Explore What Constitutes an Age-Friendly Community and Learn How Cities, States, and Coutries are Preparing for Aging Populations

WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities
Resources, activity guides, and information about cities and communities in different parts of the world working at being age-friendly.

CDC Healthy Aging Research Network & Creating Aging-Friendly Communities
Center for Disease Control on-line resources, as well as online modules with recorded presentations, interactive discussion areas, and tools on key topics.

AARP Public Policy Institute Livable Communities
Resources to learn more about the benefits of livable communities, and access to publications on reports on housing, transportation, aging in place, universal design and other issues. Search for more AARP Resources on age-friendly, livable community initiatives and resources

• AARP Livable Communities at AARP.org/livable
• AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities
• AARP Livable Communities Policy
• AARP Livable Communities Research
• AARP Livability Index
• Twitter: @AARPLivable, @AARPpolicy, @AARPresearch

Books

• Creating Aging-Friendly Communities, by Andrew E. Scharlach and Amanda J. Lehning, (New York, NY: Oxford), 2016, 288 pages
• Age-Friendly Cities and Communities in International Comparison: Political Lessons, Scientific Avenues and Democratic Issues,  by Thibauld Moulaert and Suzanne Garon, (Cham: Springer), 2016, 337 pages
• The Global Age-Friendly Community Movement: A Critical Appraisal, by Philip B. Stafford (Berghahn Books, New York, NY), 2018,  286 pages
• Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: A Global Perspective by Buffel, T., Handler, S., & Phillipson, C. (Bristol: Policy Press), 2018, 276 pages

Useful Resources for Student Projects

Walk Score
Explore walkability profiles of communities and a get a walkability index for any address in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

WHO Age Friendly Cities Checklist (pdf)

WHO Age Friendly Cities Guide (pdf)

CDC Aging and the Environment Policy Brief (pdf)

CDC Neighborhood Wayfinding Assessment Guide (pdf)

AARP Livable Communities Guide (pdf)

Athletic Identity and Aging

Explore these interesting research approaches and findings about younger and older athletes by Dr. Cassandra Phoenix and colleagues, University of Exeter Medical School, European Centre for Environment and Human Health.

• Phoenix, C., & Griffin, M. (2013). Narratives at work: What can stories of older athletes do?Ageing & Society, 33, 243-266.
• Phoenix, C. (2010). Auto-photography in aging studies: Exploring issues of identity construction in mature bodybuilders. Journal of Aging Studies, 24, 167-180.
• Phoenix, C., Smith, B., & Sparkes, A. C. (2007). Experiences and expectations of biographical time among young athletes: A life course perspective. Time & Society, 16(2), 231-252.
• Phoenix, C., Sparkes, A. C. (2006). Young athletic bodies and narrative maps of aging. Journal of Aging Studies 20, 107-121.
• Phoenix, C., & Sparkes, A. C. (2008). Athletic bodies and aging in context: The narrative construction of experienced and anticipated selves in time. Journal of Aging Studies, 22, 211-221.
• Phoenix, C., Faulkner, G., Sparkes, A.C. (2005). Athletic identity and self-ageing: The dilemma of exclusivity. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 6, 335-347.

Older Athletes Compete

Age of Champions
Looking for a great film? This “award-winning PBS documentary follows five competitors who sprint, leap, and swim for gold at the National Senior Olympics. You'll meet a 100-year-old tennis champion, 86-year-old pole vaulter, and rough-and-tumble basketball grandmothers as they triumph over the limitations of age.”

National Senior Games Association (NSGA)This national organization is dedicated to promoting healthy and active lifestyles for athletes age 50 and over. A recognized multi-sport organization of the United States Olympic Committee, the NSGA is comprised of 49 Member Organizations and 2 Associate Member Organizations who conduct state or national multi-sport competitions, which serve as qualifiers for the National Senior Games.

Talk of Ages Tip – Check NSGA State Games Information to see what games are held in your state, and organize a class field trip or game support project.

Body Facts for Class Activity Projects
Poke a Muscle Anatomy Arcade allows you to discover information about different muscles.

Sports Injuries and the Aging Athlete This brief overview John E. Morley, M.D., gives you a glimpse of how the aging process and supposed “inevitable decline in physical capabilities” are related.

Talk of Ages Tip – Assign students to different areas discussed by Morley and have them examine in deeper detail the nature of the changes that are described – and, the extent to which they are “inevitable”, “variable”, and “consequential” for athletes. For an ongoing project, assemble information so that students in a future class can review, update, and extend the information.

Aging and Muscle Loss

Talk of Ages Tip – For an exercise in informational literacy, have students compare information from different sources about a particular topic – such as age-related muscle loss (see below). Do the different sources provide similar or different pictures of the physical consequences of aging?

• Doherty, T.J. (2003). Invited review: Aging and sarcopenia. Journal of Applied Physiology, 95, 1717–1727.
  
• Preserve your muscle mass. A comment in Harvard Men's Health Watch about the extent to which muscle loss is inevitable in aging and how decline can be managed.
  
• Preventing Sarcopenia Will Brink, Life Extension Magazine, discusses how prevent the steady loss of muscle mass that comes with aging.

Talk of Ages Tips 

Have students in your class work with a local council on aging or other community organization to prepare a directory for residents about area resources related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia-friendly initiatives.

Organize a class team to participate in your local Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Have students complete TimeSlips training and sponsor collaborative storytelling sessions with a local Memory Cafe.

Help students organize and become Dementia Friends.

Explore These Resources to Learn about AD and Other Dementias and Find Resources to Incorporate in Your Classes

Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral Center  NIA site providing current and comprehensive information and resources on Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Alzheimer's Association The world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research.

The Dementia Action Alliance USA is a non-profit national advocacy and education organization of people living with dementia, care partners, friends and dementia specialists committed to creating a better country in which to live with dementia.

Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet Brief, downloadable overview of information about brain changes and causes, diagnosing and treating AD, supporting families and caregivers, and more.

Explore information, resources, and national plan reports related to AD and related dementias provided by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the lead institute within NIH for Alzheimer's research, which highlights recent NIH-supported research findings and related projects. 

Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) The international federation of Alzheimer associations around the globe, with official relations with the World Health Organization.  

World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO offers a downloadable report "Dementia: A Public Health Priority" developed jointly by  WHO and Alzheimer's Disease International aimed at increasing awareness of dementia as a public health priority, articulating a public health approach and advocating for action at international and national levels. Fact sheets are also available.

Explore Alzheimer's Disease from a Personal Perspective
Thomas DeBaggio, a nationally known herb grower and gardening, chronicles his experience with early onset Alzheimer's before his death at the age of 69 in his books:

• Losing My Mind: An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer's (2002) Thomas DeBaggio
• When It Gets Dark, An Enlightened Reflection on Life with Alzheimer's (2003) Thomas DeBaggio

Also listen to his story in this series of NPR interviews:

• An Alzheimer's Journal, Part 1
  All Things Considered, 22 December 1999
• An Alzheimer's Journal, Part 2
  All Things Considered, 16 March 2000
• An Alzheimer's Journal, Part 3
  All Things Considered, 11 July 2000
• An Alzheimer's Journal, Part 4
  All Things Considered, 22 November 2000
• Tom DeBaggio's Alzheimer's Journey Continues
  All Things Considered, 19 May 2005
• Caring for a Husband With Alzheimer's
  All Things Considered, 20 May 2005
• Revisiting Tom DeBaggio, and Life with Alzheimer's
  All Things Considered, April 12, 2007 

What They Had (2018)  From first-time writer/director Elizabeth Chomko, What They Had centers on a family in crisis. Bridget (Hilary Swank) returns home to Chicago at her brother's (Michael Shannon) urging to deal with her ailing mother (Blythe Danner) and her father's (Robert Forster) reluctance to let go of their life together. Drawn from Chomko's grandmother's experience with Alzheimer's Disease

Still Alice (2009) "Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the Cape, is a celebrated Harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. As confusion starts to cloud her thinking and her memory begins to fail her, she receives a devastating diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer's disease." Description from Worldcat.org. A fictional account of AD written by author Lisa Genova, who holds a PhD in neuroscience.

The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's  "A Primetime Emmy award-winning documentary that takes a dramatic, compassionate, all-encompassing look at the growing epidemic of Alzheimer's disease. The cornerstone of the project is a 90-minute documentary based on David Shenk's best-selling book. Like Shenk's book, the documentary weaves together the history and biology of the disease, the intense real-world experiences of Alzheimer's patients and caregivers, and the race to find a cure."

Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter: A film by Deborah Hoffmann  "With profound insight and a healthy dose of levity, Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter chronicles the various stages of a mother's Alzheimer's Disease and the evolution of a daughter's response to the illness. The desire to cure the incurable-to set right her mother's confusion and forgetfulness, to temper her mother's obsessiveness-gives way to an acceptance which is finally liberating for both daughter and mother. Neither depressing nor medical, Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter is much more than a story about Alzheimer's and family caregiving. It is ultimately a life-affirming exploration of family relations, aging and change, the meaning of memory, and love."

Teepa Snow  Teepa Snow, dementia and Alzheimer's expert, offers resources and event opportunities for students and practitioners to learn more about the experience of AD from the perspective of individuals with the disease, family members, and care providers.

For an Overview of Issues

American Psychological Association (APA). Explore recent publications, webinars, and activities related to APA cognitive aging efforts. Highlighted are dementia and other age-related cognitive change resources.

Resources for Developing Class Activities

GoCognitive
Free access to materials for students, educators, and researchers in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Great for exploring the basics and hot topics, as students learn about cognition and aging.

Psychological Tutorials and Demonstrations
A site maintained by Professor John Krantz, Hanover College, with a variety of demonstrations,  tutorials, and other links to resources focusing on cognition, sensation, and perception. Have students make and discuss age predictions!

National Center for Creative Aging
The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging . Explore NCAA's website for resources, event news, and other useful information. 

Rembrandt van Rijn: Selected Self-Portraits
"No artist has left a loftier or more penetrating personal testament than Rembrandt van Rijn. In more than 90 portraits of himself that date from the outset of his career in the 1620s to the year of his death in 1669, he created an autobiography in art that is the equal of the finest ever produced in literature..." Use Rembrandt's portraits to generate discussions about changes in character, style, perspective, and other components of lifespan development - and demonstrate how the creative process is lifelong.

TimeSlips

"Founded by MacArthur Fellow Anne Basting, TimeSlips supports a global movement to bring meaning to late life through creative engagement...We began with one volunteer in 1998. We became an independent non-profit in 2013, and now train and certify individuals and organizations across the world.  There are currently 800+ Certified Facilitators, and 48 Creative Communities of Care with 65 more in the pipeline." Students may complete the online course (for a small fee) and use their skills to bring collaborative storytelling to older adults with dementia in the community. 

