Deck 17: Health and Aging

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about life expectancies?

A) Men and women have roughly the same life expectancies.
B) Married men tend to live longer than unmarried women.
C) Men tend to live longer than women.
D) Women tend to live longer than men.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The people listed below are all between the ages of 70 to 75. Who is most likely to be living in poverty?

A) John, who is living with his son's family
B) Paul, who lives alone
C) Georgette, who lives alone
D) Ringo, who lives with his wife

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In conversations, Brady tends to speak at great length about the aging population of Canada and how this age wave is like a tsunami that will soon sink health care services and social programs currently in place. What term can be used to characterize Brady's belief?

A) health-care intensity burden
B) age-related backlash
C) dependency ratio
D) apocalyptic demography

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What is the main reason for the increasing proportion of older adults in the Canadian population?

A) declining fertility rates
B) healthier diets and lifestyles
C) miracle drug discoveries
D) socialized medicine

Question 5

What is a likely consequence of abolishing mandatory retirement?

A) There will be a greater burden on Canada's health-care system.
B) Even though retirement is no longer mandatory, people will still retire before age 65.
C) More people will be employed into their 70s and 80s.
D) Longer working careers will cause people to live longer lives.

Question 6

What are some of the complex variables associated with health and aging?

A) mentality, era, and country of origin
B) inherent physical attributes and genetics
C) social class, gender, and ethnicity
D) attitude, outlook, and expectations

Question 7

The federal government calls a meeting of all the provincial premiers to discuss the looming crisis in Canada's old-age security pension financial condition. It is underfunded for the wave of baby boomers who will soon begin to collect. What term best describes the framing of this issue?

A) program management
B) apocalyptic demography
C) government deficit
D) good governance

Question 8

Rosa was widowed last year at the age of 70. According to your text, which of the following would be an UNLIKELY occurrence in her future?

A) She will remarry.
B) She will have financial problems.
C) She will have a strong social network.
D) She will be a grandparent for more years than the average man.

Question 9

An elderly woman had an accident with her car. The woman's doctor met with her, at her daughter's insistence, and consequently the elderly woman's driving privileges were suspended. Later, the daughter learned that her mother's car was part of a recall for a mechanical defect that might have caused the accident. What term best describes the circumstances in this case?

A) ageing
B) dementia
C) medicalization
D) Alzheimer's

Question 10

Karl was widowed last year at the age of 70. According to the text, which of the following would be an UNLIKELY occurrence in his future?

A) He will remarry.
B) He will have a strong social network.
C) He will not have financial problems.
D) He will be isolated.

Question 11

Sam is great! I always thought he was a grouchy old man, but when I finally spoke to him I found out he had lots of interesting stories and a great sense of humour. Which social construction of the elderly did Sam help me overcome?

A) ageism
B) elder abuse
C) senior moments
D) alienation

Question 12

Gerald is 75 years old. His daughter visits him every day, cooking meals, cleaning, and visiting. Gerald sometimes gets upset with his daughter because she treats him like he is an invalid, unable to care for himself. Which point of view has Gerald's daughter taken toward her father?

A) pity
B) mothering
C) ageism
D) dependent

Question 13

At the age of 68, Evelyn is job hunting since her pension benefits barely cover her monthly expenses. At one job interview she is told that she should not be looking for work but should be home taking it easy, and enjoying her "golden years." What has Evelyn experienced?

A) prejudice
B) implied mandatory retirement
C) reverse discrimination
D) ageism

Question 14

Which of the following is a criterion for admitting immigrants to Canada?

A) They should be independent immigrants with education and professional skills.
B) They should be nonbusiness immigrants prepared to work at any job.
C) They should not have any close relatives living as citizens in Canada.
D) They can be persons with health disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Question 15

An elderly woman lives next to a house that is rented to university students. When the students move out, a middle-aged man rents the house. A few days after he moves in, he says good morning to his senior neighbour. The elderly woman tells the man how nice it is to talk to a neighbour for once, since the previous tenants dismissed each of her attempts to have a conversation. What term best accounts for the elderly person's treatment by the younger tenants?

A) discrimination
B) ageism
C) prejudice
D) sexism

Question 16

What is the major cause of death in old age?

A) lack of health insurance
B) poverty and inequality
C) poor health care
D) chronic degenerative diseases

Question 17

Two people suffer from insomnia. One joins a yoga class to relax as a treatment for insomnia, while the second person goes to a doctor and gets sleeping pills. Which of the following would describe the attitude of the second person?

