Text Blog Chapter 15

     In chapter 15 the reader could refer back to the early chapters where they learn how our society has increased in elderly people. It would help the reader understand this chapter a little better. This chapter introduces elderly people in a political sense which they have a strong political power.
     Although in the early 1900s the life of an elder was not the best because of the recession it overcame these obstacles through politics. There was a lot of help for elders around the 1930s, the Townshed Act then the Ham and Egg Movement and also Social Security was then introduced. Today the senior power is stronger than ever with their voting. Older voter turnout (those 65 and over) is generally double the voter turnout of young adults under 25 years of age (Hillier & Barrow, 2011). Some even hold office such as presidency or congress. Some members in Congress are allowed to serve many years as an elder because of the many years served before. In the past decades there has been numerous interest groups and associations that their main purpose is helping elders. Examples would be the American Association of Retired Persons, National Council of Senior Citizens, American Association of Aging and others.
     There is no doubt that the future is uncertain and the future of these programs to meet the needs of older people depends on the activism. The increasing number of seniors is not only as citizens but also in  political power. This will make our future interesting and could help for when the young generation become seniors.

Hillier, S. & Barrow, G. (2011). Aging, the individual, and society. 3-28. 9th ed. California: WASDWORTH

Ch. 15 Reflection

Politics are huge when it comes to the elderly population in the United States. Hillier and Barrow (2011) state, “When enough older people turn out to vote on a given issue and vote as a bloc, they wield considerable power. Approximately 90 percent of Americans over the age 50 are registered to vote, compared with an overall national figure of less than 75 percent. In all recent elections; older people are more likely to vote than younger ones”. It seems the younger you are, the less likely it is that you are even registered to vote. Most people think, and I am one, that think the elderly are more likely to be conservative and young people are more likely to be liberal. However, this is not true. The elderly are evenly distributed between left wing and right wing as are the younger population. Because the elderly are so involved in politics, there are many interest groups surrounding their important policies. For example, American Association of Retired Persons, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council of Senior Citizens, National Council on Aging, and many more. These groups have led to many successes for the elderly population like funding for home-delivered meals, friendly visitor, telephone reassurance programs, and Title V employment program. There are many other services made possible because of their activism as well. With the new and bigger generation of older adults coming into the picture, more will soon be done. Hiller and Barrow (2011) state, “The future is a very exciting place. The present responsibility is to understand the ways in which an aging nation and globe will shape that future, economics will shape that future, and both will combine to shape the cultural environment”.

Blog 9 Chapter review

Chapter 15

     This chapter covers politics, policies, and programs and the roles that the elderly have played in helping to implement and bring about change for their generation.  There were elderly uprisings with the development of the Townsend Plan.  There were social and political movements with organizations such as the Gray Panthers, Senior Power, the Ham and Egg Movement, and the National Organization for Women (NOW).  There was the creation of political associations that represent older Americans which included:  the American Association of Homes for the Aging, the American Nursing Home Association, the National Council of Health Care Services, and the National Association of State Units on the Aging, the American Association of Retired People, and many others.  “The Older Americans Act (OAA) is designed to alter state and local priorities to ensure that older people’s needs are represented in social services allocations and was adopted by Congress in 1965” (Hillier & Barrow, 2011).  

     The OAA provides funding (some limited) for meals and nutrition, volunteer community services, community services for work opportunities, and adult day care centers.  Although the OAA provides many services, it still requires the participation of more than the elderly, advocating ensuring continuation of these services and other organizations.  “Advocacy involves using one’s resources and power for the benefit of a special-interest group, such as the elderly” (Hillier & Barrow, 2011).  With improvements in technology and medicine, Hillier and Barrow state that “elders are living longer and healthier lives, and they are becoming more visible not only in numbers but also in political activism” (2011).  It is time to take notice of the elderly and become a part of the movement to create better programs for better services so we do not have to worry about services being available when we reach that stage in our lives.

Weekly Reflection

Chapter 15 discusses an array of organizations, policies, and programs that aim to improve the quality of living for elderly Americans. It seems as though advocacy and movements have long been around throughout the history of the United States. Movements that have recognized the need to meet elder's issues and concerns can be documented as far back as the early 1900's, with the creation of the Townsend Plan. Since then, several laws, organizations, and programs have sprouted all in an effort to create equal and fair rights and resources for the elderly. Today, powerful lobbying groups in large numbers can be found that many elderly are participating in. They aim to educate, advocate, provide resources, and awareness to the elderly's rights and have a positive effect on the numbers of elderly turning out at voting polls. In addition to meeting the needs of the elderly many organizations and policies are being directed to the needs of minority elderly. This is great news for the entire population of elderly, there are providing great examples of what it means to stand by one another and be supportive and concerned for your fellow man.
    After reading Chapter 15, it has been discovered that great things are coming from a generation of elders who are advocating, educating, and informing themselves. This chapter was insightful for the future social workers of America because it is evident that a social worker can not only advocate on the client's behalf but can also collaborate with many of these already enthusiastic individuals. Listening and learning from these organizations, programs and policies can provide a future social worker with step ahead when it comes to working for an agency or individual with these types of concerns. Also, it is important to note that the present elderly generation is paving a way for the younger generation to add to in the future.
    The chapter noted some critics saying that the current elderly population was greedy and taking away from children's resources, but this does not seem like a realistic statement, because if this group is willing to advocate for not only themselves, but minorities, gays, lesbians, and all person's health care; why on earth would they want to take away from children? This was an interesting and controversial topic.
    All levels of social work can be effected by the topics discussed in chapter 15 but it is clear that the programs and policies made at the macro level can have a profound affect on the micro and vice versa.

        Reference:
 Hillier, S.M. and Barrow, G.M. (2007). Aging, the
 individual and society. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.