Use Anne Basting's TED Talk "When Art if the Only Medicine" to open a class conversation about art, aging, and dementia.

Talk of Ages Tip  Have your art class develop a community art project that brings together older and younger adults. For example, celebrate National Poetry Month in April by having students craft banners that capture favorite poems of older community members and display them in May at your institution in recognition of Older Americans Month sponsored by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) .

A Few Other Resources

Creativity and Aging (pdf)
A bibliography prepared by John A. Krout, PhD, Ithaca College Gerontology Institute, for the Linden Center for Creativity and Aging.

Writing, Life Stories and Creativity in Later Life (pdf)
A bibliography prepared by Ellen B. Ryan, PhD, McMaster University, for Writing Aging and Spirit.

Syllabi Abound on the Web on Courses about Death and Dying - and Instructors are Often Willing to Share Experiences and Recommedations - Feel Free to Explore and Connect

Some Useful Resources for Class Activities

The Conversation Project
Information and resources for individuals of all ages to learn how to think about and talk about your wishes for end-of-life care and decisions.

Aging with Dignity
Tools such as Five Wishes to guide you through expressing how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself.

Dartmouth Atlas Project
From Dartmouth University, information and interactive maps to explore variations in health care (including end-of-life care and care of chronic illness in the last years of life), across the US.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The largest philanthropy devoted to health and health care in America, providing reports of funded and other work, search publications for work on dying and end-of-life.

Death with Dignity National Center
Organization whose mission is to promote Death with Dignity laws based on their model legislation, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, to provide an option for dying individuals and to stimulate nationwide improvements in end-of-life care.

For Screening and Discussion Consider - ABC News Presents Interviews with Morrie Schwartz: Lessons on Living - "What can this old guy tell me that's going to help me when I get to a similar point?'' Ted Koppel put that question to Morrie Schwartz during an interview conducted before the popular Brandeis sociology professor died of ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Morrie's illness gradually destroyed nerve cells in his body, leading him on a slow physical decline throughout which his mind remained sound, lucid, and even playful. This ABC News report caught the attention of one of Schwartz's former students, sportswriter Mitch Albom. He was motivated to begin visiting with his former teacher, which led to the best-selling book Tuesdays with Morrie. Through it all, Schwartz demonstrates his hard-won wisdom with humor, wit, and candor that are truly amazing. (58 minutes)"

Talk of Ages Tip Have students read and reflect on books written for young children about death and dying as a way to open the discussion about issues of importance and concern. 

Children's Books about Death, Loss, and Greiving
From Gewn Glazer (2017, New York Public Library) "Many children must face the terminal illness and death of pets, grandparents, other friends and family members, and more. Even children who aren't directly dealing with loss or grieving often still have questions about the concepts. Our children's book experts put together a list of picture books on the topic. It's always a good idea-especially for sensitive emotional issues such as these-to read through a book yourself before you read it to a child to make sure you're comfortable, but we believe these sensitive and straightforward portrayals can help kids of many ages."

How to Talk to an Older Driver

Dugan, E. (2006) The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and Their Families, New York: Harper Collins Publishers
Make a difficult conversation easier armed with information from this resource guide aimed at helping facilitate the conversation about age and driving. This resource includes scripted conversations and helpful facts to talk with older drivers about their driving.

Talking about Driving
Use these resources to explore how individuals and family confront aging-related driving issues

Aging and Driving
Read about what to expect as a person ages and how driving ability is affected, along with safety tips and alternatives.

The Driving Conversation
Listen to one person's story about when to have the conversation about older drivers losing driving privileges.

Talk of Ages Tip:  Have students develop a brochure that provides information about talking with older adults about driving concerns.

A New Age for Driving

Keep on Truckin'
This article pinpoints that age alone does not determine who is safe behind the wheel. Older drivers who tended to overestimate their abilities were more at risk of being involved in an accident. Older drivers who know their limits are safer drivers.

MIT AgeLab - Transportation & Community
Find out how MIT's Agelab is exploring factors that predict driver safety. Working with Harvard Medical School they are conducting research to better understand how older driver fitness plays a part in driver safety. See what new technologies MIT researchers are exploring such as brain training and vehicle technology to help older drivers stay safe.

Talk of Ages Tip:  Organize a Driving Design Competition that challenges students to come up with new products, devices, apps and technologies to address age-related driving issues.

Organization Resources

Car and Driver Safety
Explore AAA for information about car safety and driver refresher courses.

Know the Signs
Check out the handy advice that AARP gives about the 10 signs to consider when an older person's driving becomes an issue. There are safety concerns that may limit or restrict older adult driving.

Educational Resources
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a variety of educational resources about driving considerations as we age.

Taking a Back Seat

Next Steps
This is an older study, but alerts the reader to the importance of finding alternative transportation when older adults no longer drive. The study showed the obvious fact that out of home activities dropped sharply when people gave up driving. It is important for older adults to maintain their mobility so they may remain active.

Additional Web Resources

State by State Look at Driving Rules for Older Drivers
What are your state requirements regarding licenses for older adults - do you need a medical examination, vision screening, doctor's approval?  Check this state by state look at how licensure is handled for older adults.

Get the Facts
Explore these resources for a basic overview of the nature and consequences of experiences which contribute to trauma

Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect The Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
This factsheet explains the long-term physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences of child abuse and neglect.


PTSD: National Center for PTSD - US Department of Veterans Affairs
Resources include review of research on PTSD in older adults, including trauma exposure, epidemiology, reemergence of symptoms, and Late-Onset Stress Symptomatology (LOSS). Also see PTSD 101 course, along with information about assessment and treatment.

