Main description:

The collective, inclusive, and intersectional framework used in this book speaks to the significance of understanding aging across diverse cultures from multiple perspectives, but still as a shared human experience. The underlying message of the book is that although we are unique and different in our aging processes, we are ultimately connected through this physical, mental and spiritual experience of aging. Thus, regardless of whether we are service providers, service recipients, educators or merely fellow human beings, it is important that we approach the aging experience through a collective lens for discovering and sharing resources as we age; honoring the past while simultaneously accepting that the future is here. A few select examples of key findings from this collaborative work are as follows. First, despite progress in the field, certain issues remain to be addressed including the challenges of racism and sexism, mistreatment, the digital divide, poverty, and other social and economic crises in urban and rural communities as they relate to our aging population. Second, the need for sustaining a sense of independence among the aged and interdependence among supportive systems is warranted. Third, our elders continue to benefit from culturally competent services community-based health interventions and social services that addresses normative and emerging challenges for them. Fourth, spirituality in both indigenous and contemporary perspectives remains important for our elders' development and quality of life.

Contents:

Foreword: Chandra Mehrotra.- Chapter 1: 4th Generational Theories of Intersection: Multicultural Aging:Gaynell M. Simpson, Nancy Giunta.- Chapter 2: A Historical Perspective in Aging and Gerontology: Patsy R. Smith.- Chapter 3: The Fourth Hill of Life: American Indian/Alaska Native Elders:Priscilla A Day.- Chapter 4: Aging and Mistreatment: Victimization of Older Adults in the United States: Pamela B. Teaster, Debra A. Harley, Amani Kettaneh.- Chapter 5: Latin@ Elders: Securing Healthy Aging Inspite of Health and Mental Health Disparities: Catherine K. Medina, Lirio K. Negroni.- Chapter 6: Aging, Intimacy, and Sex: Nancy Giunta, Stephanie A. Jacobson.- Chapter 7: The Effects of Minority and Immigration Status on Elderly Health: A Community Social Capital Perspective: Qingwen Xu, Yan Du.- Chapter 8: A Profile of Rural African American Lesbian Elders: Meeting Their Needs: Debra A. Harley, Kim L. Stansbury, Marva Nelson, Christina T. Espinosa.- Chapter 9: Intergenerational Dynamics Related to Aging and Eldercare in Asian American Families: Promoting Access to Services: Suzie S. Weng, Jacqueline Robinson.- Chapter 10: Seeing the Social in Technology for Older Adults: Making the implicit explicit through a multidisciplinary lens: Clara Berridge.- Chapter 11: Health Promotion for African American Elders: Church is the likely Place: Cheryl Waites, Angela Kaiser, Fayetta Martin.- Chapter 12: City Life, Our Way of Life: Aging in the Urban Environment: Kimberly Yancey,Tamika Baldwin, Ama R. Saran, Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi.- Chapter 13: A Call to Action: Dementia Screening of Alzheimer's disease in Older African Americans: Sheila Black and Gaynell M. Simpson.- Chapter 14: Reworking the Template: The Financial Crisis and Housing Transitions of Older Americans: Tam E. Perry.- Chapter 15: Understanding the Human-Animal Bond: Implications for Practice with Community-Living Older Adults: Ann M. Callahan, Regina Brotherton.- Chapter 16: Summary and Future Directions: Nancy Giunta, Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi, Gaynell M. Simpson.