As the field of aging and gerontology grows worldwide, this exciting guide introduces students to key issues and concepts. It covers topics related to the phenomena of advancing aging, including how older age has been defined historically, cultural myths related to advanced age, health and function in later life, how older age is financed throughout the world, and other key questions. Taking a multiple-perspective approach (including humanities, social and behavioral sciences and policy studies), the book's features include further reading for each chapter, a glossary of key terms, and tables that provide easy reference points.

Dr. Kate de Medeiros is Associate Professor of Gerontology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA. De Medeiros earned her PhD in gerontology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research has been funded by agencies such as the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Aging, and the Alzheimer's Association.

Contents;

Preface;

Age and Aging;

Gerontology: A Historical Overview;

Myths and Common Assumptions About Aging;

Health and Functional Abilities in Later Life;

Rethinking Family and Family Structures;

Death, Grief, Loss and Loneliness;

Social Location and Place;

Financing Old Age;

Narrative and Creativity;

Glossary.