Implications for Successful Aging in Jamaica
Poster Number
080
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Faculty Mentor
Merry Sleigh, Ph.D.
Abstract
Since the 1960s, Jamaica’s population has been “greying,” or trending toward an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in fertility. This is a mainly a result of two factors: reduced fertility, and reduced mortality as a result of advances in medicine and public health. It is projected that in 2015, nearly a quarter of the Caribbean’s population will be over sixty years old, and as of today the Jamaican life expectancy is at nearly seventy-six. Because of this phenomenon, the overall quality of life should be greatly considered for this population. One of the ways in which this can be measured is by using the factors that result in successful aging: absence of disease and disability, engagement with life, and high cognitive and physical function. When these factors are evaluated, then it can become easier to answer this question: how can the quality of life of the Jamaican population over sixty be improved so that successful aging can take place?
Course Assignment
PSYC 471, 472 – Sleigh
Start Date
12-4-2019 2:15 PM
End Date
April 2019
Implications for Successful Aging in Jamaica
Richardson Ballroom – DiGiorgio Campus Center
Since the 1960s, Jamaica’s population has been “greying,” or trending toward an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in fertility. This is a mainly a result of two factors: reduced fertility, and reduced mortality as a result of advances in medicine and public health. It is projected that in 2015, nearly a quarter of the Caribbean’s population will be over sixty years old, and as of today the Jamaican life expectancy is at nearly seventy-six. Because of this phenomenon, the overall quality of life should be greatly considered for this population. One of the ways in which this can be measured is by using the factors that result in successful aging: absence of disease and disability, engagement with life, and high cognitive and physical function. When these factors are evaluated, then it can become easier to answer this question: how can the quality of life of the Jamaican population over sixty be improved so that successful aging can take place?
