Elder Law

Population aging is occurring worldwide. Reports of abuse and neglect of older men and women are also evident on a global basis. While much of the work on identification, treatment and prevention of abuse of older persons has been within the family setting, it cannot be separated from the broader experience of growing old in contemporary society.

All over the world, there is a growing interest in the relationship between law and aging: How does the law influence the lives of older people? Can rights, advocacy and representation advance the social position of the aged and combat ageism? What are the new and cutting-edge frontiers in the field of elder law? Should there be a new international human rights convention in this field? These are only a few of the many questions that arise.

The book represents a collaborative effort of researchers from over 20 countries and a variety of disciplines, including, psychology, sociology, gerontology, geriatrics, pharmacology, law, geography, design, engineering, policy and media studies. The contributors have collaborated to produce a truly stimulating and educating book on ageism which brings a clear overview of the state of the art in the field.

This expanded, one-of-a-kind reference of more than 250 entries provides a comprehensive guide to all of the essential elements of elder care across a breadth of health and social service disciplines. Responding to the needs of providers, direct care workers, family, and other caregivers, the diverse array of entries included in this encyclopedia recognize and address the complex medical, social, and psychological problems associated with geriatric care.

This book is about trying to answer questions. These questions were well introduced by Prof. Margaret Hall in the opening of her chapter in this book: "The fundamental idea of 'law and aging' as a discrete category of legal principle and theory is controversial: how and why are 'older adults' or 'seniors' or 'elders' (the very terminology is controversial and fraught with difficulties) a discrete and distinct group for whom 'special' legal thought and treatment is justified?

Two things are certain in the contemporary workplace: the aging of employees, and negative attitudes toward them - especially those with disabilities--by younger colleagues and supervisors. Yet related phenomena seem less clear: how do negative stereotypes contribute to discrimination on the job? And how are these stereotypes perceived in legal proceedings? This book applies Social Analytic Jurisprudence, a framework for testing legal assumptions regarding behavior, and identifies controversies and knowledge gaps in age-discrimination and disability law.

As the global population ages, disability demographics are shifting. This thoughtful examination of competing narratives about disability and aging explores the distinction between aging with a disability and aging into disability, revealing how multiple identities, socio-economic forces, culture, and community give form to our experiences.