|
I am only a teenager, why should I care about the aging population?
Policy makers, researchers and people who provide services talk about the "demographic imperative" or the "graying of the world" What they mean is that the older population is growing at a rapid rate. In 1990, 28 countries had more than 2 million persons aged 65 +, 12 countries had more than 5 million persons 65+, and 10 countries had populations of over one million persons age 80 and over.
In addition to the increasing numbers of older persons, Graph 2 illustrates researchers' expectations that there will be rapid changes in the number of elderly compared to the number of youths (0-19). This change is particularly dramatic in developing countries. For example, the fourth most populous country in the world, Indonesia, is projected to have a 4% increase in the youth population, while the elderly are projected to increase 140% and the oldest old an incredible 260%!
What does this have to do with those of us who are teenagers today? Our chances for surviving into old age are greater than at any time in history—and as the French singer, Maurice Chevalier once said, "Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative." We are a part of this historical "graying of the world." If you are 13 today, you will turn 65 in the year 2049 and your parents who are 40 today will be 65 in 2022. How old will you be in the year 2025 or 2050? At that age do you think you will be "old"? Do you think that you will be living a satisfying life? Remember, the decisions made today in research, technology and social policy affect the quality of life we will have in the future.
Graph 2: Age-Specific Population Change in China: 1990 to 2010
|
|
