Sociological theory and literature in the study of disparities in health and access to care in old age has, with few exceptions, not considered important political contexts for the aging AI/AN community. Political histories have unique implications for this population, and particularly those in old age. Native Peoples are affected by federal old age and health policies as well as AI/AN specific policies, which creates a unique intersection of inequality for this group. This project engages with three distinct areas of sociological scholarship in this area and works to highlight the strengths and gaps of existing frameworks to work towards more inclusive scholarship for Native Peoples in sociological scholarship. The first article uses a quantitative analysis using secondary data from the National Health Interview survey to explore how helpful sociological frameworks are in explaining health disparities in old age for the AI/AN population. The second article, using the same dataset, engages with Andersen's behavioral model of care utilization and its developments and couples it with important scholarship emerging about policy, AI/AN healthcare organization, and funding. The third article offers a qualitative analysis of reports and policy recommendations from Native organizations focused on increasing well-being for Native elders to further understand how healthcare, old age, and AI/AN specific polices work to create intersections of inequality for this group. This analysis further informs future directions for sociological theory and application to promote a more inclusive field in the sociology of aging and inequality. / Doctor of Philosophy / How policy impacts aging American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) has been largely overlooked in the field of sociology. Through three distinct studies, this dissertation project seeks to connect policy to disparities in health outcomes, issues in access to care, and the provisioning of health resources for this group. Native Peoples, through treaty agreements, have a right to healthcare, which has been poorly fulfilled by the US government. Because of this, Native Tribes and organizations have increasingly relied on other healthcare policies and social welfare programs to meet the needs of AI/AN elders. Policies like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act are all important policies in generating health resources for Native elders, but they also overlap in ways that can also create barriers to health equity. This project, in three articles, explores 1.) how policy-based resources affect health outcomes in old age across racial groups, 2.) how equitable healthcare access for the aging AI/AN population, and 3.) how organizations understand and navigate policy landscapes in order to promote health and well-being for Native elders. These three studies work together to inform theories of aging and health disparities in order to work towards scholarship that is more inclusive of Native Peoples.

Baby boomers are living longer, and as they age, they will need more supportive services that may include housing, mobility, nutrition, personal care, or health care. Despite the studies that have been conducted on baby boomers aging in place (choosing to stay in their home versus move to an institution), the focus has been on the old and frail and very little has been done to address the lifestyle of active (physically functioning) baby boomers. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived, shared experiences of active baby boomers regarding their beliefs and attitudes about aging in place and the implications of this decision. The theoretical foundation of the study was based on Atchley's continuity theory. Data were gathered through in-person, semi-structured interviews with 11 participants, age 65 and older, living in a coastal area of a southern state. Data from the interviews were inductively coded and then organized around key themes. The themes from the content analysis indicated that the participants were embracing the concept of aging in place and adjusting to their limitations (i.e. physical, financial, emotional, and/or environmental) when present. Identified barriers to aging in place were access to services (specifically medical and in-home care), financial constraints, and the inability to drive or inaccessibility of transportation. This study contributes to positive social change by providing policymakers and administrators with information to strengthen the argument that the current social service delivery system is overburdened and may not meet the demands of this population in order for them to maintain their independence and autonomy. Additionally, this study raises awareness among policymakers that driving longer will in itself possess its own challenges such as visibility concerns and roadway design not conducive to aging adults.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:47:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Denise Aparecida Pereira de Araujo.pdf: 1758425 bytes, checksum: a52c8fa3ff8cc033ee0bd7aabe6edf0c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This research, qualitative and substantial, has had as main focus to identify, on national media, the job market speeches to 60+ people, basing on digital and printed press clippings, in order to verify market s compromise with the paradigm proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) which guides the current Active Aging Policy which in turn proposes continuous participation on socio-economic, cultural, spiritual and civic matters. 51 articles, conveyed between February and December of 2013, were selected and organized by its content, considering date, vehicle, region, cover story, titles, subtitles and focus; and initially classified in four categories: longevity, experience, retirement and entrepreneurship. Later, categories longevity and experience clustered in one, due their reference to similar themes. The articles from O Estado de S. Paulo, Valor Econômico e Revista Exame are intended to a high schooling and purchasing power public, while the other resorted vehicles (newscast, various information programs) direct to general public, some of whom, with low schooling levels. These articles provide maintenance or return to job market tips and inform how important it is to qualificate and update yourself. It was observed that media in this country is not following it s row on the Active Aging Policy agenda, because it does not inform population about their rights and duties, neither requires from society and the market, attitudes that make worth the definition of active , rescuing its dimension of optimizing opportunities / Esta pesquisa, qualitativa e documental, teve como principal objetivo identificar na mídia brasileira os discursos sobre o mercado de trabalho para as pessoas 60+, tomando por base recortes da imprensa escrita e digital, a fim de verificar o comprometimento do mercado com o paradigma proposto pela Organização Mundial da Saúde e que orienta a atual Política do Envelhecimento Ativo a qual propõe participação contínua nas questões socioeconômicas, culturais, espirituais e civis. Foram selecionadas 51 matérias veiculadas entre os meses de fevereiro a dezembro de 2013, organizadas pelo conteúdo manifesto, considerando data, veículo, região, chamada de capa, título, subtítulo, caderno e foco; e classificadas, a princípio, em quatro categorias: longevidade, experiência, aposentadoria e empreendedorismo. As categorias longevidade e experiência agruparam-se em uma única, por ambas tratarem de temas comuns. As matérias de O Estado de S. Paulo, Valor Econômico e Revista Exame são direcionadas para público com maior grau de escolaridade e maior poder aquisitivo, e os demais veículos (telejornal, programas de informações diversas) para o público, em geral, alguns deles com menor grau de escolaridade. Essas matérias fornecem dicas para manutenção ou retorno para o mercado de trabalho e informam como é importante atualizar-se e qualificar-se. Observamos que a mídia não está cumprindo seu papel na agenda da Política do Envelhecimento Ativo no país, pois não informa à população seus direitos e deveres, tampouco cobra do mercado e da sociedade atitudes que façam valer a definição de ativo , resgatando sua dimensão de otimizar oportunidades

