Question

Problems of increasing life expectancy in developing countries

Answer 1

Moreover, higher life expectancy increases the probability of such a switch in fertility behaviour. Across countries, high life expectancy is associated with high income per capita.

Answer 2

There are great upsides to an aging population, like having more children that will know their grandparents and even great-grandparents. Healthy elderly citizens can share their wealth of knowledge with younger generations and can continue to make valuable contributions to society. However, with people living longer, associated medical problems will place a heavy burden on health systems. Here are some potential impacts:

A rise in age-related chronic illness: Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases will cause more death and illness worldwide than infectious or parasitic diseases over the next few years. In developed nations, this shift has already happened. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are expected to almost double every 20 years, as life expectancy increases (CNN).Increasing need for specialized health care workers: As the amount of older Americans increases, so does the need for health care. Specialized doctors, like geriatricians, will be necessary to help seniors worldwide. By 2030, it is estimated that 36,000 geriatricians will be needed in the United States alone. As of 2008, there were only about 7,000 practicing geriatricians.Increasing need for long-term care: The number of sick and frail elderly needing affordable nursing homes or assisted living centers will likely increase.Health care costs increase: As older people stop working and their health care needs increase, governments could be overwhelmed by unprecedented costs. Medicare coverage, which seniors can tap into at age 65, could be pushed to its breaking point.