The Graying of the United States means that the U.S percentage of the older people is increasing rapidly. The aged are becoming more and more making the U.S government to start more enhanced programs to care for them (people aged 65 years or older). This population in the U.S is more rapid than anywhere in the world largely because of the baby boom of the years 1946 to 1964 which produced many children in the population. It is in 2010 that the first baby boomers reached sixty-five years old.
Notably, old age brings about different types of social problems and challenges. The older people are more likely to face problems like poverty, victimization, financial instability, dependency, etc. One of the challenges facing the society is conflict. The young and the elderly constantly compete for the limited resources. Even though the resources are available abundantly, both the young and the elderly face stiff competition hence conflict arises. For example, the young and the elderly are supposed to compete for healthcare thus making the society to conflict.
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Another challenge affecting the elderly in the society is modernization. The elderly face a lot of challenges in the production sector since they have no idea on how to operate modern machines. The younger generation sees them as handicapped since they believe that peoples intellectual capabilities decreases as people become old. In the modern society, it is dominated by younger people who believe that the elderly have no value.
As people get older, they become more prone to chronic diseases. The changes in lifestyles like reducing workload affect the morbidity and mortality. High medical expenses spent on health care programs are a burden since the elderly have low incomes. Retirement is one of the reasons why they have low incomes and whenever they seek a new job they face discrimination. The elderly undergo a lot of abuses like financial exploitation, physical abuse, and medical abuses.
The societies should take different measures in order to protect and care for the elderly. One great idea is rationing health care based on age. Encouraging older people to work longer even after retirement will also help the society since this will increase tax revenue and this is also helpful in keeping the old healthy. Encouraging people to pay social security fund is a good way to help people in old age. This money may be helpful after retirement.
In conclusion, the society should learn to respect the old. The elderly should feel loved and made active through interacting with their families and friends. People should implement programs that will help people when they become old since everybody will one day age and these programs will help you in one way or another.
References
Nelson, P. T. (1987). Graying of America. J Extension , 25 , 4RIB3.
Sade, R. M. (2012). The Graying of America: challenges and controversies.