A) Insomnia is a stress-related condition.
B) Insomnia is an ailment.
C) Insomnia has been medicalized.
D) Insomnia is a psychological problem.

Question 18

After 45 years of marriage, Alvin's wife dies. Which of the following will be a likely outcome for Alvin?

A) He will want to remarry, but finds that there are very few eligible women his age.
B) He will probably die within 12 months of his wife's death.
C) He will likely remarry.
D) He will remain a widower.

Question 19

What is the differential in aging between women and men in Canada?

A) There are more elderly women than there are men.
B) Aging is considered to be primarily an issue for men.
C) There are more elderly men than there are women.
D) The gender differential in aging between men and women is zero.

Question 20

Every Sunday, Ruth sorts her pills: one for her heart, one for arthritis, one for diabetes, and vitamins to prevent other health issues. Which phenomenon associated with old age is related to taking all these pills?

A) reduced independence
B) incapacitation
C) drug dependency
D) medicalization

Question 21

According to your text, what can we conclude is most true about the overall condition of older people?

A) mental health declines
B) well-being declines
C) physical health declines
D) functional ability improves

Question 22

Which of the following statements about health is true?

A) Black male seniors have more chronic conditions than all other groups.
B) More senior men than women suffer from chronic conditions.
C) More senior women than men suffer from chronic conditions.
D) There are no clear trends about health related to social condition.

Question 23

Andrea recently graduated with a degree in sociology and was hired by Statistics Canada to conduct research on social trends related to aging. Her statistics, charts, graphs, and analyses are then published on the StatsCan website. What branch of sociology best identifies Andrea's work focus?

A) statistics
B) senescence tracking
C) gerontology
D) demography

Question 24

Tuija is a 67-year-old woman living with constant pain caused by inflammation in her fingers and toes. She self-medicates with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication (taken as recommended) and lives with her condition. What term best describes her ailment?

A) natural aging
B) chronic condition
C) functional disability
D) self-diagnosis

Question 25

What are the implications around the evidence that increased income means increased health?

A) Both poverty and inequality are important in influencing health.
B) Inequality is more important than poverty in influencing health.
C) Income equality leads to higher rates of premature mortality.
D) Poverty is more important than inequality in influencing health.

Question 26

What elements of a person's life seem to improve with age?

A) quality of life
B) self-esteem and mastery
C) friendships and social relations
D) work habits

Question 27

What percentage of "years of potential life lost" is linked to income differences between Canadians?

A) 13 percent
B) 23 percent
C) 33 percent
D) 43 percent

Question 28

A middle-aged man is strict about his diet, exercise, and rest because he is planning to live a long and vital life, followed by a quick death. What hypothesis would support this notion?

A) compression of morbidity hypothesis
B) premature mortality hypothesis
C) multiple jeopardy hypothesis
D) age as leveller hypothesis

Question 29

Some sociologists are employed by Statistics Canada, where they examine Canadian trends in our aging population. What term is used to identify the specific focus of their expertise?

A) statistics
B) numerology
C) sociology
D) demography

Question 30

A politician was heard saying, "We must address the growing number of seniors draining the health-care system. I propose seniors pay 50 percent of their expenses to ensure our resources are available to the younger population as well." According to your text, which of the following situations is reflected in this statement?

A) ageism
B) youth activism
C) apocalyptic demography
D) healthcare crisis

Question 31

Most Canadians consider individual behaviours such as diet, smoking, exercise, and stress important - but another important factor gets relatively little consideration. What is it?

A) a person's age
B) a person's disabilities
C) a person's culture
D) a person's education

Question 32

Kevin, a middle-aged man, takes scrupulously good care of himself, and says he wants to live to a ripe old age and burn like an incandescent light bulb: it functions at 100 percent capacity then suddenly "flames out." Which of the following terms best describes what Kevin is talking about?

A) compression of morbidity hypothesis
B) age as leveller hypothesis
C) morbidity-delayed hypothesis
D) multiple jeopardy hypothesis

Question 33

As a person ages, he or she may develop a problem such as tinnitus, a constant ringing or buzzing in the ear related to hearing loss or ear damage. Which of the following terms best describes this situation?

A) persistent symptoms
B) a medical condition
C) hearing loss
D) a chronic condition

Question 34

What are the major areas of inquiry for sociologists of health and aging?

