AGEISM:  (a’jiz um) Any attitude, action, or institutional structure which subordinates a person or group because of age or any assignment of roles in society purely on the bases of age --often applied to older adults.  (When applied to adolescents is also called adultism.)   

BOOMERS:  Those of the post-World War II generation born 1946-1964 (more than 76 million of them), originally called baby boomers (after the boom of the atomic bomb), now being called elder boomers in anticipation of their beginning to turn 65 in less than 5 years (2011).
Fact:  In 2030 people age 65 and over are projected to represent 20% of the total U. S. population, compared with 12% in 2003.  (U. S. Census Bureau)
Fact:  (As of 1990) Two thirds of all persons 65 or over who have EVER lived are alive today (Elizabeth Bierck, Fact Book on Aging, 1990, p.73).

EDEN ALTERNATIVE  - A response to the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom  (which founder William Thomas, 1992, says account for the bulk of suffering among our elders) by creating elder-centered communities committed to forming a human habitat where life revolves around close and continuing contact with plants, animals and children.

ELDER ORPHANS:  Older persons who have no family or whose family can’t or won’t care for them.

ELDERHOOD – A time to discover inner richness for self-development and spiritual growth.  It is also a time of transition and preparation for dying, which is at least as important as preparation for a career or family.  Out of this time of inner growth come our sages, healers, prophets, and models for generations to follow. (Gay Luce, Longer Life, More Joy)

ELDERTOPIA:  A community that improves the quality of life for people of all ages by strengthening and improving the means by which:
1)    the community protects, sustains, and nurtures its elders, and
2)    the elders contribute to the well-being and foresight of the community.                                                                                           
An eldertopia that is blessed with a large number of older people is acknowledged to be “elder-rich” and uses this human capital to the advantage of all.   (term used by Dr. William H. Thomas)

GERONTOLOGY (ger’-on-tol’-o-gy): Scientific study of aging and its effects

GERONTOPHOBIA (je-ron’-te-fo’-bee-a):   an irrational fear of advanced age based on disempowering cultural stereotypes.

GEROTRANSCENDENCE (ger’-o-tran-sen’-dens) –the potential in later years for increased life satisfaction related to a transcendent move away from a materialistic perspective and toward a spiritual and cosmic one.

GREEN HOUSE MOVEMENT:  A shift away from housing older people in institutions (or leaving them isolated at home) and  toward creating sanctuaries for a new kind of elderhood characterized by a commitment to small size and a de-emphasis of hierarchy.  (See Eden Alternative)

HOSPICE (hŏs'pĭs):  originally, a shelter or lodging for travelers, pilgrims, foundlings, or the destitute, especially one maintained by a monastic order.  In recent decades, a program of holistic care for persons with life-threatening conditions who no longer seek a cure, the care encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs--especially pain management--recognizing that the dying process is a part of the normal process of living and focusing on enhancing the quality of remaining life. 

MUSIC THANATOLOGY (than-a-tol’-o-gy):  a sub-specialty of palliative medicine with roots in medieval Benedictine monasticim, given contemporary form by Therese Schroeder-Sheker, founder of the Chalice of Repose.  It is a contemplative practice with clinical applications.  It focuses on the physical and spiritual care of the dying with prescriptive music;  it is also a pastoral art.  Its goals are relief of pain and/or spiritual suffering, facilitation of reconciliation and a peaceful death.

PALLIATIVE CARE: pal’-ee-yuh-tiv): Care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease. The goal of palliative care is to prevent or treat as early as possible the symptoms of the disease, side effects caused by treatment of the disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to the disease or its treatment. Also called comfort care, supportive care, and symptom management.

SAGE-ING: (as used by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald Miller) a new model of late-life development—a process of expanding consciousness and developing wisdom, expressed in consecrated service to the community as “elders of the tribe.”  Also called SPIRITUAL ELDERING.

SANDWICH GENERATION:  Those adults sandwiched between aging parents who need care/help and their own children.