of oldsters as feeble of body, weak of mind, and totally out of touch with “what’s happening.” (Ironically, the centers of power continue to be controlled by people who are far from young.) Access the National Council on Aging site at Explore the site to understand the programs and frame of reference of the NCOA. From their home page, select “Press Room,” then, under “About NCOA,” select “Facts About the Aging.”

• Read about the size of the older population and summarize what you find.
• What is the gender ratio among the aging? How does it affect marriage patterns and the places that the aging tend to reside?

The United States is the only industrial nation that treats medical care as commodity and the only developed nation without a universal health care service. Around 40 million Americans have no health coverage. All of these facts raise sociological concerns. Access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site at Select “Health Topic, A to Z,” and then “Environmental Health.” From the list of sources, select, “Persian Gulf War Study.”

Go to the World Health Organization site at Explore the site to see what’s there. Briefly, summarize any one of the current press releases that interest you. Describe the overall concerns that appear to characterize this agency of the United Nations.