LINCOLN UNIERSITY

MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTER ON AGING

UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN GERONTOLOGY

PUBLIC POLICY AND AGING

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course has three major components:

1.       To provide students with substantive knowledge concerning the history and current status of major public policies affecting the elderly.

2.       To provide an understanding of the different factors-historical, structural, cultural, economic and political-that have yielded the current array of old age programs in the U.S.

3.       To analyze and investigate strategies and options that might be pursued in bringing about policy changes deemed beneficial to older persons.

These objectives will be pursued through readings, lectures, class discussions and written and oral work prepared by the students.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1.       Describe demographic characteristics of the aged at the national level.

2.       Discuss major social conditions and problems that affect the elderly.

3.       Identify major social policies and programs designed primarily for the aged.

Topics To Be Covered:

1.       Demographics of the Elderly in America

2.       Social Welfare Policy

3.       National Public Policy and Aging

4.       Income Maintenance and Social Security

5.       Long-Term Care

6.       Health Care Policy

7.       The Aging Services Network

8.       Housing and Living Environments

9.       Politics, Policy and Aging

10.     Public Policy and Gender

11.     Advocacies and Empowerment

Required Texts:

Butler, Robert, N. and Kiikuni, Kenzo (Editors).  Who is Responsible for My Old Age?  Springer Publishing Company, New York, 1993.

Estes, C.L. and Minkler, M.  Readings and the Political Economy of Aging, Volume 6.  Baywood Press, Amityville, New York, 1984.

Gelfand, Donald E.  The Aging Network:  Programs and Services (4rd Edition).  Springer