From Baby

Boomers to
Geriatrics
Project 2
Jennifer Chan

Baby Boomers
O Baby

boomers, or
individuals born postWWII between 1946 and
1964, are now
approaching their 70s and
80s.
O This aging and changing
population demands a
certain kind of attention
and care. One institution
that has developed to meet
this need is the Davis
School of Gerontology at
USC.

USC Davis School of

Gerontology

O The Davis School of Gerontology is

interested both in educating young

people to becoming gerontologists,
but also in educating families to help
provide the best support for their
aging loved ones

What is geriatrics?
O The term

geriatrics was
coined by Ignatz Leo
Nascher, who
published the first
modern book on
geriatrics in 1914
describing the
diseases and
treatments of old
age.

A functionalist says.

Functionalist View
O Geriatrics serves a particular

function in society
O Elderly people hold wisdom and
experience that they must pass
down to younger generations
O Older people help maintain family
stability and play an integral role in
passing on traditions within a family
unit
O Generally, the more aged within a
population hold more respect

A conflict theorist
says

Conflict Theorist View

O Problems exist in geriatrics such as

ageism and elder abuse point to the

inequality and differences present in
societies with elderly people
O Such conflict allows the perpetration
of power among the middle-aged
people

O Younger people in society often view

the elderly population with disdain.

They may view them as needy,
childish, and individuals who take
up resources.

Ageism
O Ageism is the

discrimination
against individuals
because of their age
O Applied not only to
employment, but
also general
attitudes of hate
against old people
(similar to sexism,
racism, etc.)

Elder Abuse
O Elder abuse is an

intentional or
unintentional
neglect or
manipulation of an
elderly person
leading to personal
harm of a
vulnerable
individual
O Elder abuse can be
physical,
emotional,
financial, etc.

How do we deal with

this?
Who has risen up to respond to the change and growth in
geriatrics?

1. Medical institutions
O Geriatricians are healthcare

providers who are specially

trained to manage the health
care needs and treatment of
older people
O According to a census, in
2010, there were 6756
geriatricians for 18.7 million
people aged 75 or older in
the United States. By 2040
(thirty years later), there is
expected to be 44.5 million
people aged 75 or older,
matched only by an increase
in around 700 geriatricians
to care for them.

O There is a

growing need for

geriatricians to
care for the large
amount of people
who are getting
older
O The Davis School
of Gerontology
responds to this
by educating
students in

2. Family institutions
O The family is another

institution that is
instrumental in dealing
with and properly
caring for old people.
Because of the
shortage in the health
field, the family is
going to be
increasingly
responsible for
supplementing the
limited care available
to the elderly
O The aging process is a
story of change and
loss both for the aging

O The Davis School of

Gerontology responded to
this by creating the family
caregiver support center
O This provides support to
families of patients who
provide support to their
loved ones anywhere on
the continuum of
caregiving
O The offer help for specific
diagnoses as well as
general end-of-life issues

Improvements/Suggestions
for the Future
O Incorporate

community/neighborhood support
O Add education for family (not merely
family support) on select topics in
gerontology (that a healthcare
professional might receive)
O Educate the baby boomers before
they get too old and are in need of
geriatrics

Sources
O Best, Peggy Carey. Making Hospice Work:

O
O

Collaborative Storytelling in Family-Care

Conferences. Literature and Medicine. 13.1 (1994):
93-123.
Collaborative Approaches to Reducing Elder Abuse.
USC Davis School of Gerontology. 20 Sept. 2010.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS0mBkDc6X4
Kydd, Angela and Anne Fleming. Ageism and age
discrimination in health care: Fact or fiction?. School
of Health Nursing and Midwifery. (2015): 7.
Projection on Future Number of Geriatricians in the
United States. American Geriatrics. May 2011.
Sedensky, Matt. Baby Boomers: Aging Population
Casts Light on Geriatrics Shortage. Huffington Post.
5 Nov. 2011.
Waite, Linda and Aniruddha Das. Families, Social
Life, and Well-Being at Older Ages. Demography.
47.S (2010): S87-109.
http://fcscgero.org/