Explain the causes/significance of changing death rates the ageing population in the UK (3)✅ Flashcards
(20 cards)
Define ‘death rate’
death rate is the number of deaths per thousands of the population per year.
What was the main reason for the decline in the death rate from 1850 to 1970?
According to Tranter, the fall in number of deaths from infectious diseases such as diphtheria, measles, smallpox, typhoid and all above TB. Deaths to infectious diseases were most common in young and most of the decline in the death rate occurred amongst infants, children and young adults.
By the 1950s, what kinds of diseases had become the main cause of death?
By the 1950s, so-called ‘diseases of affluence’ such as heart disease and cancers had replaced infectious diseases as the main cause of death.
Summarise each of the following social factors that had an impact on death rates:
- improved nutrition
- medical improvements
- smoking/diet
- public health measures
- other social changes
improved nutrition-
McKeown argues improved nutrition accounted for up to half the reduction in death rates, particularly important in reducing the number of deaths from TB. Better nutrition increased resistance to infection and increased the survival chances of those who did become infected.
Medical improvements-
Before 1950s, despite some important innovations, medical improvements played almost no part in the reduction of deaths from infectious diseases. However, after 1950s, improved edicts knowledge, techniques and organisation did help to reduce deaths rates.advances include introduction of antibiotics, immunisations, blood transfusions, improved maternity services, as well a the setting up of the National Health Service in 1948.
Smoking/diet-
According to Harper, greatest fall in death rates in recent decades has come not from medical improvements, but simply from a reduction in the number of people smoking. However, obesity has replaced smoking as the new lifestyle epidemic.
Public health measures-
In 20th century, more effective central/local government with necessary power to pass/enforce laws led to a range of improvements in public health and the quality of the environment. Included improvements in housing, purer drinking water, laws to combat the adulteration of food and drink, pasteurisation of milk, and improved sewage disposal measures.
Other social changes-
The decline of dangerous manual occupations like mining. Smaller families reduced the rate of transmission of infection and greater public knowledge of the causes of illness.
Define life expectancy
refers to how long on average a person born in a given year can expect to live.
What is the difference in life expectancy for a any boy born in 1900 as compared with a baby boy born in 2013?
males born in 1900, were expected to live to 50 y/o. Males born in 2013, are expected to live to 90.7 y/o.
Give one reason why average life expectancy was low in 1900.
the fact that so many infants and children did not survive beyond the early years of life.
What is the projected number of centenarians in 2100?
it is projected to be one million.
Identify 3 factors that have caused the aging population
- increasing life expectancy
- declining infant mortality rates
- Declining fertility
Summarise the effects of an aging population on
- public services
- one person pensioner households
- the dependency ratio
public service-
Older people consume a lager proportion of series such as health and social care than other age groups.
One-person pensioner households-
Number of pensions living alone had increased and one person pensioner households now account for about 12.5% of all households.
The dependency ratio-
Like the non-working young, the non-working old are an economically dependant group who need to be provided for by those of working age.
Define ageism
the negative stereotyping and unequal treatment of expel on the basis of their age.
in what ways may ageism be seen?
discrimination in employment and unequal treatment in healthcare.
What is structured dependacy?
ageism is the result of structured dependency. The old are largely excluded form paid work, leaving them economically dependant on their families or the state.
Hw do Marxist view old age in a capitalist society?
Phillipson argues the old are of no use to capitalism because they are no longer productive. As a result, the state is unwilling to support them adequately and so the family, especially female relatives, often has to take responsibility for their care.
How does age determine peoples roles in modern society?
age becomes important in role allocation, creating fixed life stages and age-related identities, such as worker or pensioner.
How does the life course in postmodern society differ from that in modern society?
postmodernists argue that in today’s postmodern society, the fixed, orderly stages of the life courses have broken down. Unlike in modern society, consumption, not production, becomes the key to our identities. We can now define ourselves by what we consume. Hunt argues this means we can chose a lifestyle and identity regardless of age: our age no longer determines who we are or how we live.
How do people use consumption to create their identities in postmodern society?
the old become a market for a vast range of ‘body maintenance’ or ‘rejuvenation’ goods and services through which they can create their identities. These include cosmetic surgery’s, exercise equipment.
What does people using consumption to create identities in postmodern society mean for old peoples identities and ageist stereotypes?
trends begin to break down the ageist stereotypes found in modern society. Two other features of postmodern society also undermine old age as a stigmatised life stage:
Centrality of the media
Emphasis on surface features
How might a persons previous occupational position affect them when they are older?
Pilcher argues inequalities such as class and gender remain important. Many of these are related to the individuals previous occupational position.
Identify 3 policy implications of an aging population.
-how to finance a longer period of old age
- housing policy may have to change to encourage older people to ‘trade down’ into smaller homes
Cultural change.
