Life Expectancy

Posted by Noah Hill on October 8th, 2019

Humanity aspires to prolong life expectancy, increasing its quality. Life expectancy is the expected (in the statistical sense) number of years of life remaining at a given age. In other words, it is the average number of years that a person or animal can expect to live. If in 1900 life expectancy was 47 years of age, it has increased from 45 to 63 years from the1950’s (Life Expectancy Tables n.d.). Thus, life expectancy is constantly increasing. This fact should make people happy. One might observe not only an increase in the proportion of the older population in the age structure of society and a gradual increase of life expectancy, but also a process called by scientists as “the rejuvenation of the population”. The population of developed countries, thanks to the development of medicine, keeps their health strong and a youthful appearance longer. It influences different processes, which have psychological, cultural, and social characters. Moreover, one should not forget that the real goal of scientists-gerontologists and all who are involved in overcoming aging is not only to increase life expectancy, but also to prolong health and youth.

Increased life expectancy is a result of various factors. There are the development of medicine and health care, improving the quality of nutrition and living conditions, the development of technologies that help conserve energy and strength among them. A spread of set of cosmetic procedures of maintaining a good appearance such as plastic surgery, hardware and “pharmaceutical” cosmetology also makes a great contribution to the “rejuvenation” of the population. There is a trend in medicine called “anti-aging”. Moreover, many diseases and conditions commonly associated with aging have become “older”. Hormone replacement therapy also contributes to the health and activity of women. Such a “rejuvenation” of the population often gives a new emphasis to very different processes. However, the increase in the average age of the population has far-reaching implications as well as a serious impact on the planning and implementation of social policy generally. Nonetheless the UN is concerned because for the first time in history, by 2050 there will be more senior citizens over 60 years of age than 15 year old children. Current paper discusses why it happens and what problems life expectancy might cause for modern society.

The Problems for Modern Society Caused by Increased Life Expectancy

· Social problems. Some researchers believe that there is a problem of coexistence of generations due to the increase in life expectancy. Today, all the infrastructure elements of life are focused on creating the conditions for a full life of one generation, while at least two generations have the demand for it. Life expectancy increases, causing not only a joy a for person’s friends and relatives, but also new problems both for the state, and for all those who in one way or another are affected by the increase in financial expenses due to an increase in the duration of life of the retired. There are public and private pension funds, health authorities and social security. The need to pay more pensions depends on the amount of taxes that the young working population will pay. The increase in pension payments will require increased taxation so the state could pay all the pensions.

The increase in the number of people who are over 60 will require an increase in the quantity and quality of medical care and service. In turn, it will require a large amount of additional financial costs. They will be required not only to keep constant supply and improving the level of medicines and medical equipment, but also to attract a growing number of healthcare workers. Moreover, much more old people’s homes and other care units must be built in order to provide all for seniors.

· Economic problems. Due to life expectancy, a large number of people over 60 will continue working in factories and companies. Despite the improvement of the quality of their physical and mental health, they will still give way to the younger generation in power energy, speed of reaction and endurance. As a consequence, countries, which will be dominated by older workers, will be less competitive in the global market. Their level of economic development and progress will be lower than in those countries where the workers are young people. Moreover, equally important problem is the fact that increasing numbers of older people can cause them to compete with the younger generation in the workplace. As a result, the younger generation might perceive people over 60 rather negatively. Young people might begin to consider the elderly as those who deprive them of work.

Mankind has always sought to increase life expectancy. Recent advances of various kinds of sciences, including medicine, allow people to count on a significant increase in life expectancy. Every day scientists create new kinds of drugs, antibiotics and vaccines that not only fight various diseases, but also prevent their occurrence successfully. In addition, the improvement of living conditions, nutrition and other factors that are characteristic of developed countries contributes to life expectancy. It seems that the increase in life expectancy solves many problems and allows people around the world to have a long and high qualitative life, constantly opening up new opportunities for self-development.

Nevertheless, life expectancy may cause some problems for modern society. There is the need for large amounts of additional finance for social sector (pensions and health care among them. In addition, no less important can become an economic problem since a large number of older workers might cause economic decline.

About the author: Noah Hill is a master in English philology and literature at California University. Noah is currently working as one of the best writers at the unique research paper ideas He also studies feminine psychology.