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Challenging a long-held attachment to the medical model, this research develops a cultural model placing local governments at the center of policy making and refocusing policy attention on mobility, housing, the built environment and services. To examine the phenomenon of age friendly policy adoption by cities and the magnitude of adoption, a 21-question web-based survey was administered to a sample of 1,050 cities from the U.S. Census having a population over 10,000 and having at least 14% of their population aged 65 years and over. The goal of the questionnaire was to help identify what kind of policy objectives cities establish to facilitate the opportunity for older adults to live healthy and independent lives in their communities as they age. Multiple linear and ordinal regression models examined the likelihood of policy action by cities and provide evidence as to why some cities support more age friendly policy actions than others. Evidence illustrates theoretical advancement providing support for a cultural model of aging. The cultural model includes multiple factors including bureaucratic responsiveness reflected in the management values of the administration. Findings show variation in the integration of a cultural awareness of aging in the municipality's needs assessment, strategic goals, citizen engagement strategies, and budgetary principles. Cities with a cultural awareness of aging are more likely to adopt age friendly policies. Findings also provide support for the argument that the public administrator is not the driving sole factor in decision making. A shared spaced with mobilized citizen need of individuals 65 and over is identified.

The main goal of this diploma thesis is the explanation of process of creation a new Conception of Family Policy in perspective of Institutional Analysis and Development Framework by Elinor Ostrom. In particular, data from seven expert interviews, minutes from meetings of the Family Policy Expert Committee and other documents of a legislative and non-legislative nature are used to meet the objectives and answer the research questions. The core of this thesis is the analysis of four action situations and relevant rules-in-use in the process of creation the Conception, namely: creation of the Conception of Family Policy, internal commentary procedure, inter-ministerial commentary procedure and settlement of inter-ministerial commentary procedure. As a key actor, which is permeated by almost every action situation, there is a Family Policy and Aging Policy Department. The Conception was also created in cooperation with Family Policy Expert Committee, which is composed of experts from relevant areas. The paper also briefly summarizes the content and structure of the proposed Conception, taking into account the most important measures. The Institutional Analysis and Development Framework was applied of family policy and provided an appropriate guideline for explaining the creation of a new Conception of...