Early Trauma and Later Aging
Explore these resources for an introduction to some of the aging-related consequences of trauma experienced earlier in life

Graziano, R. (2003). Trauma and aging. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 40, 3-21.
In this overview of basic issues, Graziano "defines stress, trauma and post-traumatic stress reactions; explores issues of trauma and aging; enumerates elderly populations at risk; and considers ways in which social workers can incorporate a trauma framework into their practice with older adults."

Puterman, E., Gemmill, A., Karasek, D., Weir, D., Adler, N. E., Prather, A. A., & Epel, E. S. (2016). Lifespan adversity and later adulthood telomere length in the nationally representative US Health and Retirement Study. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(42), E6335-E6342. doi:10.1073/pnas.1525602113

Talk of Ages Tip - Trauma and Aging "In the News"
How is contemporary research on trauma and aging reported in the news? Have students read news reports such as those below, track down the original research, and evaluate how it compares to what is reported. Consider questions such as: Were the major findings well-represented? Where any additional or qualifying findings not reported? What other information from the original research was not reported that may be of use of readers to know? Were research limitations addressed? What additional questions would you have raised if you were the news reporter?

Gregg, V.R. (1999, Summer). When abused children grow up. Emory Medicine Magazine Children exposed to abuse are more prone to obesity, heart disease, cancer, depression, and other chronic health problems later in life as adults.

Tokar, S. (2011, April 22). Risk of accelerated aging seen in PTSD patients with childhood trauma. University of California, San Francisco Adults with PTSD and a history of childhood trauma have significantly shorter telomere length than those with PTSD but without childhood trauma.

An Overview of the Issues

National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) Directed by the U.S. Administration on Aging, NCEA is a resource for policy makers, social service and health care practitioners, the justice system, researchers, advocates, and families Data from the Adult Protective Services (APS) agency shows an increase in trends in its report on elder abuse.

National Council on Aging (NCOA) on Public Policy & Action provides information on elder abuse statistics as well as links to a variety of "learn more" resources.

Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect UC Irvine's comprehensive site provides a wide range of information about elder abuse of relevance to different disciplines - judicial, law enforcement, legal, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social service, and multidisciplinary. Bonus - a variety of teaching materials.

American Psychological Association: Elder Abuse and Neglect The APA Office on Aging describes different types of abuse and neglect, along with information about warning signs, caregiver issues, and prevention methods.

Learning through Personal Stories

An Age for Justice: Confronting Elder Abuse in America A video produced by the Elder Justice Now Campaign shows families and individuals whose lives have experienced elder abuse - depicting the multiple ways that elder abuse can be endured through physical, emotional, financial, and psychological. 

What Should I Do?

US Department of Justice elder abuse statutes. Do laws exist that address elder abuse, neglect and exploitation? The DOJ site describes current federal laws in place.  

American Bar Association The ABA Commission on Law and Aging leads the association in strengthening and securing the legal rights, dignity, autonomy, quality of life and quality of care of older adults. The Commission accomplishes its work through research, policy development, advocacy, education, training and through assistance to lawyers, bar associations and others working on aging issues. 

Administration on Community Living (ACL) Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation.  This program provides federal leadership in strengthening elder justice strategic planning and direction for programs, activities, and research related to elder abuse awareness and prevention. This program trains law enforcement officers, health care providers, and other professionals on how to recognize and respond to elder abuse; supports outreach and education campaigns to increase public awareness of elder abuse and how to prevent it; and supports the efforts of state and local elder abuse prevention coalitions and multidisciplinary teams. For an overview of this program, visit the National Center on Elder Abuse section of ACL's website or the NCEA website.

Elder Abuse Scenarios for Nursing Students  The Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect offers scenarios describing what actions nurses should take when an elderly person is showing signs of abuse.

What Can We Do?

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched on June 15th, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Organization at the United Nations.

Talk of Ages Tip: Organize a class project to raise awareness about elder abuse, arrange for students to volunteer at a local community program with at-risk older adults, or have your students plan an event to promote a better understanding of abuse for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Life in the Military

Wilmoth, J. M., & London, A. S. (Eds.). (2013). Life course perspectives on military service. New York, NY: Routledge.
"This edited volume provides a comprehensive and critical review of what we know about military service and the life course, what we don't know, and what we need to do to better understand the role of military service in shaping people's lives."  In addition to exploring how military experience impacts the lives of soldiers, families, and friends, it also provides insights into issues of diverse military groups such as gay, lesbian and transgender soldiers.

Sebastien Junger: Why Veterans Miss War  In this TED Talk, journalist Sebastian Junger explores what happens to make soldiers want to go back into war once they leave. Junger, a veteran, explains the intensity of war and how combat forges connections among soldiers which they miss.

Impact of Military Service

A considerable amount of research has explored the ill effects of military service, along with more contemporary views of positive effects. Explore these resources for an introduction to the issues.

Teachman, J. (2012). Military service and the life course: An assessment of what we know. National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) report.
A brief orienting overview of diverse realms of outcomes including crime and delinquency, marriage and divorce, socioeconomic attainment, and health, with references for further exploration.

Vincent, A. S., Roebuck-Spencer, T. M., & Cernich, A. (2014). Cognitive changes and dementia risk after traumatic brain injury: Implications for aging military personnel. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 10(3), S174-S187. The Alzheimer's Association offers an overview of long term cognitive neurocognitive and neuropathologic consequences of aging military personal who sustain traumatic brain injuries while in service. Extensive references offer additional information.