A) seniors' sense of accomplishment
B) the negative aspects or problems of old age
C) seniors' reflections on their children's lives
D) loss of self-esteem among the elderly

Question 35

Omar is an 88-year-old man living alone, whose family lives nearby and checks on him frequently. There are weekly Sunday meals at Omar's house that include his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. Which of the following concepts best explains Omar's vitality?

A) modified extended family
B) life expectancy syndrome
C) familial connection hypothesis
D) compression of morbidity hypothesis

Question 36

What is a significant difference in disability rates between groups of seniors?

A) Women tend to report more severe disabilities than men.
B) Women tend to report less severe disabilities than men.
C) Immigrant men tend to have fewer disabilities than other seniors.
D) Canadian-born men tend to report more severe disabilities than women.

Question 37

Jack is a 67-year-old male who has constant pain caused by arthritis. He used to play guitar on the weekends in a seniors band, but he can't play anymore because of his condition. What term best describes Jack's impairment?

A) debilitating illness
B) chronic condition
C) chronic pain syndrome
D) functional disability

Question 38

Leanne, a 67-year-old woman, is considering retirement from her 30-year career as a cardiac surgeon. She has invested wisely and has amassed a healthy bank account and a number of investment properties. According to research findings, which of the following statements would generally apply for Leanne?

A) Her life expectancy would be roughly the same as that of a 67-year-old Aboriginal woman.
B) Her life expectancy would be longer than that of persons who have not experienced the advantages that she has.
C) Her life expectancy will be less than that of her husband.
D) She faces a greater possibility of being institutionalized in a long-term-care facility if she becomes functionally disabled.

Question 39

Joan is 75 years of age, and prior to her stroke was a very self-sufficient and active woman, but now she has difficulty getting herself dressed in the morning. Additionally, the medication prescribed to help prevent another stroke has resulted in her feet and ankles swelling, which makes it challenging for her to walk. Which of the following explains Joan's condition?

A) Joan has a severe illness.
B) Joan is functionally disabled.
C) Joan is undergoing a compression of morbidity.
D) Joan is physically impaired.

Question 40

Maggie is an 85-year-old senior who needs a walker to get around her apartment; she can't bathe herself, clean, or cook meals. How would her lifestyle be categorized?

A) She is functionally disabled.
B) She is physically disabled.
C) She is critically disabled.
D) She is chronically disabled.

Question 41

Antonio is a wonder to his local community: at 91 he still lives in his own house, drives his car, and mows the lawn. However, he is slowing down a little-he occasionally gets home visits from extramural nurses, and regularly takes Meals on Wheels, but independently proclaims that this gives him a little "socialization." Which of the following terms best describes Antonio's lifestyle?

A) independent living
B) semi-independent living
C) self-care
D) self-efficacy

Question 42

Whitefeather's statuses include being elderly, Aboriginal, and female. What hypothesis might be applied to her?

A) age as leveller hypothesis
B) compression of morbidity hypothesis
C) multiple jeopardy hypothesis
D) multiple discriminators hypothesis

Question 43

A middle-aged Aboriginal woman living beside a river, downstream from a paper mill, has asthma and osteoporosis. What term best describes this woman's risk of ailment?

A) multiple illness hypothesis
B) multiple jeopardy hypothesis
C) chronic lifestyle hypothesis
D) chronic conditions hypothesis

Question 44

Joanna, a Canadian, was studying a life expectancy table for countries around the world. She exclaims to Josh, "If I had been born here, my life expectancy would be the highest of anywhere in the world"! What country was Joanna referring to?

A) Japan
B) United States
C) United Kingdom
D) Australia

Question 45

In terms of immigration and health, which of the following is a policy of the Canadian government?

A) Potential immigrants must meet a minimum standard of health before they will be admitted.
B) Immigrants who are ill will be admitted only if they can pay for their own treatment upon arrival in Canada.
C) Immigrants must have a family medical history of no health issues.
D) Only immigrants who have health problems that cannot be treated in their home country will be admitted.

Question 46

When determinants of health pertaining to individual behaviour (such as lifestyle) are identified as causes of negative health consequences, who or what gets blamed?

A) the person
B) the environment
C) the fast-food corporations
D) the health system

Question 47

Two friends are discussing aging and disability, when the one says, "Look, I don't care who you are, Bill Gates or a bag lady, the longer you live, the more likely you are to get sick." Which of the following hypotheses best matches this argument?

A) age as leveller hypothesis
B) compression of morbidity hypothesis
C) functional disability hypothesis
D) hierarchy stress hypothesis

Question 48

Lawrence refuses to change his diet and regularly eats fried foods. His cholesterol is high and he is overweight. What practice is Lawrence neglecting?

