This book provides an overview of the key issues arising from this
demographic change, asking questions such as: * What if any, are the universal
characteristics of the ageing experience? * What different ways is it possible
to grow old?Recent decades have seen a fundamental change in the age structure of many
western societies. In these societies it is now common for a fifth to a quarter
of the population to be retired, for fewer babies to be born than is required
to sustain the size of the population and for life expectancy to exceed eighty
years old. This book provides an overview of the key issues arising from this
demographic change, asking questions such as: What if any, are the universal
characteristics of the ageing experience? What different ways is it possible to
grow old? What is unique about old age in the contemporary world? The author
also examines issues ranging from the social construction, diversity and
identity of old age to areas of social conflict over population, pensions and
the medicalisation of old age. John Vincent is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at
the University of Exeter.
