74931X1 Oxford University Press, New York/Oxford/London: 2011. 344 pages. Hardcover with dustjacket. Brand new book. In 1998, Hallmark unveiled their new "One-Hundredth-Birthday" cards, and by 2007 annual sales were at 85,000. America is rapidly graying: between now and 2030, the number of people in the U.S. over the age of 80 is expected to almost triple. But how long people live raises the question of how well they live. Aging Our Way follows the everyday lives of 30 elders (ages 85-102 living at home and mostly alone to understand how they create and maintain meaningful lives for themselves. Drawing on the latest interdisciplinary scholarship on aging and three years of interviews with the elders, Meika Loe explores how elders navigate the practical challenges of living as independently as possible while staying healthy, connected, and comfortable. While most books on the subject treat old age as a social problem and elders as simply diminished versions of their former selves, Aging Our Way views them as they really are: lively, complicated, engaging people finding creative ways to make their aging as meaningful and manageable as possible. In their own voices, elders describe how they manage everything from grocery shopping, doctor appointments, and disability, to creating networks of friends and maintaining their autonomy. In many ways, these elders can serve as role models. The lessons they have learned about living in moderation, taking time for themselves, asking for help, keeping a sense of humor, caring for others, and preparing for death provide an invaluable source of wisdom for anyone hoping to live a long and fulfilling life. Through their stories, Loe helps us to think about aging, well-being, and the value of human relationships in new ways. Written with remarkable warmth and depth of understanding, Aging Our Way offers a vivid look at a group of people who too often remain invisible--those who have lived the longest--and all they have to teach us. Features a poignant and intimate look at the elders 85 and older living at home and making it work. "In this delightfully written book, Meika Loe illustrates how we continue to develop and become more diverse as we age. Aging Our Way is an engagingly written introduction to this new understanding of aging and will serve its readers well." - Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, co-author of The 36-Hour Day "What a timely and useful handbook for all ages-full of insights and often poignant. L'chayim!"-Dr. Sally H. Lunt, Advisory Board, and Judy Norsigian, Executive Director, Our Bodies Ourselves "Aging Our Way is Loe's well-crafted answer to the question many ask as they approach the end of their days, 'How can one maintain comfort and health, stay at home, and continue to lead a meaningful life?'" - Foreword "Aging Our Way is a remarkable glimpse of the everyday lives and life lessons of elders living on their own-and on their own terms. Through engaging interviews, Meika Loe moves away from an obsessive focus on youth to an idea of comfortable aging that embraces continuity, connection, creativity, and quality of life." - Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest "Loe's writing is clear, jargon-free, and warm-she clearly likes and often admires her subjects. She has done an excellent job in organizing her book topically and lets her subjects speak for themselves, then distills their most important points. While there are few startling revelations, there is a great deal of wisdom." - Publisher's Weekly "Americans are living longer lives today than ever before. But are these quality years? How are we experiencing 'these additional years' in our 80s, 90s, and even 100s? In Meika Loe's Aging Our Way, men and women tell how they are making the best of their time, even with personal limitations. These 'ways of aging' are summed up as lessons for reflection and action. I urge you to read and share this inspiring book with others for it enriches understanding of life paths that many will follow." -Glen H. Elder, Jr., Howard W. Odum Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "Aging Our Way is an easy-to-read gathering of fascinating stories from thirty very elderly individuals, which generates important insights for current understanding and future studies of the social psychology of healthy aging." -Howard S. Friedman, Distinguished Professor, University of California, Riverside, and author of The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study "A lively, engaging, and moving read. Loe shows how the personal resources needed to cope with aging are closely tied to structural factors like race, class, gender, birth cohort, and socioeconomic status. Nearly any reader will find Aging Our Way relevant to their own life or the lives of their aging parents or relatives." -Deborah Carr, Professor of Sociology, Rutgers University ISBN: 0199797900 $29.95USD
Click here to order or message the dealer