Dramatic Global Population Growth Embraces the Growing Older Population
"The Silver Tsunami"
Description:... The world is witnessing a dramatic demographic population growth explosion across all age groups that had it beginning around the early 1800s when the first billion people in population was recorded. Most importantly has been an increasing growth in the older population. Does population aging matter in the twenty-first century? Yes, it matters, because as research has pointed out, the increasing older population globally will have a significant impact on all essential societal systems—the family, pensions and retirement, and financial institutions, as well as medical, health, and social systems. This growth explosion or phenomenon will affect all continents, countries, and regions regardless of economic, political, and military power. Causative factors for this global growth in population have come about primarily as a result of medical advances/innovations, agricultural development, and the industrial revolution, especially the development of railways, seaways, and highways. A major emphasis of the book focuses on several very important factors: the growing older population as aforementioned, especially its impact on all of essential societal systems and the subject of ageism. Ageism becomes extremely important considering that the growing older population, the “silver tsunami,” represents the new majority. This new majority will no longer be ignored. Gerontologists for years have attempted to call attention to the fact. “Expectations for old people are based on negative age stereotypes. Members of American society generally expect and even encourage the aged to be asexual, intellectually rigid, unproductive, ineffective, and disengaged. Seniors are supposed to stay out of the way, sit in their rocking chairs, and enjoy the golden years. They are expected to be inactive, invisible, but happy” (Levin, J and Levin, W, Ageism, Prejudice and Discrimination Against the Elderly, California: Wadsworth Publishing, 1941, pp. 97–98). Speaking of being ignored, why aren’t more members of the older population involved at the decision-making tables in shaping a society for all ages? After all, they would bring years of experiences, skills, knowledge, and values for creating a society for all ages in the twenty-first century with justice and human rights for all. Currently, there is a global movement with a goal of the eradication of ageism in all of it forms. Some will recall from several decades ago the Grey Panther Movement in America with a similar mission of the eradication of all injustices at the time being experienced by the older population. The current movement says, “The time is now not later!” One major social injustice being experienced by the growing old population globally is the lack of income security in old age, including the lack of access to other essential services such as medical, health, and social including long-term care. More than 50 percent (51 percent) of older persons globally do not have basic income security or a social pension in retirement. A more alarming statistic is that in Sub-Saharan Africa (forty-seven countries), eight-two percent (82.5) of retirees do not have a social pension. Yes, for the older population, the new majority, the time is now for correcting the aforementioned injustices. Maybe what is needed is a human seismic force comprising the new majority to initiate a social movement with a goal of the eradication of all forms of ageism and ensuring that the growing older population will live in dignity and respect in later life including social protection/pensions.
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