Spiro, A. III & Settersten, R.A. Jr. (Editors), (2012). Special Issue: Military service in the life course: Implications for later-life health and well-being. Research in Human Development, Volume 9.  This Special Issue highlights the pressing need for a lifespan approach to the effects of military service that considers both positive and negative effects. Consideration is given to both men and women veterans.

Life after Military Service: War Stories

The way we get by/ A film by Aron Gaudet ; written and directed by Aron Gaudet ; produced by Gita Pullapilly.  "The SXSW Special Jury Award winning "The Way We Get By" is a deeply moving film about life and how to live it. Beginning as a seemingly idiosyncratic story about troop greeters - a group of senior citizens who gather daily at a small airport to thank American soldiers departing and returning from Iraq, the film quickly turns into a moving, unsettling and compassionate story about aging, loneliness, war and mortality."

The Veterans History Project "The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war."

Talk of Ages Tip
Have students contribute to this national initiative by collecting first-hand accounts of U.S. veterans and civilians who supported them during war time - with VHP Field Kits, interviewing guidelines, and other useful project materials that are provided.

Art Program for Seniors and Veterans  Sponsored by Art beyond Sight (ABS) whose mission is to "make art, art history, and visual culture accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired".

Talk of Ages Tip
Explore what ABS suggests for setting up a student-community art program with older veterans through an intergenerational art class or art-making activities.

Research "Notes" to Get Students Thinking

Hays, T., Bright, R., & Minichiello, V. (2002). The contribution of music to positive aging: A review. Journal of Aging & Identity, 7, 165-175. A review of evidence regarding the role of music in promoting health and well-being, and how it can produce positive psychological and physiological benefits for aging individuals.  

Bennett, A. (2013). Music, style, and aging: growing old disgracefully? Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Cultural sociologist Andy Bennett explores “how the music that "mattered" to most people in their youth continues to play an important role in their adult lives - a role that goes well beyond nostalgia.”

Hanna-Pladdy, B., & MacKay, A. (2011). The relation between instrumental musical activity and cognitive aging, Neuropsychology, 25, 378-386. Intensive repetitive musical practice can lead to bilateral cortical reorganization. The present study show that musical sensorimotor and cognitive abilities can also transfer to nonmusical cognitive abilities that are maintained throughout the life span.

Noice, T., Noice, H., & Kramer, A. F. (2014) Participatory arts for older adults: A review of benefits and challenges, Gerontologist, 54, 741-753.This article reviews the scientific literature on the enhancement of healthy aging in older adults through active participation in the arts, including music. 

Kraus N., & Anderson S. (2013) Music training: An antidote for aging? Hearing Journal. 66, 52.

White-Schwoch, T., Carr, K.W., Anderson,S., Strait, D. L. & Kraus, N. (2013). Older adults benefit from music training early in life: Biological evidence for long-term training-driven plasticity, The Journal of Neuroscience, 33, 17667-17674.

Music and Aging “In the News”

Talk of Ages Tip 

Fact checking! Does research support claims in popular news about music and aging? Have students read news reports such as those below and evaluate the extent to which empirical research supports the information and claims that are discussed. Consider questions such as: Were actual research findings reported? If so, were they accurately presented? Was qualifying information overlooked? If not, have students locate research to support, refute, or qualify the claims that were made.

Making news!  Have students select empirical reports and craft popular media reports based on the information. Assign several students to write reports from the same information. Compare reports and discuss components and challenges of scientific writing for a popular audience.

Your Aging Brain Will Be in Better Shape If You’ve Taken Music Lessons
This article talks about how musicians have better memory and mental ability than those that had little to no experience.

Playing for Time: Can Music Stave off Dementia
This article explains how music can impact the brain throughout the aging process – giving a personal account from an older master musician.

Using Music as Medicine for Seniors and Caregivers
This article talks about music therapies in retirement facilities across America and how they have can help patients with brain problems.

Can Music Slow Down the Aging Process
This article says that music has “slown down the aging process” because it keeps your mind stimulated. It claims that even by watching shows such as Glee or American idol, your mind is stimulated by music and therefore has a higher chance of staying healthier with age.

Musicians’ Brains might have an Edge on Aging
This article claims music can “soothe the savage beast” of the mind going through the aging process.

Musical Experience Offsets Some Aging Effects: Older Musicians Excel in Memory and Hearing Speech in Noise Compared to Non-Musicians
This article explains how researchers have found a connection between music and the higher activity of the aged human’s brain.

From The Mouth of Musicians

Music is Medicine, Music is Sanity
In his TED talk, violinist Robert Gupta talks about a personal experience with a schizophrenic musician and the powerful impact of music.

Alive Inside Us
“A joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music. His camera reveals the uniquely human connection we find in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short.” Winner of the 2014 Sundance Audience Award.

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song
Documentary of the long life and contributions of folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger.

Buena Vista Social Club
“Aging Cuban musicians whose talents had been virtually forgotten following Castro's takeover of Cuba, are brought out of retirement by Ry Cooder, who travelled to Havana in order to bring the musicians together, resulting in triumphant performances of extraordinary music, and resurrecting the musicians' careers.

Young@Heart
The mission of the Young@Heart Chorus is to present a unique and positive image of aging through the creation of originally staged musical and theater performances that incorporate songs not commonly sung by older Americans. Watch their film – or check tour dates and see a live performance!

