In today’s world, there are already numerous unequal conditions affecting many, majority of times the vulnerable, groups. One of them being the elderly population in the society. That is why I will first provide the conceptualization of the concept of old age to grasp a more comprehensive understanding. Then the focus will shift to the two primary factors, which are identified as the health and economic dimension in this paper with the support of practical examples.
It is essential to know that population aging is one of the most important social transformations of the twenty-first century. In fact, according to Scherbov and Sanderson (2019), the number of older individuals, those aged 60 or over, is expected to more than double by 2050 and to more than triple by the year 2100, rising to globally 3.1 billion. It is significant to realize the complexity of old age and understand the interactions between age and other demographic and contextual factors. Nevertheless, disregarding these issues could result in generalizations, suppositions, and stereotypes about older people and aging in general. On the other hand, instead of neglecting these, developing relevant and different age-inclusive practices and policies are essential.
First, when regarding the dimension of health, pursuing a healthy life and promoting well-being for all ages is necessary. However, older people are exposed to a higher risk of poor health since age is one of the most decisive determinants of health. That is why older persons require greater health care than young people; this should be accessible and affordable for every old individual. For instance, the older population is more likely to experience major health threats such as infectious and parasitic diseases. Indeed, to provide up-to-date data, there are many pieces of research ongoing to develop innovative solutions to meet the challenges of an aging population. As Dixon (2021) states, various nations, such as Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, have national aging strategies that aim to promote healthy and productive aging.
Second, in terms of the financial factor, it is fundamental to consider that requirements and income potentials may alter over the life course. However, in the later years in life, it is impossible to deny that one is more dependent on economic resources to pursue is sufficient life. For example, when getting older, it is important to purchase certain medication that can be more expensive concerning the price.
In conclusion, my goal was to review the importance of leading issues causing inequality in old age, considering health and the economy. In the end, I believe it is crucial to remember that old age is like climbing a mountain; you climbed from ledge to ledge. The higher you get, the more tired and breathless you become, but your views become more extensive.
References
Dixon, A. (2021). The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing requires concerted global action. Nature Aging, 1(1), 2-2.
Scherbov, S., Sanderson, W. (February, 2019). New Measures of Population Ageing. Measuring population aging: bridging research and policy. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/events/pdf/expert/29/session1/EGM_25Feb2019_S1_SergeiScherbov.pdf
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