There are some who consider that old age begins around 45 while others consider them young at that very age. According to reports there is 50 percent chance that every youngster in developed nations reaches the 100 year mark despite different perceptions of age.
British Medical Journal ‘The Lancet”, said in its October report “Aging Population: The challenges Ahead” that every 1 child out of 2 who was born in this decade and lives in a developed nation has the chance to become a centenarian.
However, amidst children the celebration isn’t a top-priority. A large majority of youngsters aren’t eager to live longer. They express deep concern about appearance; wrinkles and immobility; staying on wheelchairs. Yet some are motivated to see evolutions made by future generations while being on the doorstep of death, after their hundred years of existence.
Feldman, turned hundred November 13, 2009, considers each day another marvelous journey. Although he is partially immobilized in wheelchair and with poor hearing capabilities, he enjoys his life as a centenarian.
Living Longer and being Healthier
The Lancet report says that people will live longer and be healthier. They will suffer from fewer disabilities.
Dr. Alfred L. Fisher, assistant professor in geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, says that according to statistics, only 0.03 percent of all children born in the United State in 1990 reached 100. At their time, life expectancy was 47.3 years where infant mortality was 13 percent during the first year of birth.
Nowadays, 99.3 percent of all babies survive more than one year. This is topping U.S health service as 30th in the world. Moreover, life expectancy is also at a rise, that is 77.9 in 2007. The Lancet report predicts that this younger generation born post to the turn of the millennium does not have a real limit to age. The only constraint is society’s ability to manage a growing population.
Society Planning
In America, there are more than 100,000 centenarians. This figure is at a constant rise. The problem that is arising is the management of resources. Mildred E. Morrison, administrator of the Allegheny County Agency on Aging, says that they can hardly meet actual demand. The possibility of dealing with future demands will highly depended on new laws and regulations.
Fisher says ‘We’re really going to have to rethink the concept of retirement” with an aging population and restricted resources, retirement might become viable only after the age 70s. It will become important that old people take a more active role in society, paying taxes and so on. This might eventually promote healthiness and extend life expectancy even further.
Morrison said that there is a change towards home-base nursing care. However, out of the elder population a great deal suffers from dementia. This is making health care even more difficult. The presence of illnesses such as dementia, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure would require a bunch of more resources that are actually at scarcity.
The curse of living to 100 years is loneliness. Today, it might be difficult for youngster to predict the future. The majority of centenaries do nonetheless experience loneliness at their old age.
Eventually much planning and managing of resources are necessary so as to effectively anticipate the demographic changes to our future population. Living above hundred might be a possibility for most of us, but how will the future greet us is the greatest concern
Reference:
Growing number of centenarians to challenge cultural roles
Anti Aging, Gerontology, Health And Aging, Lifestyle, Longevity
Fri, Dec 11, 2009
Anti Aging, Gerontology, Health And Aging, Lifestyle, Longevity