Expanded Key Terms

The use of real or perceived chronological age as a basis for discrimination.

Ageism is any behavior that results in ignorance toward ideas and attitudes held by the elderly members of society, as well as general disrespect toward elderly individuals. Ageism is harmful to elderly individuals and can make them feel isolated from society and devalue each person due to their age and lived experience. While some societies around the globe value the experience and wisdom that come with aging, many nations, such as the U.S., tend to view the elderly members of society as outcasts and unable to participate fully.

A study of statistics such as birth, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease.

Demography is used to understand the human population’s status on the planet and how various factors affect it today. Demography is important in understanding how humanity currently operates and what can be done to facilitate longevity and improve the overall health of the human population on the planet.

Acts of sexual abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect toward an elder.

Elder abuse occurs daily, and abusers can be family, friends, or strangers. Today, online and over-the-phone scams target elderly populations as individuals can coerce and manipulate elderly individuals into giving away money and sharing other private information.

When people leave their home country, usually due to conflict or disaster.

Emigration is the term used to describe people having to leave their home country and move somewhere else. Emigration differs from immigration: immigration is people moving to a new place, while emigration is people leaving a place.

A count of the number of children born to women during their prime fertility period.

The fertility rate is generally averaged among all women across the globe, but the specific number of children each woman can give birth to varies from individual to individual.

The study of social aspects of aging.

Gerontology is the study of social aspects of aging, such as social interactions with other people, social bonds, and more. Gerontology is useful in understanding how people change as they age, specifically relating to their social natures and the specific nuances that come with aging later in life.

When people move to a new country, usually because they were forced to relocated due to conflicts or disasters.

Immigration describes the movement of people into a country out of necessity, often due to conflicts or disasters such as war, disease, famine, and more. Immigration is specifically the movement of people to a new country or nation of origin from their home country and involves traveling to an entirely new place to find shelter and refuge. Immigrants and emigrants seek refuge for a variety of shared reasons, but the key differentiator between the two is that emmigration refers to leaving a country and immigration refers to entering a country.

The average age to which people can be expected to live.

Life expectancy varies from culture to culture and from different geographic locations across the globe due to factors such as health, norms, diet, quality of life, and more. Life expectancy is generally average on a global scale and is measured over time to determine the average life expectancy in the general well-being of humanity from a macro perspective.

Seasonal movement from one region to another.

Migration can also refer to the movement of people during different seasons. Traditionally, migration is associated with animals; many people also fall into migratory patterns and move to different geographic locations as the seasons change. Additionally, some groups of humans across the globe operate solely on a migratory status and are constantly moving from one place to the next.

Private institutions that provide residential accommodations with healthcare to elderly individuals. 

Nursing homes often combine a normal social living environment with professional medical services that elderly individuals may need as they age. Nursing homes provide an opportunity for socialization for elderly individuals but can also serve as areas of isolation from society.

The population size difference between the end and the beginning of a given time.

Population change is inevitable and continues to show an upward trend on a global scale as the human population increases over time. Population change poses a risk to our ability to access and use available resources without completely draining their supply on the planet.