An essential resource for any library where research on aging is conducted--a guide to important and unique holdings in the field.

This volume reflects the emergence of ageing as a global concern, including chapters by international scholars from Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. It provides a comprehensive overview of key trends and issues in the field, drawing upon the full range of social science disciplines. The Handbook is organized into five parts, each exploring different aspects of research into social aspects of ageing: * Disciplinary overviews: summaries of findings from key disciplinary areas within social gerontology * Social relationships and social differences: topics include: social inequality, gender and ageing, the role of religion, inter-generational ties, social networks, and friendships in later life. * Individual characteristics and change in later life: chapters in this section examine different aspects of individual aging, including self and identity, cognitive processes, and biosocial interactions and their impact on physical and psychological aging. * Comparative perspectives and cultural innovations: topics in this section include: ageing and development, ageing in a global context, migration, and cross-cultural perspectives on grandparenthood. * Policy issues: The final section examines some of the main policy concerns affecting older people across the world. Topics include: developments in social policy, long-term care, technology and older people, end of life issues, work and retirement, crime and older people, and the politics of old age. This will be essential reading for all students, researchers and policy-makers concerned with the major issues influencing the lives of older people across the globe.

Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences, Seventh Edition, provides extensive reviews and critical evaluations of research on the social aspects of aging. It also makes available major references and identifies high-priority topics for future research. The book is organized into four parts. Part 1 reviews developments in the field of age and the life course (ALC) studies and presents guidelines on conducting cohort analysis. Part 2 covers the demographic aspects of aging; longevity trends; disability and aging; and stratification and inequality research. Part 3 includes chapters that examine socioeconomic position and racial/ethnic disparities in health at older ages; the role of social factors in the distribution, antecedents, and consequences of depression; and aspects of private wealth transfers and the changing nature of family gift-giving. Part 4 deals with pension reform in Europe; the political activities of older Americans; the future of retirement security; and gender differences in old age. The Handbook is intended for researchers, professional practitioners, and students in the field of aging. It can also serve as a basic reference tool for scholars, professionals, and others who are not presently engaged in research and practice directly focused on aging and the aged. - Contains all the main areas of social science gerontological research in one volume - Begins with a section on theory and methods - Edited by one of the fathers of gerontology (Binstock) and contributors represent top scholars in gerontology

The multidisciplinary nature of the field of aging and the sheer volume of published material make researching and keeping current with new developments in the field quite difficult. This reference book offers comprehensive strategies for accessing information on the psychological, social, biological, and medical aspects of aging. The types of information sources covered include: handbooks, directories, and encyclopedias; indexes and abstracts; agencies and other specialized sources; computerized information retrieval systems; and community resources. Current Literature on Aging The intended audience for this work includes information specialists and professionals concerned with gerontology in all of its apsects--psychological, social, and medical. Persons trained in any of these disciplines will find the book readable. The use of examples from gerontological experience and literature is especially helpful. Reference Books Bulletin The expansion of the world's older population is reflected in a tremendous increase in the literature on aging. Keeping abreast of developments in the field is made difficult not only by the sheer volume of publications but also by the multidisciplinary character of the subject. This new reference is the first to offer comprehensive strategies for retrieving gerontological research information in all the relevant disciplines. It itemizes information resources, including agencies, journals, and secondary sources, and outlines techniques for using library and computerized databases. Following a brief introduction, the authors set forth step-by-step procedures for accessing gerontological materials and describe the range of available information resources in the social, biological, and medical sciences. Individual chapters are devoted to the use of handbooks, directories, and encyclopedias; indexes and abstracts, journals, and databases. An essential tool for information specialists, this reference will prove useful to students, academics, and professionals in any of the disciplines concerned with psychological, social, biological, or medical aspects of aging.

Victor Marshall, Dept. of Sociology and Institute on Aging, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill --