Tag Archives: Economy

Families of twelve or thirteen were common until quite recently in human history. After the wars the problem of a ‘population explosion’ was evident. China took steps to prevent a looming catastrophe by imposing a ‘one child’ policy. Now such steps to curb overpopulation are churning out an inevitable consequence of populations that are getting alarmingly old. Longevity and infertility lead to an aging population the world over.

In highly industrialized and crowded countries like Japan about 20% of the population is over the age of sixty-five. On the other hand less developed countries with largely Muslim populations have about 2% of older people and more than half the population may be between fifteen and twenty-nine years of age. Egypt and Afghanistan fall into this category.

In countries where there is a preponderance of young men between the ages of fifteen to thirty violent insurrection is statistically more likely. So, one positive thing about an aging population is that people may be less overtly violent. This does not alter the sobering fact that demographic realities are likely to have huge effects on the economies of developed countries in future years.

As baby boomers reach retirement age and apply to withdraw funds that have been accumulating over many years problems are created for pension funds. Pay outs after many years of taking in is something like chickens coming home to roost. Now the situation has changed and brought about severe financial problems that are shaking the world. For most baby boomers pension contributions invested in a large financial house seemed as safe as possible. Recent financial events have shaken confidence in the stability of anything, including a continuing income in old age.

It became apparent some time ago that problems would be brewing so pensioners were encouraged to switch from a system where the employer was responsible for maintaining increases to one in which they themselves became responsible. Additionally, governments in countries like England are considering the inevitability of raising the retirement age to seventy so that pay outs will be pushed back into an uncertain future.

In China a very large number of people are not eligible for pensions. They expect to be pushed out of work at the age of sixty, and to depend on their families to support them in old age. With the one child policy taking effect soon China is facing a demographic time bomb of its own making.

Problems associated with an aging population pervade the world, mostly in countries that are economically developed. They are unlikely to go away. The future will be shaped in ways that cannot be foreseen by demographic and technological developments that are currently falling into place. It may be that the world will be a better place for having a larger proportion of wiser, older people.

Learn more about the problems of an aging population now in our guide to assisted living nsw and everything you need to know about exactly how and where to find the best senior housing .

There are hundreds of aids for the elderly — devices to offset diminishing cognition, mobility and fine motor coordination, and there are services that enable the elderly to live more independently. Shopping for them on the internet can be interesting, and quite easy. These widgets and services are important in the preservation of one of the most highly valued attribute of any citizen of the free world — personal freedom and independence.

The ageing process seems inevitable, and though we might go through it at different rates and different degrees of “gracefulness” there do not appear to be any exceptions. Many need to use assistive devices to offset loss of muscle mass, strength, and coordination. These devices and services can help to prevent the loss of independence, thus helping us manage these losses.

Now, on to naming some of these widgets and services. The exact nature of these will often be recommended by your physician or therapist to meet the needs identified by their assessment of your health issues. These assistive aids are of two basic types, mechanical aids, and human or computer services.

The following items represent just a few of the devices available to help with daily activities. Grabbers help pick up items from the floor or other hard to reach places. Walkers and canes and their like help with basic mobility. Commodes and shower chairs also help with mobility and independence with toileting. There are grab rails and handles for safety around the home and in the bathroom. There are grippers and handles and knob extensions to help with keys, utensils, doorknobs, light switches, dressing and much more.

Professionals and services that assist the elderly with independence can be more traditional, like home care aids for housekeeping and cooking. Home nurses and therapists can offer an avenue for staying independent at home. Security services monitor your status and call emergency services if needed. Telephonic and computer services for the blind or deaf are automated services offered by the telephone company or as part of your computer’s operating system.

Just a side note; many seniors are reluctant to utilize new technology, perhaps out of fear that they will do something wrong or break something. The internet is actually a fun, safe and easy way to shop and we heartily encourage you to give it a try — we promise you won’t break your computer, or even the internet.

All these aids for the elderly can improve the lives of seniors. The subject of independence vs. Dependence is highly charged with emotion. Independence is perhaps one of the most fiercely defended precepts in American adulthood. These gadgets can help defend that independence.

We have some nice assisted living homes that is going to help you out today – this aged care is definitely something you should look into.