Book Review: Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life

The age demographics of the world’s population are changing. In 2015, 9% (617.1 million people) of the globe’s estimated 7.3 billion people were aged 65 years and older.1 That number is projected to increase to 12% (1 billion people) by 2030 and to 17% (1.6 billion people) by 2050.1 Within the United States, a rise in the percent of the population aged 65 and older, from 13.7% in 2012 to a projected 20.3% by 2030,2 will inevitably impact the makeup of the patient population throughout the American health care system. According to a recent New York Times article, a federal model estimates 30% of those over 65 would benefit from specialized geriatric care, though there is a dearth of geriatricians trained to supply that care in the United States.3 Even in the microcosm of academic medicine, age demographic changes are impactful, with the percentage of faculty members over 60 increasing from 15.5% in 2005 to 23.5% in 2015, confronting medical educators and institutions with their own aging-related issues and challenges.4,5 Responding to the needs and concerns of a growing population calls out for attention and creative thinking. Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life6 answers that call. In this work, Dr. Louise Aronson, a geriatrician and highly regarded medical educator, takes an ambitious approach to examining the roots of ageism within the United States that have led to a detrimental “othering” of older adults within American society,...
Source: Academic Medicine Blog - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Tags: Featured Guest Perspective book review elderhood geriatrics late-career transitions Source Type: blogs