#7 Aging Gracefully

"The world will have more elderly people than children. By 2050, nearly a third of the developed world's labor force will be aged 50 or older, according to U.N. predictions. " This expected worldwide phenomenon is the combined result of declining fertility and longer life spans or life expectancy due to the advancement of science and medical technology; an ageing world population.

Many people argue that ageing population has brought many disadvantages to the world and is greatly detrimental to the society. I agree to this to a small extent. Certainly, “there would not be enough able-bodied, young workers to support an infirm, gray-haired population.” This leads to a weak and less efficient labour force, which may not be attractive to foreign companies to come and invest in the company. Moreover, the current attitudes of employers are that many want their companies to project a youthful, exuberant image, which are appealing to foreign investors. This is because most people perceive young people with fresh ideas and creative innovations, which can take the consumers market by storm, profiting the company.

In addition, as the author mentioned in her article, taking care of the elderly and frail will incur huge costs, stretching already overburdened pension and health-care systems. This causes the government to spend more money on building more healthcare centers and studio apartments for the convenience and welfare of the elderly in the country. As a result, less money is placed on developing other sectors of the country such as building a stronger defense network or improving on the country’s physical infrastructure. Moreover, heavy taxes have to be made on the younger economically active people. This causes many of these young people to migrate to other countries to escape the stress of heavy taxation, resulting in a flight of young talents out of the country. The country thus experiences a “brain drain”.

However, the author has brought up arguments against these negative impacts due to the ageing population. Firstly, many countries have already combated these disadvantages by raising retirement ages by as much as five years as well as expanding anti-age-discrimination laws. This is so as to ensure an existing labour force and to discourage companies from being against employing older people.

In addition, an ageing population does not necessarily mean a sicker population burdening the country with large medical and social care costs. Not all old people are unproductive and are a liability to the country. “Many of these old folks are hardly sitting idly at home but instead continue to contribute productively to the society” Examples given in the article are that one in three Japanese aged 60 or over is still part of the labor force. The author’s grandma herself dabbles in real estates and is actively engaged in politics.

Moreover, many elderly contribute to the country’s economy as well. They spend more and have a considerable purchasing power, especially after working for such a long period of time (savings from over the years). E.g. “Britons over 50 years of age control 75% of the country's wealth, according to Abbey National Bank. Businesses catering to a so-called silver economy are booming, offering everything from elderly-friendly housing to trips for retiree globetrotters.”

I agree with the author to a large extent. It is stated in her article that even though taking care of the elderly and frail will incur huge costs, stretching already overburdened pension and health-care systems, this disadvantage can be overcome if the elderly continue to contribute productively to the society. This is clearly an over-generalised statement. Not all old people are capable of contributing to the society physically in the form of working. In fact many old people turn frail and weak by 60 or 70 years old, being plagued by many chronic illnesses, and they require the help and attention of other people to take care of them.

However, in addition to the points mentioned above, an ageing population brings more pros to the world today. An example will be that older communities will be more law abiding communities, since older people are less inclined to commit crimes against property and people. Young people are responsible for by far the most crime today. In fact, the older people are usually the victims of these crimes committed. The elderly can also provide valuable life stories and experiences to their younger generations. They can teach their grandchildren important life values. Most grandparents nowadays help to raise their grandchildren while their parents are busy at work too, especially when both parents are working.

In conclusion, we should get rid of the view that deems old people liabilities to our society today. The elderly have proved themselves more than what we expect of them and we should give them the rightful respect they deserve.