Rachel Huaracha Sensores

In Josh Barro’s article, he mainly discusses the theme of Social Security. He explains how if we raise the age for people to access Social Security, that will harm poorer Americans who have a lower life expectancy due to the type of work they do or because of lack of other proper benefits. In the video, Coming of Age in and Aging America, they discuss the main theme of aging in America and the difficulties and obstacles these individuals face on a daily basis, especially in terms of Social Security. The video covers a variety of situations that the elderly face and how America can work to make the lives easier especially in a world where our elderly population in growing. One example was in a hospital where they were able to integrate new techniques and systems to make it easier for people to work longer into their lives. The main themes of Sharon Kaufman’s journal article were health care and the reform of current plans, and discussion of life-prolonging procedures. She discusses the three main procedures used in the U.S. which are organ transplantation, cardiac procedures, and cancer treatments. Finally, Segal’s text covers the themes and policies related to aging and elderly population. She discusses the acts and programs that have been put into place such as the Older Americans Act of 1965, social security, pensions, and Medicare/Medicaid, along with a variety of others.

In America, people are changing their views on aging and the elderly. Some of the reasons that the attitudes are changing could be due to more elderly people are remaining in the work place longer, as opposed to retiring early. Riffkin (2014). And there is the fact that we baby boomers are living longer. Even though the U.S. only ranks 53rd with a life expectancy of 79. That’s an increase of one year since 2010. (“The World: Life Expectancy” 2016)

With the generation of baby boomers approaching senior age by 2025, it may be difficult for them to adjust to the new technology and implement it in their everyday activities. Baby boomers are commonly known for the rejection of modern conveniences in exchange for traditional technology and for traditional values. So how will this cripple the changing trend of life for the aging population and there to decisions of living at home alone and last but not lease Medicare and the risk factors of making such a life changing decision? These issues create a group who are underserved and vulnerable. Underserved because of the barriers they encounter when caring for themselves by trying to eat healthy and the inadequate health care cost. Vulnerable because of the economic disadvantages and the health conditions they may face while dealing with this financial burden. If these problems are not address we will a heavy burden in our healthcare system.

The 2030 Problem: Caring for Aging Baby Boomers by James R Knickman and Emily K Snell

On a hot July day in 1965, Gertrude Baniszewski was living on the edge. A once beautiful woman, she was worn out from parenthood and poverty. With practically no income, she had to raise seven children by ironing and

She took on many burdensome tasks. For example the article “How a Hispanic woman made Florida history at the St. Augustine lighthouse” she cared for five or six children and lived off of a yearly salary of 400 dollars. She had to work hard every day in order to care for her children and the lighthouse. The article “Light keeper was a woman of firsts” also states that the government sent supplies for the light house but no food, therefore “keepers not only had to maintain the light, but also grow their own food as well... Additionally children who lived on the property needed to be educated…” Maria not only had to do her normally duties as a mother and educator, but she also took up the obligations of a light keeper. Running a lighthouse was no easy job but Maria put forth her all and worked hard every day.

In this video, we learn that the aging baby-boomer population is over 5 million people age 80 years and older living in the United States. By the year 2050, there will be an estimated 19.5 million seniors in the United States. We also learn that a nursing home’s average cost is $219 per day. Today’s life expectancy is 78 years compared to the year 1900 when the life expectancy was just 45 years. I believe life expectancy increased today compared to a hundred years ago because of scientist being able to improve medicines and find cures for diseases, and the fact that medical technology has

Data from the Census Bureau tell us that in 2015, there are around 47.8 million Americans age 65 and older, up from about 25.5 million just 35 years ago; demographers predict that in another 35 years, there will be nearly 88 million Americans in this age group. The rate of growth of the “oldest old” population—those age 85 and older—is even more dramatic: Their numbers currently stand at approximately 6.3 million, but by 2050, that number will have almost tripled, to 18.7 million Americans. This population explosion is unprecedented in history, and the resulting demographic shift is causing profound social and economic changes.

Caroline Payne, who as a child bounced back and forth between caretakers after her parents' divorce, is one of the impoverished workers Shipler offers to illustrate the point. After two divorces and four children, Caroline worked several low-wage jobs. The jobs, and the odd hours that often accompanies unskilled labor, became more difficult to maintain as she tried to arrange appropriate schooling and after-school care for her learning disabled daughter. Promotions in jobs she kept were difficult to come by because

The baby boom endured an increase in the ageing population. This was due to the decrease in fertility, as well as the improvement of longevity. Older service users are living longer for many reasons including advanced medical care and

From 1946 to 1964 approximately 4 million people were born each year in the United States. This was the greatest surge in births of any period prior or since. In 2006 the first of these so called baby boomers turned 60 and began settling into early retirement. In 2011 the first of them turned 65, the traditional retirement age. This year another 4 million will join the ranks of the retired. Many feel the passage of the PPACA came just in the nick of time to save the ailing Medicare system that this growing senior population relies on. Medicare's financial challenges would be far greater without the health care reform

Baby Boomer children are known as the, “Baby Echo.” These children (nearing adulthood) started a trend in enrolling in elementary schools in 1984. Since then enrollment has increased drastically, nearing 5.3 million students in 1971. Unfortunately, Baby Boomers did not think ahead once again and only 60% have a retirement account set up. The significance of the other 40% is that they are less likely to put aside money for their children and personal health care. Causing them to move in with one of their children in the future. The children then underestimate the expenses of housing a dependent adult or incompetent one. Then the entire family depends on Social Security and Medicare. Many of older Boomers in these situations attempt to keep working to help provide for their family to relieve them of the use of government assistance. Working when they should be retiring causes stress on the human body. This stress leads to 62 % of Boomers suffering from one of six major medical issues. These problems include, high cholesterol, obesity, falling, dementia and chronic back pain. 70% of Boomers use a form of medicine to help with these chronic diseases. Unfortunately the main place of Boomers falling, occurs at hospitals. Boomers have finally accomplish the improvement of medical care at hospitals. Technology for future care of Boomers will improve to the point to where it is personalized to

Back in twentieth century, a tiny fragment of mere 5% population was comprised of people aged 65 and above. A little spike in this segment was observed during the period of 1950s-1960s; however, that spike was not significant and restricted to 8% of entire population (Chart 1.1). Many factors were responsible for the small proportion of senior population, the most prominent one though, low life expectancy, high fertility/birth rates and limitation of health services.

She was born and raised in a poor home in Nicaragua. When she was young, a war broke out near the city she lived in and mentioned the difficulties her family has encountered throughout that time. Her father had taken part in this horrific war and her family, along with other families, faced great challenges. Because of the war, most of the homes and nearby stores had been destroyed or were being occupied by the soldiers as a place of refuge. By the time the war was finished the city was ruined the homes were falling apart as the bricks that made them up started to fall off one by one. So, In hopes for finding a safe and abundant home, her family moved to the United States. When she moved to Florida, she graduated High school and began attending a community college. Unfortunately, her family couldn’t afford for her to attend college for the full four years, so she was only able to attain her Associates degree in Accounting. This allowed her to have few job opportunities, nonetheless, with certain terms and conditions because of her

While the “Greatest Generation” is a title often given to those Americans who lived and died during the era of the Great Depression and World War II, their offspring, the “Baby Boom” generation, significantly shaped and improved the American landscape as well if for no greater reason than the sheer number of people who make up this population (Steinhorn, 2006). Today, based predominantly on that very same reason, the baby boomer population is now making a very different, yet equally as profound impact on American society. More