Aging in Alberta. 3rd ed.

Judith E. Franchuk is a librarian in the Cameron Library at the
University of Alberta.

The “crisis of the aging population,” Northcott believes, is a
social construction built and perpetuated by economic, social, and
political groups that benefit from distortion of the reality concerning
our aging population. In this third edition of Aging in Alberta, the
author’s thesis is well supported by his presentation and analysis of
concepts, surveys, government initiatives, policies, and issues relevant
to aging in Alberta in particular and in Canada as a whole.

Topics covered in the book include universal programs vs. merit- and
needs-based programs, the impact of social and labour force trends, the
coexistence of the paradoxical principles of self-reliance and
collectivity within Albertan and Canadian programs, and the need to
consider such issues as social class solidarity, intergenerational
equity, gender inequity, and fiscal responsibility. All in all, this is
a solid resource for undergraduates who need a comprehensive,
fact-based, and readable text on what it means to grow old in Alberta.