[The new seniors. Sociological and medical aspects].
Medical progress has led to a spectacular increase in life expectancy. The world population is ageing in a context of rapid technological change destabilizing individuals and societies in their values and functions to such a point that it is Leading to a true change in civilization. Seniors have become important socio-economic players with a feeling of prolonged youth and autonomy. Globalization has generated a feeling of insecurity and a constantly growing need for more information. In the face of these changes, adaptation in rhythm ranges, according to the individual, from reticence in its extreme form, the principle of precaution, through fatalistic passivity to opportunistic enthusiasm. In the medical field, patients have access to all modern means of information, and the most well-informed tend to behave more or less consciously as healthcare consumers, modifying the relationship with doctors which may become a service provider-client type relationship. A new relation to the body and with others has appeared with desires and also performance obligations. The difficulties of adaptation to this complex and socially anxiogenic world are expressed by permanent social conflicts and the increasing recourse to individual psychotherapeutic support.
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D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000639:trends; D015510:Clinical Medicine / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008017:Life Expectancy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012922:Social Change; D012962:Sociology, Medical / Q000639:trends*