Global Aging: Comparative Perspectives on Aging and the Life Course

This book is exemplary in amassing demographic, policy, and sociopsychological data from around the world to refute both premises: that countries' aging is not occurring in developing nations and that aging of the population presents intractable predicaments. The content of the book is rich with current information seldom accumulated into one source. For a scholar of aging studies, the topics are comprehensive, including demographics, political systems, health and long-term care provision, employment/retirement, and formal and informal support systems. Structurally, the book adds value with the inclusion of Web resources and a robust index. The design is conducive for a classroom setting by incorporating discussion questions and key words at the end of each chapter." -- Dr. Carol A. Gosselink, PsycCritiques

Using a comparative, cross-national perspective, Global Aging: Comparative Perspectives on Aging and the Life Course explores the major topics in social gerontology worldwide and the demands that the aging population places on a society.

This comprehensive and timely guide includes contributions from international gerontology scholars and illustrates both universal and socioculturally unique aspects of aging across nations. It is organized thematically for ease of use and includes an abundance of photographs and illustrations to highlight key points.

Key features:

• Discussions on various nations' policies and programs designed to meet the unique needs of an older population
• An essay on pension and income maintenance policies and programs
• An analysis of the role of local and national governments, as well as non-governmental organizations, in serving older adults
• Case studies on specific aspects of aging: family life, caregiving, policies and politics, health and long-term care, and work and retirement
• The most current demographic data on aging around the world

Suzanne Kunkel, PhD, is University Distinguished Professor of Gerontology and Executive Director of the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University. Her research is broadly focused on the social determinants of health, including the system of programs and services designed to support older adults in their goals to remain healthy, active, and engaged in their communities for as long as they choose. She has been supported by more than $7.5 million in external research funding to assess the implementation and effectiveness of these programs, including innovations such as consumer self-direction and dementia-friendly communities, and the role of cross-sectoral organizational partnerships in enhancing population health. Dr. Kunkel has published widely on the results of these projects, and on gerontology education. With Frank Whittington and Kate de Medeiros, she authored the second edition of Global Aging: Comparative Perspectives on Aging and the Life Course, a Springer textbook released in 2020. Kunkel is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE); she has served as President of AGHE, and Treasurer of GSA. She is the recipient of the Clark Tibbitts Award for contributions to the advancement of gerontology as a field of study.

J. Scott Brown, PhD is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Sociology and Gerontology and Research Fellow with Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University.

Frank J. Whittington, PhD, is professor emeritus of gerontology, Department of Social Work, at George Mason University, and professor emeritus of sociology at Georgia State University (GSU), where he was both a faculty member (1973–95) and director (1995–2008) of the Gerontology Institute.