Looking for a textbook for class or background reading? Consider one of these books.

• Czaja, S.J.,  Boot, W.R., Charness, N., & Rogers W. A. (2019). Designing For Older Adults: Principles and Creative Human Factors Approaches (3rd ed.), CRC Press
• Mann, W. (2005). Smart Technology For Aging, Disability, and Independence: The State of the Science,  Wiley-Interscience
  

• Prendergast, D. & Garattini, C. (eds), 2015, Aging and the Digital Life Course, Berghahn Books

• Sixsmith, A, &  Gutman, G.M.  (Eds.) (2013). Technologies for Active Aging,  Springer

Looking for information on new technologies and aging? Explore the resources below.

Gerontechnology
Website of the International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) and the Gerontechnology Journal.  "ISG encourages and promotes technological innovations in products and services that address older peoples' ambitions and needs on the basis of scientific knowledge about ageing processes including cultural and individual differences."

The Center for Technology and Aging
 "The Center is a national leader in the use of patient-centered technologies for older adults. We take our distinctive experience and unique insights and work with health care providers, aging service organizations, payers, philanthropies, and technology companies to accelerate the diffusion of proven technologies."

CREATE - Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement
 "CREATE is a multidisciplinary and collaborative center founded in 1999. It is dedicated to ensure that the benefits of technology can be realized by older adults to support and enhance the independence, productivity, health, safety, social connectedness and quality of life of older people. The center strives to develop and evaluate interventions and design solutions to promote successful technology adoption among older adults."

The LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)
 "CAST is leading the charge to expedite the development, evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies that can improve the aging experience." Explore the interactive website to see what new technologies and tools are being tested and implemented.

Aging as an Extreme Sport
In the TED talk, Joseph F. Coughlin, founder and Director of MIT's AgeLab, explains why our increasing life expectancy necessitates the development of new technologies to inform designers who create products and experiences for an aging population.

Talk of Ages Tip - Have students design technology devices, apps, and related products that address a particular age-related need or problem.  Make it even more interesting as a "Design Competition" with older adults from a local organization such as the Council on Aging serving as judges.

On the Web - About the Web, and Aging

Pew Research Center
Want some information on technology trends? The Pew Research Center offers reports on technology use in older adults, as well as a range of other contemporary age-related internet and technology issues is a website that has large amounts of research available that outlines fears and help groups for the elderly adapting in technology.    

AARP Technology
Want an accessible way to orient students to evolving issues? Have student explore what AARP has to offer about aging and technology in its feature articles, along with fact sheets and technology resources. 

An Introduction to Research Perspectives

Lindauer, M. (2003). Aging, creativity, and art: A positive perspective on late-life development. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum  This book explores the strengths and opportunities of old age as manifested by the accomplishments of aging artists, late artistic works, and elderly arts audiences.

Lindauer, M. L.  (1992). Creativity in aging artists: Contributions from the humanities to the psychology of old age, Creativity Research Journal, 5, 211-231   "The predominant psychological view of creativity over the life course is that it declines. However, discussions in the humanities, and in particular art history, paint a different picture."

Sohm, P. (2007). The artist grows old: The aging of art and artists in Italy, 1500-1800. New Haven: Yale University Press The art historian Philip Sohm considers some of the greatest artists of Renaissance and Baroque Italy and their experiences of aging.

Lives of Aging Artists

Talk of Ages Tip - Enjoy watching this portrayal with your class as they explore Rembrandt's portraits across his life span Rembrandt van Rijn: Selected Self-Portraits - and, see what connections emerge to contemporary knowledge about adult development and aging.

Rembrandt (1936) This classic (1936) film follows the life of the artist Rembrandt, and his work as he grows older.
Movie Review: Rembrandt (1936) "Laughton's Portrait of 'Rembrandt', at Rivoli, Bears the Authentic Imprint - Criterion Items"

Talk of Ages Tip - Have students explore the lives and work of contemporary artists into their older years - examine developmental changes in their art and how you're never too old to express yourself in new ways.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Chuck Close Biography
Biography of the artist Chuck Close known for his highly inventive techniques used to depict the human face.

Chuck Close: A Portrait in Progress (1998)
Since Chuck Close first exhibited his series of black-and-white portrait heads his paintings have fascinated the public and inspired discussions about the diverse nature of portraiture and the artist.

Chuck Close: Advice to Artists During a Crisis
Talk by the contemporary artist about the best time to make art is when everyone thinks art is dead.

Frank Gehry Biography - Academy of Achievement (September 23, 2014)
Biography of the architect Frank Gehry and his life as an artist.  

Sketches of Frank Gehry
A closer look at the work of Frank Gehry across his life time.

Matzkin, A. & Matzkin, R. (2009) The Art of Aging: Celebrating the Authentic Aging Self Boulder, CO: Sentient Publications
In their award winning book, painter and sculptor Richard Matzkin share the wisdom of elder mentors to look for the positive side of growing older and to come to acceptance and appreciation of their aging.

Women of Age - Portraits of Wisdom Beauty and Strength
 "As she ages, artist Alice Matzkin becomes increasingly disturbed by the signs of aging she is experiencing. Using paint and canvas to work through her fear and curiosity about growing old, she embarks on a quest to find women elders who can help her come."

Engaging Organizations

Talk of Ages Tip - Looking for ideas, information, and guidance about setting up a student/class-community program around art and aging? See what these organizations have to offer.

NCCA: National Center for Creative Aging
Dedicated to an understanding of the relationship between creative expression and healthy aging, NCAA offers a range of resources to explore for teaching and learning.

