The United States Census Bureau predicts that by 2040, the 65-plus population worldwide will more than double, from about 506 million to 1.3 billion. In the course of thirty years, the percentage of older people in the world will double from seven to fourteen percent of the entire world population. The number of centenarians (people 100 years or older) is also expected to significantly rise in the coming years. The global aging trend is caused by a pattern that is being seen across the globe; the world population has been growing that has been coupled with a rising life expectancy.
Because the elderly population is continuing to grow at an accelerated rate, many experts believe that the nation’s healthcare system needs to adapt to the change and increase in healthcare needs. Additionally, more people are not having children, which means that more elderly people will not have families to help take care of them, which will put an additional strain on assisted nursing home facilities to provide elder care. In the next ten years, the number of people 65 and older will most likely be more than the number of children under five for the first time ever.
For most areas of the world, this global aging trend presents both a social and economic challenge. The fastest growth of the older population is occurring in developing countries, where it has more than doubled the growth rate of the older population in developed countries. The fastest growing portion of the total population in many countries is the older elderly (aged 80 and older).
Because the United States’ system of nursing home facilities is already strained, experts fear that problems and shortcomings in elder care might become worse as facilities struggle to provide basic care to all their residents.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the care that an elderly loved one is receiving, call Berman & Riedel, LLP today at (858) 350-8855 to speak with an experienced elder abuse attorney. Our staff will be more than happy to provide you and your family with an initial free consultation to explain what legal rights you and your family may have. For more information about Berman & Riedel, LLP’s elder abuse and neglect law practice, visit the firm’s main website at www.preventelderabuse.com.
