The Art, Social Construction, and Globalization of Aging

As societies face unprecedented demographic shifts, the fields of geriatrics and gerontology will assist in creating the highest quality of life across the lifespan. Despite the growing elderly population, our society fails to grasp the concepts and constructs associated with age and aging. Based on inherent and continued shortages of health practitioners and associated social systems in the US who will bear the responsibility for caring for the majority of the elderly? And yet, other societies look to us for leadership in this field. Specialized and integrated gerontology and geriatric approaches to aging will be presented that address the way we age now and the way we hope to age in the future. Everyone can benefit from a greater awareness of essential aging “truths.”