Demographers have noted that the world's population distribution will undergo a major shift in the next 30 years. Describe this shift and identify the types of strains it will create in both the United States and in other countries

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

By 2050, there will be a dramatic worldwide increase in the number of people over 65 . The most rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population is the group of people over age 85 . The number of people over 85 will increase nearly 500% between 2000 and 2050 . In the U.S. the number of older adults will place enormous pressure on pension systems (especially Social Security), health care (especially Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care), and other human services. These demographic changes are also difficult in countries where the cultural norm is for adult children to care for aging parents. For example, China has issues related to providing services and living arrangements for the increasing number of older adults. All countries with rising populations of older adults will need to deal with an increased demand for services to older adults and competing demands by other age groups for limited resources.