Today, an increasing number of developed countries face the problem of a rapidly aging population. This trend is believed to be caused by two major factors, namely the growing life expectancy and a reduction in fertility rates (Jacelon, 2018). For the former, it is found that since 1960 life duration of US citizens extended from 69.7 years to 79.4 years in 2015. Moreover, that number is projected to reach a record height of 85.6 years in 2060 (Medina et al., 2020). However, the longevity distribution may differ among various sexes and racial groups. For instance, in 2020, the life expectancy of males was 75.1 years, while for females, that number was equal to 80.5 years (Arias et al., 2021). Additionally, from an ethnic perspective, Hispanic Americans have the longest forecasted life span (79.9 years); for non-Hispanic white Americans, it equals 78 years, and the black population is expected to live the least (72 years). On the other hand, fertility rates fell significantly since the middle of the previous century. For instance, women gave birth on average to 3.58 children in 1960, while in 2020, it amounted to 1.78 children (Statista Infographics, 2021).
According to Jacelon (2018), such demographic tendencies would result in the situation that by 2050 there would be 60 old-aged people and just 30 children per 100 people ages between 15 and 64. The author further argues that the gradual aging of the population would lead to changes in social policies, resource allocation, business operations, marketing strategies, and community and healthcare systems. The latter raises a special concern among scholars and politicians as people’s well-being plays a crucial role in society’s development. It is argued that medical institutions and services would necessitate increases in financing as the population becomes older (Elmendorf & Sheiner, 2017). However, on the flip side, growth in the number of older adults in relation to the young population would also signify a reduction in the labor force and, consequently, a decline in national income.
Moreover, the rise in the number of aged citizens necessitates adaptive measures from the healthcare system to encounter the new reality. According to Garza (2016), 60% of people who are currently 75 years old would suffer from more than one chronic disease. For that reason, the demand for long-term, high-quality medical assistance also surges. The caregivers should develop the necessary facilities to administer appropriate services for the aging population. It may include, for instance, the combination of formal and informal care. The latter means the inclusion of family members in the care process by providing them with the necessary means. Also, the eHealth and robotics sphere can be further developed to complement in-hospital treatment. Furthermore, politicians and medical workers should seek advancement in preventive care and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Finally, as one of the possible outcomes of increased financial demand due to the aging population, healthcare services would grow in price, which would lead to further discrepancies in the life expectancy of various races. As it was mentioned above, non-Hispanic black people have the least projected life span. One of the major reasons that affect the longevity of this group is economic well-being (Bond & Herman, 2016). According to US Census Bureau (2018), as of 2017, black families have the lowest household income compared to other nations. As a result of price growth, even fewer people of that race would be able to access healthcare services which would further increase inequality. Therefore, the healthcare system and politicians should also address that problem.
References
Arias, E., Tejada-Vera, B. & Ahmad, F. (2021). Provisional life expectancy estimates for January through June 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Bond, M. J., & Herman, A. A. (2016). Lagging life expectancy for black men: a public health imperative. American Journal of Public Health, 106(7), 1167–1169.
Elmendorf, D. W., & Sheiner, L. M. (2017). A federal budget policy with an aging population and persistently low-interest rates. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(3), 175-94.
Garza, A. (2016). The aging population: The increasing effects on health care. Pharmacy Times. Web.
Jacelon, C. S. (2018). The aging population. In K. Mauk (Ed.), Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for care 4th edition (pp. 23-37). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Medina, L., Shannon Sabo, S. & Vespa, J. (2020). Living longer: Historical and projected life expectancy in the United States, 1960 to 2060. US Census Bureau. Web.
Statista Infographics. (2021). The total fertility rate in the United States from 1800 to 2020. Web.
US Census Bureau. (2018). Real Median Household Income by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1967 to 2017. Web.