Deaths

• What is the definition of the death rate?

  The death rate is the number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year.
• How has the death rate changed from 1900 to 2012?

  The death rate declined from 19 per 1000 in 1900 to 8.9 per 1000 in 2012.
• What were some exceptions to the decline in the death rate?

  Higher death rates occurred during the two world wars and the influenza epidemic of 1918.
• What are the positive effects of an ageing population and declining death rates?

  • More grandparents can provide childcare, allowing dual earners to work more hours.
  • Increased disposable incomes of retirees boost the economy, especially in tourism.
  • Higher retirement age leads to a more experienced workforce.
  • More 'beanpole families' with more generations but fewer members in each.
• What are the negative effects of an ageing population and declining death rates?

  • Increased demand on public services like healthcare and housing.
  • Rise in one-person pensioner households, mainly among women.
  • Higher dependency ratio as fewer workers support more non-working elderly.
  • Ageism leads to discrimination in employment and healthcare.
• What is the planned retirement age in the UK from 2026?

  The retirement age will be 67 from 2026.
• What are some suggested changes to social attitudes and policies regarding the elderly?

  • Increase the retirement age.
  • Provide new education and training for the elderly.
  • Encourage the elderly to downsize their homes to free up wealth.
• What policy change did China implement in response to an ageing population?

  China relaxed its one-child policy to allow couples to have two children.
• What are the reasons for the decline in the death rate from infectious diseases among infants and young adults?

  1. Improved nutrition leading to better resistance to infections.
  2. Better housing and sanitation reducing overcrowding and disease spread.
  3. Higher standards of living promoting healthier lifestyles.
  4. Less air pollution due to Clean Air Acts.
  5. Decline in dangerous manual occupations.
  6. Better public knowledge of health and illness causes.
• What did McKeown (1972) argue about social and economic changes?

  McKeown argued that social and economic changes improved nutrition and housing, leading to a decline in death rates.
• What medical improvements have contributed to the decline in death rates since the 1950s?

  Immunisations, improved midwifery, antibiotics, and blood transfusions have contributed to the decline in death rates.
• How do postmodernists view the perception of old age in society?

  • Perceptions and identities linked to old age are changing.
  • Life course stages are blurred, allowing more lifestyle choices.
  • Consumption shapes identities more than production.
• What market has emerged for the elderly in postmodern society?

  The elderly have become a significant market for body maintenance and rejuvenation products.
• What do Marxists and feminists argue about the elderly in society?

  • Marxists claim the elderly are seen as unproductive and unsupported by the state.
  • Feminists argue that women bear the burden of care for elderly relatives.
  • Both highlight inequalities among the elderly based on class and gender.
• What is the significance of age diversity among the elderly population?

  Age diversity recognizes that some elderly individuals are active and productive, while others may be more dependent.
• How is life expectancy defined?

  Life expectancy is how long on average someone born in a given year can expect to live.
• What were the life expectancies for males and females in 1900 and 2012?

  In 1900, males had a life expectancy of 50 and females 57; in 2012, males had 79 and females 82.8.

  
• What are the reasons for the differences in life expectancy among social groups?

  • Working class and northerners face poverty, poor housing, and higher smoking rates.
  • Men have more dangerous occupations, excessive drinking, and higher smoking rates.
• What are the reasons for an ageing population?

  • Increasing life expectancy.
  • Declining infant mortality rates.
  • Declining fertility rates.
• How is old age socially constructed?

  • Old age is shaped by societal definitions rather than being a fixed biological status.
  • Ageism leads to negative stereotypes and perceptions of the elderly.
  • The creation of a statutory retirement age contributes to dependency and powerlessness.
• How do postmodernists view the changing perceptions of old age?

  Postmodernists believe that perceptions and identities linked to old age are evolving as life stages blur and consumption defines identity.
• How is the status of the elderly viewed in different parts of the world?

  • In some cultures, the elderly are highly respected and celebrated.
  • In these societies, there is less of a perceived problem with an ageing population.
• What are the overall conclusions regarding the decline in death rates and its consequences?

  • Declines in death rates are due to social factors more than medical factors.
  • Important social and economic consequences include increased dependency burdens.
  • In modern society, exclusion from work makes old age a dependent status.