Sociocultural aspects of aging. Medical points of view.

The problems of the aged assume significance partly from the fact that numerically this segment of the population is expanding at a rapid rate, although in California their proportion of the total population is expected to decline. Further, our urban, industrial, changing society has created problems of abrupt social transition from productivity to retirement, often with an accompanying loss of role and status.Several studies have pointed out that the problems of adjustment to new social roles for the aged vary for different occupational groups. Other studies indicate that activity per se is an important element in whether a person considers himself well, despite existing physical ailments. In addition, numerous research studies of personal and social adjustments of the aged suggest that living arrangements play an important function in the social and psychological well-being of elderly persons.