Life Expectancy In The United States: A Case Study

The challenge America now faces is the number of people reaching retirement will double in number by 2030, and the U.S. population will increase almost 20 percent ("Our Aging Nation," 2015). The goal is for the elderly to maintain and live with independence and dignity, as well as, provide a wide range of professional health and social service expertise, home care, and residential support and services that will be needed ("Our Aging Nation," 2015). Since the number of caregivers needed for this population will not be able to meet the demands other resolutions are considered necessary.

In the U.S, one in four will be aged 60 years and older by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau). This represents an overwhelming number of people who will either be in the caretaker role or be the ROC. Like today, most of the care will be provided by informal unpaid caregivers. The number of informal unpaid caregivers is expected to rise from 20 million in 2000 to 37 million in 2050 (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation [ASPE], 2003). Because of the burden of care giving, many caregivers will experience depression, poor health and quality of life (Etters, Goodall, & Harrison, 2008). Their well-being is an important public health concern.

In the U.S., there is an essential population of informal caregivers that devote a significant amount of time and resources to caring for older adults with impairments. However, due to the informal nature of these caregiver relationships, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of this population. In “A National Profile of Family and Unpaid Caregivers Who Assist Older Adults with Health Care Activities (2016)”, Wolff and colleagues highlight the importance of understanding the responsibilities of caregivers and how this may affect their own health, as well as the need to identify the basic characteristics of informal caregivers. Therefore, the primary objective of this study by Wolff and colleagues (2016) was to characterize the common responsibilities of caregivers, their utilization of supportive services, as well as to identify the effects of caregiver-related responsibilities on their health. Ultimately, this information may inform future public health services and health care systems to provide much needed support and resources to these caregivers.

Providing eldercare to sick and aging loved ones increases women’s risk of living in poverty later in life, and specifically at retirement age due to the negative health and financial implications including gaps or decreases in employment, losses in retirement income, and the use of savings to cover out-of-pocket costs (Wakabayashi, Donato, 2006). The elderly population in the United States continues to grow at a significant rate, with estimates that approximately 80 million adults will be over the age of sixty-five by the year 2030 (Bookman, Kimbrel, 2011). Approximately seventy-five percent of elderly persons who require assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living receive that support in the form

The average life expectancy in the United States is close to 80 years old, does this mean everyone lives to be 80, no. This number comprises of the people who lived well beyond it and those who pass away unexpectedly and have shorter lives. People of different races can have different life expectancies, because they could be more susceptible, or immune to certain illnesses. The region you live in also plays a big role in your life expectancy, since it can define if you are more likely to contract illnesses, be hit with more disasters like hurricanes or floods, or even harsher weather which can take its toll on the body. Typically people of racial minority, or a lower social status, you would have lower life expectancy which can be due in-part

A nonsystematic study reviewed previous research and noted the importance of assisting caregivers as there are nearly four million adult caregivers nationwide.7 Researchers from the School of Nursing in Michigan gave insight about the issues faced by caregivers, and how to better meet their caregiving needs. Legislation review and five meta-analyses were conducted in order to see the many implications caregivers face as well offer ways to help them. National data showed these caregivers estimate an average of 8.3 hours a day providing care near 13.7 months. 5 Along with innumerable physical changes, sleep disturbances, and changes financial well-being, psychological impairment and moods disturbance were a great topic of research. In several

Further national demographics shifts, such as deferred marriages and childbearing for young adults, reduced family size, and families living at a distance, are also exacerbating this dilemma. Additionally, increasing longevity among older adults will extend the years of assistance needed from their families as caregivers, including some grandchildren (Bookman & Kimbrel, 2011).

The age to which an average person is expected to live, based on the person’s sex, health factors, and other demographic data. Life expectancy rates are calculated by actuaries and are used extensively by life insurance companies to determine how much to charge for life insurance policies. Life expectancy varies according to a person’s current age: A baby born today may be expected to live until 85 years of age; a 50-year-old may be expected to live only until age

People these days are living longer and longer life’s then previous generations. There are many factors that come into with life expectancy and many things that contribute to it. Past generations have not had the resources of today’s 21st century. The 21st century has been a big ball of evolution for health and living factors.

With advancing age dependency increases and family is the primary contact an individual turn to for assistance.It is reported that 36 million adults provide care to a family member aged 65 or older. (National Alliance for Caregiving, 2009).Similarly, the family members will also have higher degree of involvement in caregiving for an individual in later years and it’s degree of caregiving totally depends on the need of care recipients.Family caregiver role is not an easy task as it brings responsibility and dedication which requires a great amount of energy and time.

As people head into retirement, their age brings not only knowledge and wisdom, but also loss of energy, physical weakness and psychological changes. One day you come to your parents’ house and realize that they can no longer take care of themselves in a proper manner. You find that they become forgetful and sluggish, have difficulties with walking and balancing, get uncertain when performing once-familiar tasks, stop pursuing their hobbies and engaging in habitual activities. They are also losing weight, which means that they are not eating well. All these are the signs that your aging parent needs some extra help with their daily living tasks. However, it does not mean that they have to move to a nursing home or any other type of senior facility.

Commonly, adult children are the primary caregivers for their aging parents. Often life adjustments must be made to prepare for this change. For example, deciding to move parents in the caregiver’s home or move in with parents can exact an emotional toll on the family members that will be impacted by this life change. Spousal relations can be affected as well, particularly if both caregivers have aging parents. Moreover, this type of life change may have unseen, unprepared for life adjustments; such as decisions to work fulltime or scale back to work part-time. If caregivers are needed more at home, then working outside of the home may not be an option.

The older adult population in the United States has steadily increased thanks to technology and medical advances. While this definitely is an undeniable achievement, it also creates some challenges that society was not as prevalent to face before. Now that people are living longer it’s also means that often times family members are becoming caregivers to their loved ones during their so called golden years. Not only may it be difficult to care for a loved one, but it also becomes even more burdensome when their loved has a disability. In fact “dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.” (2016). Fortunately there are adult day centers that serve people with dementia and provide services that can benefit them. However many times caregivers are forgotten about and aren’t provided services that can also benefit them as well. While it does take a bit of pressure off of the caregivers while their loved ones are at the day center, it does not eliminate all the other effects. Many people may not be aware that there are detrimental effects that a caregiver may experience as a result of caring for someone with dementia.

Growing old is something that no one looks forward to. Elderly people face a number of changes that come with age in both the body and mind. I explored some of these challenges that they deal with by putting my feet into their shoes. I got to experience first hand what it was like to feel many of the physical ailments that afflict the elderly, such as hearing and vision loss, difficulty walking and a hunched posture. I will address what it was like experiencing these challenges as well as the natural causes behind them. Additionally, many people in very late adulthood need a caregiver to assist with their everyday life. I also took on that role as well and will explain the emotional and physical difficulties that caregiver’s face, especially those who are related to their patients.

Physical health seems to be a recurring theme in the studies involving grandparents that are raising their grandchildren. Most of the research found a negative impact on health when assuming responsibility and custody of grandchildren. This presents other difficulties as well. In Goodman and Rao’s (2007) study, they interviewed many grandparents and grandchildren that expressed fear surrounding the grandparent’s mortality. The grandmothers were worried about what would happen to the grandchildren if their health continued to deteriorate. In another study, the grandchildren expressed extreme concern about losing their grandparent (Erbert & Aleman, 2008).