According to a global study
just released by the United Nations(UN), “by the year 2050, for the first time
in history, seniors older than 60 will outnumber children younger than 15”(as
cited in Gelineau 2013). This unprecedented shift in global demographics has
significant consequences for global health. Seniors have unique healthcare and lifestyle
needs. Currently many countries around the world have social programs for the
elderly(Gelineau 2013), but many developing countries do not have such programs
and will need to implement policies before the demographic shift in the future.
Many developing
countries currently do not have adequate social programs and healthcare programs
for the elderly. Some people do not make enough money to retire and still have
to work through old age. Because of the lack of money, they can’t afford the
healthcare they need. With the upcoming demographic shift, it is not
unreasonable to speculate that the situation will get a lot worse if nothing is
done.
Developed countries are
not immune to problems caused by the aging of the population. Countries such as
Germany and Japan presently have a large population of seniors and have
programs to provide for the their needs(Gelineau 2013). But with declining
birth rates, the share of the cost that younger people in developed countries
bear will increase. Pensions and Social security depend on taxes from younger
workers to fund the social safety for the elderly. But if the percentage of younger
people goes down, these social safety nets may be starved of funds. There may
not be enough money to provide care for the elderly as we do now and social
safety nets will be less than adequate.
Related to the aging of
the world, is the rising cost of Alzheimer’s around the world. According to the
Alzheimer’s Association(2013), Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that decreases
mental ability. Specifically it causes problems with memory, thinking, and
behavior. According to the World Alzheimer’s report, nearly half of all seniors
who need long term care have dementia(as cited in Neergaard 2013).
Some seniors will need
long term care. The strain of long term care is early on families and then on
the national health care systems (Neergaard 2013). The cost of Alzheimer’s in
the United States alone is currently $200 billion. It is estimated that by the
year 2050 it will cost $1 trillion (Neergaard 2013). The disease affects every
aspect of people’s live: physically, mentally, and socially. One can reasonably
assume that with the increase in the age of the world’s population, the cost
will be sustainably higher. Currently U.S. spending on Alzheimer’s research is only $400
million. When compared to the cost, is very small.
And why does this all
matter to the average young college student? By 2050 most of these students
will be approaching the age of 60 or will be older. They will be the ones
needing all this specialized care. Current students have families to take care
of that are already elderly or will be in the future. The global aging trend will
affect all of us personally, in one form or another. The future doesn’t have to
be bleak. But with more research, education, making aging a more important
global health initiative, etc. We can all be ready for the upcoming demographic
shift.
Works Cited
Neergarrd, L. (2013,
September 20). Rising Alzheimer’s creates strain on caregivers. Associated Press. Retrieved from
news.yahoo.com
Gelineau, K. (2013,
October 1). Global Study: World Not Ready for Aging. Associated Press. Retrieved from abcnews.go.com/health
What Is Alzheimer’s?(n.d.).
In Alzheimer’s Association. Retrieved
from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp
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