Aging, Health, and Medicine

 

Aging in Focus: Systems of Health and Care

    

    Viewed through a sociological lens, aging is not only a personal journey but an evolving system within other structural systems that are also evolving. Gerontologists define age as multidimensional in chronological, biological, psychological, and social aging(Saylor). Theories of aging described in “Understanding Social Problems” are Disengagement theory, Conflict theory, and Activity theory. Disengagement theory, mirrors functional theory, assumes “passing the butane” allows role replacement maintaining social stability. Activity theory assumes the aging individual and society benefit when they stay active in their roles. And Conflict theory focuses on the inequality impact of ageism, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination of the older populations.

    Foundational social tensions are found within the social structure of aging through the lens of disengagement, activity, and conflict theory. Viewing the question of retirement being a health transition or a socially accepted exclusion which creates the tension of withdraw vs engagement. Analyzing the conflict of valuing older adults for earlier input and wisdom or resented for current economic output creating the tension of stability vs productivity. And asking if the aging population is naturally withdrawing or is society excluding them creates the tension of biology vs social construction.

                (Healthy Aging at any Age https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-aging/about/index.html)

    Transitioning to the institutional arena of health and health care systems the social tension of aging becomes more visible. As Chapter 13 in Understanding Social Problems explains the disparities in coverage, cost, and access. How a society organizes the structure of their health care system exposes the underlying value and belief about their aging population. By defining if society views aging as a share social responsibility or an individual burden.

    Defining health as a multidimensional concept that refers to a person physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Practicing medicine is using the provisions of healthcare services to prevent, diagnose, treat illnesses, and promote wellness(Saylor).

    Layering the main sociology perspectives and navigating the central questions of each will highlight the tensions of the global national health insurance compared to the US Private Pay healthcare systems. Functionalism asks on the macro systems level, “Does this healthcare structure maintain social stability”? Conflict theory also on a macro level focus on inequality ask, “Who controls the healthcare system and who benefits”? Zooming in on a micro individual experience Interaction theory asks, “How do people experience and interpret healthcare?”

           (https://imana.org/world-health-day-2024-advocate-universal-health-care-with-imana/)

   

     For the Functionalist perspective the stabilizing mechanism of the US Private Pay is the market drive and innovation and in the universal healthcare the stabilizer is the guaranteed coverage. In layering the conflict theory, insurance and pharmaceutical companies hold the power and the inequalities are found within class, gender, and race in the US private. For the universal healthcare the state or govern body hold the power and acess reduces the inequalities overall. The interaction experience individuals have with the US private pay is characterized as uncertainty because insurance status defines access and through the universal healthcare system individual's interaction experience security through shared citizenship.

    After analyzing the sociology perspectives on both the US Private Pay system and the Universal Healthcare system foundational tensions that divide are found as delay vs denied, collective responsibility vs individual responsibility, public regulations vs corporate profit, quality of access vs freedom of market. In short, US private pay treats healthcare as a market commodity and Universal systems treat healthcare is a public good and both systems function by relay on different stabilizers.The Universal system trade speed and market freedom for equity and security and the US Private pay trades equity and guarantee access for market driven innovation(Universal Health Care vs Private Pay).

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/15/3289

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10153289

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10153289

    Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is not “your grandmother’s arthritis” it is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the lining of joints causing pain and can also affect organs like heart, lungs, and eyes. There are no known preventions of RA but strategies to slow development include avoid smoking, early treatment, and healthy life habits. Most common treatments for RA are methods of targeting the inflammation through immune suppressant and biological medications, physical and occupational therapies, dietary, lifestyle management, and surgery(Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Xu and Wu presented the RA social factor disparities among the US in their 2005 report that woman are 75% of RA suffers, Native American/Black populations have a higher severity of symptoms, between the ages of 60-75 years is the highest diagnostic time frame, an lower educated and low income demographic have the highest risk and have poorer outcomes.

(https://www.boggycreek.org/)

     Junior Rheumatoid Arthritis is the same autoimmune disease as RA only presenting in children. Our family is familiar with this disease due to my daughter diagnoses at the age of three. Camp Boggy Creek is an organization that our family utilized for support and targets the child population with serious illness such as cancer, epilepsy, heart disease, sickle cell, and chronic autoimmune diseases. Camp Boggy Creek describes their mission is to provide a “magical” experience that fosters the experiences of confidence and friendship in a safe supportive free environment. Due to the complexities, longevity, and fragility of these diseases the children’s and families are often isolated, exhausted, and lack emotional and physical support so this type of environment essential. https://www.boggycreek.org/about-us

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Accessed April 8, 2024.

Prevalence trend and disparities in RA among US Adults 2005-18

Saylor Academy. Social Problems: Continuity and Change. Saylor Academy, 2012.

Universal Healthcare vs. Private Insurance.” Solace Health, Solace Health, 2026, https://www.solace.health/glossary/universal-healthcare-vs-private-insurance#:~:text=Universal%20healthcare%20is%20a%20system%2C%20deductibles%2C%20and%20provider%20networks. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

Xu, Y., & Wu, Q. (2021). Prevalence Trend and Disparities in Rheumatoid Arthritis among US Adults, 2005–2018. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(15), 3289.

 

 

Understanding Social Problems

Finding the Tension in the Layers: A Multi-Perspective View on Social Problems

Chapter 1 of “Understanding Social Problems: Continuity and Change” lays the framework for viewing social problems through a sociological lens. Social problems are defined as having objective empirical components and subjective perceptions of a condition. For an issue to be recognized as a social problem it must produce harmful consequences that affect a significant number of people. In which the need for change must generate enough attention and pressure to create the momentum needed for the issue to move through the natural history stages(Saylor Academy).

The concept of the sociological imaginations saturates the sociological understanding of social problem. This concept founded by C. Wright Mills (1959) takes the approach that personal troubles are often a result of the social problems in the structure of society and culture(Saylor Academy). Using Mill’s concept in his book “Blaming the Victim” Willian Ryan (1976) brought into light the harm of the blaming the victim ideology and suggested that the blame be shifted to the structural systems to be effective in successfully navigate social problems(Saylor Academy).

The main sociological theoretical perspectives: Functionalist theory, Conflict theory, and Symbolic Interactionist theory provide a multilayer view of social problems. Functionalism came out of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century with the focus on order and function for societal survival solidified by Emile Durkheim who used the function of the human body as a model for society. Conflict theory also grew out of the Industrial Revolution in the communist manifesto (1848) Kari Marx and Fredrick Engels brought awareness to the oppression caused by the unequal powers that created by capitalism. The Symbolic Interactionism is a micro level theory coined by Herbert Blumer (1937) that explains how meaning is created through interpersonal interactions(Saylor Academy).

https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_social-problems-continuity-and-change/s04-understanding-social-problems.html

https://news.gallup.com/poll/4708/Healthcare-System.aspx

2.Although the major sociological theoretical perspective of Functionalism, Conflict, and Symbolic Interactions contradict in many ways when they are layering together on the same social structure they function as complementary lenses. When layering the theories on a singular social structure or social problem the Functionalist view highlights the stability and cohesion of the social structure while the Conflict theory view exposes power imbalances and inequalities within the same social structure. Simultaneously, the Interaction theory reveals how people interpret and experience the dynamics of the said social structure. The overlapping of these theories shows where structural stability creates inequality, where power produces tension, and how meaning either reinforces or challenges the system.

To better understand let’s apply the three theories to the act of an armed robbery. Functionalism says robbery is a crime that clarifies morals and is dysfunctional because it disturbs social order. Conflict theory argues that a robbery reflects class inequality and unequal access to resources. Also, that laws are created by powerful groups to protect their property. While the Interactionist view the robbery through how society persevered the definition of the crime. By labeling the criminal, examining how the behavior is learned, and how the criminal may internalize that identity(Saylor Academy).

 

After analyzing the main sociological theories by applying them to a variety of social problems, I find myself most often relating to the Conflict theory. This theory keeps the balance in the social structures by challenging authority while simultaneously advocating. The key questions of conflict theory are: Who benefits and who is at a disadvantage? These questions directly address the role of power in shaping social inequality and challenges the hierarchical social structures. Conflict theory resonates with me because it shifts the focus away from victim blaming and on to system blaming by critically examining how systems can reproduce patterns of structural inequalities that hope life changes across generations(Saylor Academy).

3.According to the most recent Gallup polls in the “Healthcare Systems” trend page shows most of American’s are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the total cost of healthcare in the US. The November 2025 survey reports 82% dissatisfied compared with 16% satisfied. The survey describes 82% as being the lowest satisfaction level since the 1993 survey of 90% dissatisfaction compared with 8% satisfied. Notably the survey shows American’s have had more than a 30 year long running trend of high dissatisfaction in healthcare cost.

     

These numbers matter because they confirm a long-term social problem. Analyzing the data of healthcare cost provided by the Gallop Polls, the objective condition of the cost burden measured by observing cost of deductibles, premiums, medications, out of pocket expenses, and medical debt. The subjective concern is reflected by the overwhelming majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the cost of healthcare. That is evidence of a perceived widespread harmful condition. The social construction is how we think and frame the healthcare cost problem by identifying who benefits through the following questions: Is it a market problem, or insurance problem, or fairness problem, or government policy issue?

The Gallup Poll shows a long-term negative pattern of health care reflecting a social emergence. This is when the public recognizes the issue, expresses the burden of the social problem, and the issue becomes represented in public debate. Which is a result of why we see healthcare cost as a hot debated topic during elections.

Brevard Health Alliance(BHA)  in Melbourne Fl is a Federally Qualified Health Center(FQHC) working to address the high healthcare cost. This organization acts as a safety net by providing a sliding scale based on income for medial, dental, and behavior health. BHA accepts Medicaid/Medicare and serves the uninsured residents of Brevard, Florida with clinics located in Melbourne, Palm Bay, Rockledge, Port St. John,and Titusville as well as a mobile health unit. Their website is https://www.brevardhealth.org/contact/ and phone number is 321-241-6800

Sources:

Brevard Health Alliance. Brevard Health Alliance. www.brevardhealth.org. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.

Gallup. “Healthcare Systems.” Gallup, https://news.gallup.com/poll/4708/healthcare-system.aspx.Accesssed 11 Feb. 2026

Saylor Academy. Social Problems; Continuity and Change. Saylor academy,2012