The Aging Population In The United States

Jacobsen, Kent, Lee, & Mather (2011) stated, “Since women live longer than men in the United States, women will continue to make up a majority of the older population in the foreseeable future” (pg. 3). Whereas, this age distribution among men and women are expected to remain approximately the same between 2009 and 2030, there will be notable changes in the age and gender gap by 2050 as the gap grows smaller (Jacobsen, Kent, Lee, & Mather, 2011). Furthermore, according to Vincent & Velkoff (2010), by the year 2042 the United States will become more racially and ethnically diverse with the combined minority population expected to become the majority. Thus, as people in the United States age over the next several decades, the older population will also become a more racially and ethnically diverse group. In addition, the overall age structure of the population is expected to change a great deal over the next four decades (Vincent & Velkoff, 2010). This will pose even more challenges to policy makers and programs designed to help the elderly like Medicare and Social Security. Therefore, being able to project the size and structure of the older population, in regards to age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin is not only important to public interest, but also private both socially and economically (Vincent & Velkoff, 2010).

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.

Aging Americans, like other age groups, are feeling the effects of the declining real estate and stock markets, as well as soaring fuel and food prices. Seniors’ economic security will only increase in importance as the U.S. population ages. The nation’s health and social services resources will face unprecedented demand as 75 million people in the baby boomer generation reach retirement age—some with eroded savings and retirement accounts. Aging people of color are more likely than white

Committee on Aging, United States Senate, 101st Cong. (1990). (Serial No. 101-J). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

It is widely believed that the aging of the U.S. population is a major driver of the annual growth in the demand for health care and in national health spending

As we begin to enter an aging America many positive effects will foreshadow, like having more experienced workers, changing perceptions of how we think of the aged and aging, them being active in the community, and obtaining their place in society. In observing the history and how far we have come along with regards to our views, government funding’s, and where they will live can only improve as future elderly come into existence. So much as 40 years into the future there perhaps will be modifications to reduce working hours to 4 days a week. Changes like this would shift our demographic work style that would ease us into our older years and living longer and happier lives. This growing demographic that’s estimated in the future will play a

Like longevity trends, racial trends among the elderly are an important aspect when looking at demographics of the aging population. The growing aging population is also changing in composition. The aging populace is moving to be a more racially and ethnically diverse population than previous aging populations (Ortman & Velkoff, 2014). In 2010, non-Hispanic whites made up 80% of adults aged 65 years or older, by 2030 that percent will decrease to 71.2% of the population 65 and older. It is predicted that by 2050 non-Hispanic whites will make up fewer than 60% of the

Just like other parts of the world, the United States is no exceptional, it is an aging society. Between the year 2000 and the year 2050, the number of the elderly is predicted to increase by 135%. Again, the population of the persons aged 85 years and above, which is the group that will mostly require health and long-term services, is predicted to

With the aging society in America means that there will be larger number of older people than young people. As a result of this fewer people will have to pay taxes to support public necessities and there will be fewer young people to provide services for the elders. This will also highly affect the health care in America because many seniors will have a chronic illness and there will be a shortage of healthcare workers to assist them. This will affect retirement because retirement income is made up of welfare payments, savings, and public and private pensions. Most publicly financed retirement pensions are funded by programs or most commonly know, social security. Social security is a universal income support program for elders and is usually

The United States is goal orientated; therefore it could be argued that the premise to achieve successful aging is on par with our historical and cultural beliefs. Unlike other cultures or countries America is a ‘melting pot’ without a common philosophy defining the meaning of life or how life should be lived. For example, Traditional Hinduism, Chinese Confucianism, and Japanese Ikigai have cultural mores that provide for the role of aging in their societies (Moddy & Sasser, 2015, p. 36).The common thread for citizens in America is to achieve a better life at all stages. Thus, from cultural context the words are in sync with the American way.

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)

Health care has been an issue for the United States for several years. Universal health care has still not been accomplished, and this means there are many people uninsured across the country who could be seeking medical attention, but cannot afford it. Another problem recently surfaced for the United States. This problem is the aging population. There are many factors that have contributed to the aging population, and they greatly effect health care.

According to the maps of 1990 and 2010 it is easy to see that in the upper middle part of our country (South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, etc.) the numbers are staying low and not moving. The Southern part of the country is increasing in population, therefore making the numbers grow, while in the states near the Great Lakes (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, etc.) are losing representatives in both maps. In 1990, California really grew in population and added 7 representatives, along with Florida gaining 4. When States gain and lose representatives it is normally only 1 or 2. Washington, Texas, Florida, and Georgia gained representatives in both 1990 and 2010. The same goes for Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania,

The author argues that the aging of the US population will bring about some economic changes. She points out that a combination of increased labour and a lower consumption rate will be required. However, she notes that these changes can have significant consequences on economic variables such as the rate of return on capital and wages. The aging of the population is likely to be as associated with a reduction in wages and increased returns on capital if adjustments to capital are slow. This will arise if budget deficits are allowed increase with the aging of the population. The author uses the consumption possibilities frontier to illustrate the determinants as well as the magnitude of changes resulting from the aging population. The consumption possibilities frontier illustrates the level of consumption that can be maintained for a given amount of capital per worker. It follows that the consumption per worker must be equal to the output per worker minus the resources required to maintain the capital ratio.

A significant population growth occurred between 1946 and 1964; approximately 76 million people were born in the United States; this group of individuals is known as the “Baby-boom” generation (Dohm, 2000). These individuals now average between the ages of 51-70, and make up a vast majority of those in American whom fall in the late adulthood period of their lives. According to Boyd and Bee (2015, p 418), young old is defined at ages 60-75, old old is 75-85 and oldest old is 85 and older. In the United States in 2010 there were approximately 40,267,984 adults over the age of 65; in 2014 there was an estimated 46,243,211 adults over the age of 65 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). Additionally when looking at the numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau