Getting Wise About Getting Old

Véronique Billette is the coordinator of the VIES research team (Vieillissements, exclusions sociales et solidarités / aging, social exclusion and solidarity), a group of researchers working on social issues of aging. She is a co-editor of Vieillir au pluriel: Perspectives sociales – the first reference book in French on social gerontology. She has many years of experience working in the intervention and prevention of violence against women and in mental health.Patrik Marier is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Concordia University, where he is the chair of Research on Aging and Public Policy and the lead researcher of Équipe VIES. He is the scientific director of the Centre for Research and Expertise in Social Gerontology (CREGÉS) at the Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSSS). He is well known for his work on social policy, public administration, and retirement.Anne-Marie Séguin is a professor at the Centre Urbanisation Culture Société of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique and was formerly the lead researcher of Équipe VIES. She is renowned for her work in environmental justice, poverty, socio-spatial aspects of aging, and urban social policies.

• Foreword to the English Edition / Laura Tamblyn WattsForeword to the French Edition / Danis Prud'homme, Caroline Bouchard, Marco Guerrera, and Sophie GagnonIntroduction: Multiple Perspectives on Diverse Aging Experiences / Anne-Marie Séguin, Véronique Billette, and Patrik MarierPart 1: Portrayals and Realities of Aging1 Myths and Realities about Seniors / Ignace Olazabal and Julien Simard2 Living on Easy Street? The Myth of the Affluent Senior / Patrik Marier, Yves Carrière, and Jonathan Purenne3 Older Adults: Allergic to Social Change? / Julien Simard and Ignace Olazabal4 "That's Surprising, at Your Age!" The Myth of Digital Disinterest / Kim Sawchuk, Line Grenier, and Constance Lafontaine5 Grey-Haired Neurons: Does an Accurate Memory Have to Become a Memento of Younger Days? / Maxime Lussier, Manon Parisien, Nathalie Bier, and Sophie LaforestPart 2: Living Environments6 Do Most Very Old Quebecers Live in Residential Long-Term Care Centres? / Anne-Marie Séguin, Isabelle Van Pevenage, and Chloé Dauphinais7 Age-Friendly Cities: A Panacea for Aging in Place? / Meghan Joy, Patrik Marier, and Anne-Marie Séguin8 Seniors and Their Cars: Choice or Necessity? / Paula Negron-Poblete and Anne-Marie Séguin9 Challenging the Myth of Older Homelessness as Chronic Homelessness / Victoria Burns10 Are Penitentiaries Suitable Places for Older Inmates? / Michel Gagnon and Michel DunnPart 3: Different Aging Experiences11 Older Adults Living with Mental Health Problems: "Nothing More Can Be Done with Them" / Ginette Aubin and Bernadette Dallaire12 Aging with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: The Myth of the Eternal Child / Daniel Dickson13 Older Adults Are Not Affected by HIV/AIDS: The Origins and Consequences of a Misconception / Isabelle Wallach14 Aging, Sexuality, and the "Cougar" Myth / Milaine Alarie15 Sexual Assault of Older Women: An Unthinkable Reality / Mélanie Couture, Milaine Alarie, Sarita Israel, and Marie-Pier Petit16 Are Older Adults Safe from Conjugal Violence? / Sarita Israel, Mélanie Couture, and Marie-Pier PetitPart 4: Social Roles17 Living Longer: Years of Retirement or Years of Work? / Yves Carrière, Patrik Marier, Jonathan Purenne, and Diane Galarneau18 Older Workers: A Societal Problem? / Marie-Michèle Lord and Pierre-Yves Therriault19 Do Older Adults Have All the Time in the World? / Isabel Wiebe, Anne-Marie Séguin, Philippe Apparicio, and Véronique Billette20 Can One Enjoy a Happy Retirement without Volunteering? / Julie Castonguay, Julie Fortier, Andrée Sévigny, Hélène Carbonneau, and Marie Beaulieu21 The Social Participation of Older People: Get on Board, as They Used to Say! / Émilie Raymond, Julie Castonguay, Mireille Fortier, and Andrée SévignyPart 5: Death and Bereavement22 How Older Adults Experience Bereavement: Does Greater Frequency Make Death Easier to Bear? / Valérie Bourgeois-Guérin, Isabelle Van Pevenage, Jeanne Lachance, Rock-André Blondin, and Antonin Marquis23 Palliative Care for Those Dying of "Old Age": Unmet Needs / Isabelle Van Pevenage, Patrick Durivage, Véronique Billette, Patricia Friesen, and Eleonora Bogdanova24 Do Older Adults Wish to Die at Home (and Can They)? / Isabelle Van Pevenage, Patrick Durivage, Anne-Marie Séguin, and Laurence Hamel-RoyPart 6: Caregiver Support25 Are Families Abandoning Older Relatives? / Isabelle Van Pevenage, Zelda Freitas, Patrik Marier, and Pam Orzeck26 Multiple Autonomies: Navigating the World of Home Care Services / Norma Gilbert, Annette Leibing, and Patrik Marier27 LGBT Older Adults: Who Is There to Support Them and Care for Them as They Age? / Julie Beauchamp, Shari Brotman, Line Chamberland, and Ilyan Ferrer28 Care Provision to Older Immigrants by Their Families: When Discrimination Creates Barriers to Services / Ilyan Ferrer and Shari BrotmanConclusion: Public Policy Issues and the Complexities of Aging / Patrik Marier, Anne-Marie Séguin, and Véronique BilletteContributors; Index