Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Even though this is a hardcover book, it could have been a study in any journal for university libraries. The book says the elderly survive better when they have family responsibilities, a good income, education, church involvement, and good health. Well, that seems obvious enough. The book does try to spell out how the black elderly may differ from their white counterparts.
The book may be getting dated. It says nothing on Latinos, though they are now the largest group of color. It says nothing on Muslims, though more and more Black Americans are converting to Islam. Within the last five years, two African-American doctors produced a book on the health of older black women. It said white men are genally satisfied with life at retirement, but black women are not. Black women are more likely to be divorced or never married and may be caring for the children of their dysfunctional children. Thus, new research contradicts the "Black Elderly" book which implies that black seniors are happier than whites.
My parents are becoming elderly and this book is helping me to think about the issues that may affect them soon.
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In The Black Elderly: Satisfaction and Quality of Later Life, authors Marguerite Coke and James Twaite present the results of an empirical study of factors that influence the well-being of older black Americans. Like all older individuals in industrial nations, elderly blacks are confronted with negative attitudes toward old people. But in spite of their minority status in society, with its economic and social disadvantages, elderly blacks have effective coping strategies for dealing with growing old. It is the success of these coping strategies that the authors reveal to readers and upon which they build recommendations to encourage healthy aging in the black community.Through comprehensive research into the subject, the authors provide readers with a theoretical framework which identifies the variables that are most closely associated with subjective well-being among older Blacks. An empirical test of the model is described and the questionnaire is included.Professionals and scholars in social work, gerontology, African-American studies, and anthropology will find The Black Elderly a positive approach to supporting the elderly black community. Readers with interests in cross-cultural aspects of counseling and gerontology will find much enlightenment in this book with its research and insight on:
history: overviews West African culture and the role of history in the development of the black American family
church: analyzes the function and importance of this institution on the black community
family: explores the importance of family and how it affects life satisfaction
health: determines how perceived health status affects individuals'feelings of life satisfactionThe authors'findings on the strong and diverse support systems of this group assist professionals, students, and policymakers in better understanding how to continue to effect healthy aging for black Americans. The Black Elderly is of particular interest to social workers, students in social work programs, and professionals who deal with aging persons or the black community and can benefit from historical background knowledge of blacks in this country and how societal institutions affect the well-being of this group.
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