Art Beyond Sight
Dedicated to supporting older adults to use their talents and experiences to become involved in the arts as creators, teachers, mentors, volunteers, and audiences.

In the News - Aging and Art

Talk of Ages Tip - What's popular media communicating about art and aging?  Can your students find examples to bring the information to life?  Can they find research to support, refute, or qualify the claims?  Use the references below to build assignment around these questions.

You Become Better with Age
Read about artists hitting their peak point at the age 50 and older. As these artists age, their art becomes more creative. You may never be too old to start an art career.

Ask GYST: Aging as an Artist
With age people may lose some physical and mental strengths, but with age artists don't lose creativity or stop making work.

Some Teaching Resources

Personality Pedagogy
A compendium of resources for the teaching of personality psychology, including assignments, case studies, lecture notes, tests, scales, and more.

Psychology Tests and Surveys
A variety of online demonstrations gathered by BBC Science that students can use to explore their own personal attributes. Explore how younger students think older students might perform - better yet, have students of different ages compare actual observations for discussion.

Some Recommended Readings Research on personality and aging has generated a wealth of empirical approaches, findings, and applications. This set of papers offers a broad-based view of the field - and, excellent reading materials for advanced level classes in aging and adult development.

New Directions in Aging Research
Hooker, K. & McAdams, D. P. (2003). Personality reconsidered: A new agenda for aging research.  Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58,  P296-P304.

Commentaries
Mroczek, D. K., & Spiro, A. (2003). Personality structure and process, variance between and within: integration by means of a developmental framework.  Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, P305-P306. 

Robert R. McCrae (2003). Expansion, integration, and omission: Some thoughts on a new agenda.  Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, P307-P308.

Seth A. Wagerman, Lawrence D. Wright, & David C. Funder (2003).Personality reconsidered: A considered response.   Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, P309-P310.

Authors' Reply
Hooker, K. & McAdams, D. P. (2003). Personality and adult development: looking beyond the OCEAN.  Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, P311-P312.  

An Introduction to Basic Issues

New Dimensions in Spirituality, Religion, and Aging (2018, edited  by Vern L Bengtson, Merril Silverstein) expands the traditional focus of religiosity to include and evaluate recent research and discoveries on the role of secular spirituality in the aging process. Chapter contributors examine the ways conventional religion and other forms of spirituality affect human development, health and longevity, and they demonstrate how myth-creation enables humans to make meaning in their lives. Taken together, the book points to further research to enhance current knowledge, approaches to care, and social policies.

Levin J., Chatters L.M., & Taylor R.J. (2011). Theory in religion and aging: An overview. Journal of Religion and Health, 50, 2, 389-406.  This brief overview of issues in religion, aging, and health offers both a primer on theory and a roadmap for researchers.

Explore more about research findings and theoretical perspectives in the Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging (2005 - current), formerly known as the Journal of Religious Gerontology (1991 2004) and the Journal of Religion & Aging (1984 - 1990).

Demographics and Datasets

Pew Research Religion and Public Life Project
Launched in 2001, the Pew initiative aims to promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. Explore information on age demographics and related issues regarding various religions in the United States.

Religion, Aging, and Health Survey
Looking for empirical resources for student research projects? Explore this publicly accessible data collection that looks at religion, self-rated health, depression, and psychological well-being in US older Blacks and older Whites, aged 65 and over.

Exploring Diversity

Talk of Ages Tip – Have students explore the nature and implications of religion and aging in different religious and cultural groups…and, present their findings as posters or videos to share with others. Here are some references to get started.

Chatters, L. M., Nguyen, A. W., & Taylor, R. J. (2014). Religion and spirituality among older African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. In K. E. Whitfield, T. A. Baker, C. M. Abdou, J. L. Angel, L. A. Chadiha, K. Gerst-Emerson, ... R. J. Thorpe (Eds.) , Handbook of minority aging (pp. 47-64). New York, NY, US: Springer Publishing Co.

Dillon, M., & Wink, P. (2007). In the Course of a Lifetime: Tracing Religious Belief, Practice, and Change. Berkeley, CA, US: University of California Press.Provides an unprecedented portrait of the dynamic role religion plays in the everyday experiences of Americans over the course of their lives.

Tilak, S. (1989) Religion and Aging in the Indian Tradition. United States of America: State University of New York, Albany.

Koenig, H. G., & Al Shohaib, S. (2014). Health and Well-Being in Islamic Societies: Background, Research, and Applications. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Organization Resources

The Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging (FORSA) of the American Society on Aging (ASA)
“FORSA constitutes a national, multidisciplinary and nondenominational community of professionals committed to examining and fostering the spiritual dimension of human existence as a central element in the aging process and to fostering an appreciation for the importance of incorporating an awareness of this dimension into all the disciplines that make up the fascinating world of gerontology.”

Where to Learn About the Issues

The Longevity Economy in Each of the 50 States. This AARP report from a study by Oxford Economics  illustrates the percentage of people 50+ living in each county, state population growth by age through 2040, the impact of the Longevity Economy on State GDP, jobs, income, and state & local taxes, consumer spending, workforce participation, and their occupations.

Schultz, J.H.,, & Binstock, R.H. (2006). Aging Nation: The Economics and Politics of Growing Older in America, Praeger: Westport, CT. While these experts agree that there is cause for concern as populations age, a demographic tsunami is not inevitable. "Drawing from the most current data, the authors provide an in-depth analysis of the nation's evolving private and public policies on retirement, faltering employer pensions, health care, workplace conditions, and entitlement programs. They consider such timely issues as poverty among older people, rejoining the workforce after retirement, Social Security and health care reform, as well as the rise of elderly people as a powerful political force."