A) diet selection
B) weight maintenance
C) self-care
D) self-feeding

Question 49

Darma is 80 years old and living on a very tight budget; she cannot afford to travel. Leonard is also 80 and has a generous pension so he can afford to travel. However, he suffers from terrible arthritis, so he is unable to travel. According to your text, what could explain Darma and Leonard's similar ends?

A) the multiple jeopardy hypothesis
B) the age as a leveller hypothesis
C) the leisure selection hypothesis
D) the ageism hypothesis

Question 50

What is the predominant form of health care in Canada?

A) self-care and informal care
B) care from doctors, clinics, and hospitals
C) bureaucratic and institutional
D) in-home nursing care, paid for by families

Question 51

A researcher finds evidence that the perception of a person's social location and the concerns arising from feeling "less than" others is a bigger factor in determining long-term health outcomes than other things such as individual lifestyle choices. What term is used to describe this perspective?

A) premature mortality hypothesis
B) multiple jeopardy hypothesis
C) hierarchy stress perspective
D) cessation of morbidity perspective

Question 52

How does the average life expectancy of Aboriginal adults compare to that of other Canadians?

A) It is 6 years longer.
B) It is 6 years shorter.
C) It is 15 years longer.
D) It is 15 years shorter.

Question 53

What have sociologists said about attempts to explain social inequalities in health, when comparing them with individually chosen lifestyle behaviours, such as diet and exercise?

A) Sociologists hypothesize that advances in medicine are improving everyone's health.
B) Sociologists agree that lifestyle choices are major determinants of one's health.
C) Sociologists suggest that an individual's genetic makeup is more important to health outcomes.
D) Sociologists suggest that social inequalities are more important than lifestyle choices.

Question 54

Jimmy is a poorly paid groundskeeper, who works at least 10 hours of overtime every week spraying pesticides on massive lawns in the upscale neighbourhoods of his city. After work, he grabs a meal at a fast-food restaurant that he takes home and eats in front of the television, all the while thinking of how easy life must be for the people whose lawns he looks after. Which of the following perspectives would Jimmy exemplify?

A) hierarchy stress perspective
B) the education perspective
C) the self-care perspective
D) the exploited worker perspective

Question 55

Shen is 80 and came from China to Canada three years ago. He has noticed that the Canadians he meets at the senior's centre seem to have more health problems than he does, even though he is older than most of them. How might Shen's relatively good health be explained?

A) the healthy immigrant effect
B) the ethnic factor
C) the new immigrant hypothesis
D) the Asian longevity quotient

Question 56

Which term from your text describes the fact that most people, most of the time, are personally concerned with looking after themselves?

A) self-help
B) self-care
C) self-efficacy
D) self-reliance

Question 57

From a sociological perspective, how do social inequalities lead to poorer health in disadvantaged groups?

A) The disadvantaged have lower incomes and poorer material living conditions.
B) The disadvantaged have inadequate diets and they exercise less than others.
C) The disadvantaged tend to smoke and drink more than others.
D) The disadvantaged do not seek the medical advice they need when they are ill.

Question 58

Richard Wilkinson is a British researcher in the social determinants of health. He claims that people living in societies with a more equal distribution of income have better health and has documented a relationship between income inequality and rising levels of depression and anxiety. Which of the following could be utilized to understand Wilkinson's findings?

A) the hierarchy stress perspective
B) the status frustration perspective
C) the life course perspective
D) health and class relation

Question 59

According to your text, which of the following would be the best health tip, consistent with available evidence on the determinants of health?

A) Practise safe sex.
B) Use sunscreen.
C) Don't become unemployed.
D) Keep physically active.

Question 60

Prem Gupta, like many people coming to Canada recently, belongs to a group of people who are less likely to have chronic diseases. Which of the following describes the effect of this trend?

A) healthy immigrant effect
B) Indian immigrant effect
C) Asian immigrant effect
D) recent immigrant effect

Question 61

Danielle still lives on her own, although she needs help to clean her home and prepare meals. Who is she most likely to turn to first for assistance?

A) her daughter
B) the medical system
C) the provincial government
D) a not-for-profit organization

Question 62

What characterizes informal care giving of the elderly?

A) The contributors are primarily sons.
B) It consists mostly of men aiding their wives.
C) It is usually provided by wives, then daughters.
D) It is paid for by the children of the elderly.

