Aging

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In today’s fast paced world that we all live in, our society is starting to quickly slow down the aging process and increase the longevity process. Everywhere that we go, and every sign that we read, and every bumper sticker that we see, and the majority of our commercials on television and radio are all informing us how we can look younger and live longer. We are getting older with time but more wiser, mature, smarter, and better learners with age.

The study of aging is called Gerontology, and is primarily concerned with the changes in maturity and in death. Our researchers goals are to identify the factors that ultimately influence these drastic changes. With these answers and knowledge we eagerly expect them to, help reduce the reasons that eventually lead to aging (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2006).

Science, Technology, and Medicine

With our fast paced learning of medicine, science and technology. We as a country are excited to know that aging could be a process that could someday be under control. As science constantly discovering new healthier

drugs, healthier foods, healthier physical programs, and many other alternative health activities that will help build stronger, healthier bodies and

life styles to help our bodies to age at a much slower pace (Dychtwald, 1989).

With today’s medicine, we have been able to do things that were not all to possible to have been administered 25-30 years ago, at the rate we are

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in 2006. Let’s start with our main senses. We now are able to place really tiny and much more comfortable hearing devices or aids to give us much greater and improved sound. To help us better hear and communicate. With proper dental care, we are now seeing that dentures are less and less seen on older individuals. Which will definitely help with the eating and processing of food and one’s appearance and spirits. Our eyesight has been enhanced with the use of laser surgery and lasik to help correct visual problems and enhance the learning process and improve and help redefine the aging process (Brickey, 2006). Over the past thirty years, the life expectancy has dramatically increased by six years. For example, a 72 year old could now live up to be 77, or longer (Wise 2006).

A study was conducted in 1993 by Duke University, that found that twenty percent of all living humans who have lived past the golden age of 65, are now still alive and in very good health. The study also found that

those who are older than 65 and still alive are relatively in good health and live productive lifestyles. The study I found, to be extremely fascinating was that in 1990, 32,000 individuals of 100+ years old were alive and thriving. 10 years later, in the beginning of the new millennium there were a whopping, estimated 100,000 people 100+ years old (Scott, 2006).

With the help of computers and many other technological devices, the wealth of information is within a fingers reach. We all have a computer or access to a computer within walking distance. We can easily see and read

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Information that is currently being updated by the minute, or to say a living document (Brickey, 2006).

Economics and Health Care

The great mystique of people getting older is getting sick, senile and or terminal is not quite true anymore. We live in a world where cures to diseases, illnesses, and other life threatening physical challenges are daily

being discovered and administered. For example only 5 percent of all people over 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. And only 5 percent are senile and more staggering, at least for me, is that only 5 percent are in nursing homes. In this day and age, we as a society need to concentrate and pay more

attention to the individuals and their needs at home and not in the nursing homes. Instead of dehumanizing our seniors and making them feel like life is no longer quiet worth living, we need to make them aware of their strengths and help them control their own lives and continue to live independently in their communities. Thus allowing them to feel young at heart and foster their ego and self-confidence. (Bender, Bruno, 1996).

Although only 58% of our senior population is economically sound, with the help of social security and other programs; such as Medicare, Social Security Supplements and food stamps (Bender, Bruno, 1990). Studies show that as our seniors