Drolet, A., Schwarz. N., & Yoon, C. (Eds.) (2010). The Aging Consumer: Perspectives From Psychology and Economics (Marketing and Consumer Psychology Series). New York: Routledge "This edited volume, written by experts in many fields, examines the economic and psychological research on how aging consumers behave, make decisions, and choose in the marketplace. The book takes stock of what is known, identifies gaps and open questions, and outlines an agenda for future research. It covers topics from the individual to the societal level of analysis."


 

"Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it's an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole."   Eudora Welty, One Writer's Beginnings (William E.Massey Senior Lectures in the History of American Civilization)

Story Projects Ready for Class Participation
The Legacy Project: Lessons on Living from the Wisest American
The Legacy Project has systematically collected practical advice from over 1500 older Americans who have lived through extraordinary experiences and historical events.  The site includes interviews on diverse themes and other resources.

StoryCorps
StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews from more than 80,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Millions listen to our weekly broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition and on StoryCorps' Listen Page.   

To open class discussion about the power of stories, listen to Dave Isay's  TEDtalk about how StoryCorps came about - and how it changed his relationship with his dad and his life. Everyone has a story the world needs to hear

The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center
The Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Materials are available for students to participate in gathering stories, and resources for educators are available.

Teaching Resources for Interviewing and Communicating across Generations

Read about conducting interviews: Moving Stories Project: Conducting Culturally Competent Oral History Interviews with Older Adults (pdf). Learn one project's outcomes: Maschi , T., MacMillan , T., Pardasani, M., Lee, J. S., & Moreno, C. L. (2013). Moving Stories: Evaluation of an MSW experiential learning project on aging and diversity, Journal of Social Work Education, 49, 461-475.

Communicating with Older Adults - An Evidence-Based Review of What Really Works (developed by the Gerontological Society of America) (pdf)

Lesson Plans on Aging Issues: Interview of an Older Adult (pdf)

Lesson Plans on Aging Issues: Witnesses to U.S. History (pdf)

ICAA's Guidelines for Effective Communication with Older Adults (pdf)
This guide, published June 2011 by the International Council on Active Aging, is also available with supporting resources at: www.changingthewayweage.com.

Interviewing Older Adults & Life Review - A Sample Syllabus (pdf)

Meltzer, P. J., Abbott, P., & Spradling, P. (2003). Teaching gerontology using the self-discovery tapestry -- An innovative instrument. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, 23(2), 49-63.

The following resources explore women and aging, especially issues related to the notion of a double standard. However, gender-related issues intersect with aging in much broader ways, well beyond this perspective. Share your resources with Talk of Ages that explore these issues!

The Look at Me!
Images of Women & Ageing Project explores and challenge perceptions of older women in society.

Clothing & Age: The Changing Role of Dress in the Constitution of Age
This unique site reflects a series of interconnected research projects on the subject of clothing and age, and is part of a continuing research agenda undertaken by Professor Julia Twigg at the University of Kent.

Fabulous after 40
Fabulous after 40 is a free online Fashion and Beauty magazine and social media community that publishes rich content on a daily basis to "help women 40, 50 and beyond to look stylish and feel confident".  It's an example of contemporary personal approaches which have emerged in social media around women and aging.

Centre for Women, Ageing and Media (WAM)
WAM is a research group consisting of scholars who are working together to explore a range of research themes focusing on older women and popular media forms (digital technologies, film, popular music and television). Explore WAM's site for a variety of resources from bibliographies and publications to these interesting and useful links:

The Double Standard of Aging: Some Research References
Berman, P. W., O'Nan, B.A., & Floyd, W. (1981). The double standard of aging and the social situation: Judgments of attractiveness of the middle-aged woman. Sex Roles, 7, 87-96.

Canetto, S. S., Patricia L. Kaminski, P.L., & Felicio, D. M. (1995). Typical and optimal aging women and men: Is there a double standard? The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 40, 187-207.

Deutsch, F. M., Zalenski, C. M., & Clark, M. E. (1986). Is there a double standard of aging?  Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 16, 771-785. 

Kite, M. E., Deaux, K & Miele, M. (1991). Stereotypes of young and old: Does age outweigh gender? Psychology and Aging, 6 (1), 19-27.

Narayana, C. (2008). Is there a double standard of aging? Older men and women and ageism. Educational Gerontology, 34, 782-787.

Sontag, S. (1972). The double standard of aging. Saturday Review of Literature, 39, 29-38.

Teuscher, U., & Teuscher, C. (2007).  Reconsidering the double standard of aging: effects of gender and sexual orientation on facial attractiveness ratings. Personality and Individual Differences, 42,  631-639.

Wilcox, S. (1997). Age and gender in relation to body attitudes: Is there a double standard of aging?  Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 549-565.

Additional Resources

Journal of Women and Aging
Through a variety of disciplines and a blend of scholarly and clinical articles, the Journal of Women & Aging provides practitioners, educators, researchers, and administrators with a comprehensive guide to the unique challenges facing women in their later years.

National Women's History Project
The mission of National Women's History Project is to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs.

Women Watch
Women Watch is the United Nations Inter-Agency Network in Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) site which provides access to U.N. resources devoted to women's issues and ending discrimination.  The site also has information about nongovernmental organizations concerned with women's issues.