Question 63

Yvette was a smoker early in her life; however, research showed that smoking increased her risk of lung cancer. She quit and has been a nonsmoker for 30 years. What is the term used to describe Yvette's experience?

A) informed decision perspective
B) societal change perspective
C) life-course perspective
D) rational choice perspective

Question 64

Ralph is living independently despite a knee problem that gives him mobility problems. Which of the following services would NOT be included in the homecare he receives?

A) housework
B) physiotherapy
C) medical care
D) social stimulation

Question 65

Which country has the highest per capita total current health-care expenditures?

A) Sweden
B) Canada
C) United States
D) Finland

Question 66

What is Canada's health care system called?

A) Medicaid
B) Med-assist
C) medicalization
D) medicare

Question 67

Fernanda is a doctor in Ontario. According to your text, when her patient Manuel visits her office, what kind of space is Manuel entering?

A) a political space
B) a socialized space
C) a public space
D) a private space

Question 68

At the age of 68, Edith is diagnosed with diabetes and her husband Archie ensures that she takes her medication and eats properly. He takes her to the necessary doctor appointments. When Archie dies, which of the following would most likely be tending to Edith's health needs?

A) her daughter Sally
B) her son Michael
C) her brother Randy
D) her sister Ethel

Question 69

In an aging society, one type of health-care service that is especially important is home care. What percentage of public health-care expenditures is attributable to this significant service?

A) 2 to 4 percent
B) 8 to 10 percent
C) 12 to 14 percent
D) 18 to 20 percent

Question 70

Helen's mother had a hip replaced and was out of the hospital in three days. She had a home-care worker come in to help her, but Helen would have liked another few days of care in a hospital. What influence on the health-care system does the shortened hospital stay reflect?

A) a public health system
B) globalization
C) an aging population
D) gendered discrimination

Question 71

Several years ago, the province of Alberta contracted with an organization called Networc Health to provide knee, foot, and ankle surgeries. It was the only organization outside the Alberta Health Authority's government-run medical facilities to provide any surgical services. What term best describes Alberta's agreement with Networc Health?

A) contracting
B) privatization
C) outsourcing
D) rationalization

Question 72

People who need to see a physiotherapist on a referral from their doctor can wait to see one for free at a hospital. However, many people who have private health insurance or who can afford it go to a clinic and pay cash for their services. What is the term for the health care offered at the clinic?

A) an insurance-sponsored service
B) a privatized service
C) a cost-recovery service
D) a clinical service

Question 73

Ivan, age 55, treats himself for a variety of minor chronic complaints, and he consults with doctors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, and nutritionists. What is the term to describe what Ivan is doing?

A) self-improvement
B) self-care
C) self-preservation
D) self-awareness

Question 74

Which of the following is part of the current trend toward the globalization of health-care systems?

A) commercialization
B) deregulation
C) profitization
D) communication

Question 75

Eduardo spent his early life eating a high-fat diet, not exercising, and getting obese, which led to a severe stroke in his mid-50s, and now he is confined to wheelchair, with a short-term prognosis of more strokes. Which of the following perspectives best explains Eduardo's condition?

A) life course perspective
B) age as leveller hypothesis
C) hierarchy stress perspective
D) life-expectancy model

Question 76

Which of the following applies to the idea that seniors in modern-day Western societies are abandoned by their families?

A) It is a trend.
B) It is a fact.
C) It is overstated.
D) It is a myth.

Question 77

Which of the following is characteristic of home care in Canada?

A) Home care poses risks to the elderly because care providers are not professionals.
B) Home care is an integral part of medicare and a foundational health-care strategy.
C) Home care allows seniors to remain independent while living in their own homes.
D) Home care costs more than nursing homes because of its individualized service model.

Question 78

How is Canada's medicare system described in your text?

A) publicly financed health care through self-employed physicians
B) as the world's leading example of totally socialized medical care
C) run solely by the federal government, which guarantees coverage
D) includes only physician services and prescription medications

Question 79

A group of health-care professionals in a community all run their own private clinics, and would like to see the government sell the local hospital to them; they claim they can run it more efficiently and make a profit. If they are successful, which of the following terms would best fit this scenario?

A) profitization
B) medicalization
C) privatization
D) entrepreneurship

Question 80

What are the services that make up home care?

A) nursing, physiotherapy, and housekeeping services
B) in-home visits by physicians paid for by the government
C) medical services, such as nursing visits
D) services such as home making, provided just because you are old