Late Adulthood and Gender

Researchers estimate that by 2030, one in five Americans (i.e., about 72 million people) will be 65 years of age or older. As the total population of older adults continues to grow, and as the average life expectancy keeps increasing, it becomes particularly important to ensure that quality of life is maintained throughout later adulthood. It is necessary not only to address the physical concerns and changes that are so characteristic of old age but to focus on the mental and social aspects of healthy aging as well. One way to examine these primary domains of functioning (i.e., physical, mental, and social) is to consider how the construct of gender interacts with the major changes that occur throughout later adulthood. This entry discusses later adulthood ...