Since the birth of the human race, people have been focused on learning, both from experience and from research. This focus on and capacity for learning has increased exponentially with the increase and development of human intellect and the accumulated body of knowledge. Today, it is not sufficient merely to study an area of knowledge or experience. There must also be strong grounds for such research. Age-related issues are no exception. When examining the literature, it becomes clear that this is a good field of study, primarily because of its increasing relevance in the world today. Because of a greater focus on overall health, preventative care, and developments in medicine, human life expectancy today is higher than it ever was in history. One excellent way to devise ways to effectively manage the needs and concerns of older people, and how they function in relation to others, is to study the phenomenon of aging in all its aspects.
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One very important constant when considering the theme of aging is change. Aging is not the same today as it was centuries, or even decades, ago. People are much more active and remain so for much longer than they ever have before. Today, for example, it is not unusual to see people keep on working and earning a living far beyond the traditional retirement age. In many countries, the retirement age has even been modified to reflect this sense of energy and youthfulness people experience into their later years. These changes have practical implications for older people, the societies in which they live, and their relationships with their families and friends.
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The family structure itself is changing as a result of the changes in the way people age (Hollis-Sawyer, personal communication, 1/15/2013). As in the workplace, older adults have also started playing a more active part in the basic family structure. In many cases, older people both give support to and receive support from their families.
