Old Age in English History, Past Experiences, Present Issues
Old Age in English History, Past Experiences, Present Issues
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英国历史上的老年、过去的经历、当前的问题
DOI：
10.2307/40111384
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发表时间：
2000
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
P. Thane
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
C. Hunter;P. Thane
在二十世纪结束时，更多的人活到70多岁、80多岁、90多岁和更老，预计这一进程将持续到下一个千年。世纪实现了其他世纪的人们只能梦想的成就：许多人现在可以期望以相当良好的健康状况活到老年，并能保持积极和独立到最后，与过去影响所有年龄的高死亡率、健康不良和贫困形成鲜明对比。然而，这种变化通常不是以胜利而是以警报来迎接的。人们认为，人活得越久，生病和依赖的时间就越长，从而使日益减少的年轻一代承担起养老金和医疗保健的费用。人们还普遍认为，“过去”很少有幸存者进入老年，这些人可以由他们的家人供养，而不需要纳税人。这是英国历史上第一次对老年人进行调查，这些假设受到了挑战。书中生动地描绘了许多世纪以来，大量老年人如何过着往往充满活力和独立的生活。这本书认为，老年人在英国社区中一直很显眼，并得出结论，由于生活水平提高的好处，人们寿命更长，他们远远不是“负担”，他们可以成为家人和朋友的宝贵贡献者。
At the end of the twentieth century more people are living into their seventies, eighties, nineties and beyond, a process expected to continue well into the next millennium. The twentieth century has achieved what people in other centuries only dreamed of: many can now expect to survive to old age in reasonably good health and can remain active and independent to the end, in contrast to the high death rate, ill health and destitution which affected all ages in the past. Yet this change is generally greeted not with triumph but with alarm. It is assumed that the longer people live, the longer they are ill and dependent, thus burdening a shrinking younger generation with the cost of pensions and health care. It is also widely believed that 'the past' saw few survivors into old age and these could be supported by their families without involving the taxpayer. In this first survey of old age throughout English history, these assumptions are challenged. Vivid pictures are given of the ways in which very large numbers of older people lived often vigorous and independent lives over many centuries. The book argues that old people have always been highly visible in English communities, and concludes that as people live longer due to the benefits of the rise in living standards, far from being 'burdens' they can be valuable contributors to their family and friends.