The Importance Of Aging In The United States

Improved Essays
Elderly drivers more common, causing more accidents
Advances in science, nutrition, societal infrastructure and health care allow us to live longer than ever before. The average U.S. life span is now 78.7 years (76 for men, 81 for women). This means that, in essence, our country’s population is skewing older. The United States Census Bureau estimates that America’s population of residents aged 65 or older will reach more than 83 million by the year 2050; this represents almost twice the 2012 population of the same demographic.
In particular, access to medical treatment is giving us the ability to live active, independent lives for much longer. This includes staying in our homes, participating in social activities and, for many, driving.
While

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    According to data compiled by the Social Security Administration, a man reaching age 65 today can expect to live to 84, and a woman reaching age 65 can expect to live to 86. In addition, 25 percent of 65-year old’s will live past 90, and 10 percent will live past 95 (Social Security Administration). Concurrently, about one out of every four 65-year-olds today will live past age 90, and…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The scientific definition of aging is the deterioration over time resulting in physiological changes. Many evolutionary biologists believe that aging has nothing to do with genetics (Arking). Once, an animal serves its purpose it is able to die off. The purpose being to produce and raise offspring (Gilbert). This happens with many organisms like moths and salmon.…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In align to the productive aging assumption, that older Americans can and should work more, legislators have also shown their interest in rising the eligibility age as high as 70 for the Social Security benefits (Rho, 2010). However, a study by Anthony Bonen (nd) presented evidence that rejects the assumption that older Americans are physically and mentally capable to work for pay in their later life. Whilst, Johnson (2004, p.55) cautions that “policymakers should provide an adequate safety net for those adults whose demanding jobs and health problems force them to retire early”, Anthony (nd) stated that “now those adults represent, in fact, the bulk of older working Americans – it is not simply a matter of making special provision for an unlucky…

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As technology advances throughout the years, the life expectancy for elderly Americans will increase dramatically (Singh, Bajorek, 2014). Americans life expectancy has increased over the last few years, and as of 2015 Americans can expect to live an average of 78.7 years (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2017). Over the next 33 years, the United States elderly population is expected to be around 83.7 million adults, that is nearly double what it was in 2012 (43.1 million) (CDC, 2017). The state of Arizona is ranked in the top ten in the nation for states with the highest elderly population. It is often called the "snowbird" state because hundreds of thousands of seniors migrate to here during the winter time to enjoy the warm…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Aging: A Cultural Analysis

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages

    According to Gardiner and Kosmitzki (2011), “people are living longer than ever before, many over the age of one hundred” (p.79). The North American society focuses more on the younger generation than the older generation.…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The US population is beginning to see a significant growth in the proportion of Americans who are 65 and older, projections suggest by 2030 those 65 and older will comprise 20.3% of the total population (Ortman & Velkoff, 2014). The declines in fertility and the dramatic increases in longevity have increased the proportion of seniors in the population (Cherlin, 2010).…

    • 298 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The following research paper will discuss the following topics of access to healthcare, preventive care, and utilization of services available to the population of the United States throughout their life span. Access to healthcare in the United States is an important topic being discussed in the medical arena today. Hospitals, clinics, and emergency centers are showing everywhere in the larger communities. So what is the problem with access?…

    • 1032 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The authors of “The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson” and “Aging Population” have similar purposes for their writing. They are both about what happens to elders as they start to get older, and some of the challenges they face. To start off, in the “The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson”, it describes what happened to the grandfather when he ate. Bits of food sometimes fell out of his mouth, so his family didn’t let him sit at the kitchen table anymore (The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson). This shows one of the problems that happened to him as he got older.…

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    INTRODUCTION The current increase in the aging population is having a direct impact on the nursing profession. The Administration on Aging reported that Americans over the age of 65 years make up 13.7% of the population (one in every seven Americans) with anticipated growth that is unprecedented in the history of the United States and the world (National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA), n.d.). Recent demographic shifts will have major implication for the United States healthcare system, both in the terms of delivery of patient care and the practice of nursing (Hussung, 2016). Improved public health and clinical care have led to an increase in the average life span, meaning that by the year 2020 more than 20 percent of the population…

    • 190 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The aging population comes with a number of challenges - particularly that related with the degradation of bodily functions as we age. Organ systems begin to fail, and associated medical conditions can come about. Some common ones include diabetes, hypertension, cardiac pathologies including coronary artery disease. Cognitive decline also makes normal activities difficult - Parkinson's, Alzhiemer's etc. Notice that all of these pathologies mentioned are typically long-term issues - nothing that a quick round of drugs can fix, unlike an infection, let's say.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to Emanuel, in the past century Americans have been living longer, and currently the average age for people living in America is around 79 years old. The average age increased with more…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aging can be more than wrinkles, fine lines and grey hairs. In this photo, this woman appears to not feel happy with her age and the way she looks. She has either makeup artists or doctors on either side of her face holding up cosmetics as if they were going to fix up any of the “issues” that came with aging. “How can I be envious of where you are, when I 've been there myself,” (Album 121) said Morrie to Mitch. Morrie explained to Mitch how he has already been all of these ages and how deep down each of those parts of his life are still him in some way.…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Healthy Life Expectancy

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    1. What is life expectancy, what is healthy life expectancy? What exactly then is the difference? According to News Medical, life expectancy is the number of years a person is expected to live based on a statistical average (http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Life-Expectancy.aspx).…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Back in 2012, there were nearly 36 million licensed drivers ages 65 and older in the United States (Motor Vehicle Safety). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population 70 and older is projected to increase from 30.9 million in 2014 to 53.7 million in 2030 (U.S Census Bureau). The escalation in the senior driver population are leading many people concerned about the possible effects on driving safety. Unfortunately, the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident escalates as we age. “According to a study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers ages 65 and up are more likely to get into accidents than younger drivers”…

    • 2164 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Beat Old Age Essay

    • 1510 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Should scientists help people beat old age? My topic I chose for this essay was whether or not should take the time to focus on helping come up with ways to beat old age, so that people can live longer, more healthy lives and enjoy their experience of living more. This topic is interesting to me because it has two clear sides to it and has lots of reasons to both of them.…

    • 1510 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays