Age and Disability

What effect is the aging of the population having on society?

Different societies place different values on age.

Traditionally, older members of society were viewed as sources of knowledge and enforces of social customs.

Now, in industrial societies, employment is one of the major indicators of social status, and it is becoming more difficult for the elderly to remain employed.

Age

Ageism

Definition: the belief that one age category is by nature superior to another age category.

What stereotypes come to mind when you think of old people?

Ageism & Media

In American society, the media reinforces ageism.

What kind of commercials include the elderly?

Today, there are approximately 606 million people

aged 65 and older!

Within 6 years, there will be more old people in the world than children under the age of 5.

There will be over 1 billion people over the age of 65 by 2040.

Why is this happening?

The World is Aging

Age around the world

Africa The world’s

youngest region, with an average age of 18.4.

Why do you think people are so young in Africa?

Europe The world’s oldest

region, average age: 38.

Why do you think there is such a lack of young people in Europe?

Age in America

Currently, about 13% of the population (2010 census).

By 2025, it will be 19% and by 2050, one in every 5 Americans will be elderly.

Sociologists call this the “the graying of America.”

Why do you think this is happening?

1. Advances in health care and better living conditions have helped people survive into old-age.

2. Variations in birthrates have changed the age structure in the U.S. Ex: birthrates rose sharply in 1946, why?

The Graying of America

Baby Boomers

Approximately 76 million people were born in the U.S. between 1946 and 1960.

Since 1960, there has been a steady decline in birthrate in the U.S.

This is the largest segment of the American population.

Today, baby boomers are between the ages of 52 and 76.

Today, the elderly represent an organized voting bloc.

Represented by special interest groups such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

The AARP was 34 million members and is the largest special-interest group in the U.S.

AARP providers elders with financial advice, health insurance plans, and travel and prescription drug discounts.

Aging and Politics

Social Security

concerns Some fear that social

security is not up to the task of caring for future generations of elderly people.

It is funded by payroll or income taxes.

Current retirees are paid by this.

The old-old are those aged 85 and up.

In 2010, there were nearly 5.8 million—about 15% of the elderly population. How come this age group is continuing to grow? Increasing life expectancy!!!

Old-Old

Problems caused by

the old-old The number of

people receiving Social Security is increasing, but so is the length of time people receive those benefits.

Because the old-old are most likely to be in the poorest

health, they place an added strain on government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

There is a lot of debate as to the future of Social Security. Will there be enough for you when you are old? What can we do to make sure there is enough for everyone?

Raise the retirement age? Cut benefits? Increase payroll taxes (the $ that we are taxed to pay for

Social Security)?

Problems cont’d