GERO 301 6380 Service/Program Management (2215)
Assignment 3: Aging Services Around the World (60 points, 20% of final grade) – Due end of Week 7 – present in Week 8
How does the Aging Network in the United States measure up against the rest of the world? In this assignment, you and your classmates will research how aging services are implemented around the world.
Each of you will choose a country of interest. To keep things interesting, you will post your country selections in a Week 1 discussion thread for everyone to see. No more than 3 people can choose the same country. Since the United States will be our country of comparison, you must select a different country.
Search the Internet for information about the aging services available in your country of choice. Look for other indicators of health and well-being as well. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has a “Better Life Index” that shows you where each country stands on a variety of indicators (www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org). The OECD, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank are excellent sources of information regarding international health and standards of living.
For this assignment, you will prepare a presentation to share with the class that describes your country of interest and its aging services network. Your presentation should include the following:
A brief, but detailed overview of the country’s location, sociopolitical climate, population demographics, etc. Provide the class with a concise “snapshot” of the country.
An overview of how the country addresses aging relative to health, caregiving, work, social justice, and general well-being. Topics to explore include:
Social insurance benefits
Long term care
Healthcare benefits
Role of family in supporting older adults
Retirement policies
Laws that protect older adults against abuse and exploitation
Life expectancy
Happiness
Life Satisfaction
Next, explore how your country of interest compares to the United States on these same dimensions. How are they the same? How are they different? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each system?
Conclude with your impressions of the impact that aging policy can have on older adults.
You are asked to create a presentation to build your presentation and communication skills. Your presentation can take the form of a PowerPoint slideshow, a video, or a podcast. If you would like to present your information in some other way, check with the instructor.
Presentation Requirements:
Presentation should take about 7 to 10 minutes to review. If you decide to create a PowerPoint, please provide a script to accompany your slides.
All sources must be cited and referenced in accordance with APA-7 format. For audio presentations, a reference list can be submitted separately in the assignment folder.
Submit your assignment by the end of Week 7 to the Assignment 3 Discussion thread.
