Impact of an Ageing Population on Modern Societies - Essay Example

Elder Care describes the issues and cares concerns for the frail elderly who make up 5% of the over 65 population. This means that of the approximate 45 million seniors currently in the U.S. 16% of the 2003 general population), 2.25 million are frail. Frailty is defined as a chronic functional impairment in one or more of 6 activities of daily living (ADLs) requiring the help of another person.

These ADLs include bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, transferring, and toileting. Advancements in medical science and other areas of human life have increased the life expectancy factor and the normal life span of the people has increased a lot across the world. Medical science has succeeded in finding out solutions for the majority of the epidemic diseases which were once threatened the human population. Even though life expectancy has increased a lot, it has created certain social issues as well. Elderly care, elderly health issues, elderly recreational activities, preserving of elderly values, etc are some of the major social issues in the current world.

Aging people and the social issues revolving around them have always created a matter of concern among sociologists. The main issue surrounding elderly people is the failure of society to provide proper care to them when they need it badly towards the end of their life.

In most families, all family members may have some kind of engagement; some of them might be professionals while others might be students. In some cases, these professionals and students may be forced to stay away from home as part of their professional or educational needs leaving the elder people alone at home. Thus they will feel loneliness at home and the absence of other family members at home can develop psychological problems as well. Another problem concerned with elderly care is the failure of society in respecting and valuing the elders. 

Their experiences, maturity, and values may always useful to society while facing problems and we must respect and honor them.