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Old age

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File:Dedeler.jpg
Elders from Turkey, 2010.

Old age (also referred to as one's eld) consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. Euphemisms and terms for old people include seniors (American usage), senior citizens (British and American usage) and the elderly. As occurs with almost any definable group of humanity, some people will hold a prejudice against others — in this case, against old people. This is one form of ageism.

Old people have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other adults. For the biology of ageing, see senescence. The medical study of the aging process is gerontology, and the study of diseases that afflict the elderly is geriatrics.

Miserable tha knows!

Physical changes

A gray-haired old woman from the United Kingdom.
A smiling old man from Chile.

There is often a general physical decline, and people become less active. Old age can cause, amongst other things:

Demographic changes

Elderly homeless man, Tokyo.

In the industrialized countries, life expectancy has increased consistently over the last decades.[1] In the United States the proportion of people aged 65 or older increased from 4% in 1900 to about 12% in 2000[2]. In 1900, only about 3 million of the nation's citizens had reached 65. By 2000, the number of senior citizens had increased to about 35 million.[citation needed] Population experts estimate[citation needed] that more than 50 million Americans — about 17 percent of the population — will be 65 or older in 2020. The number of old people is growing around the world chiefly because of the post-war 'baby boom', and increases in the provision and standards of health care.

Life expectancy

Population aged at least 65 years in 2005

In most parts of the world, women live, on average, longer than men; even so, the disparities vary between 9 years or more in countries such as Sweden and the United States to no difference or higher life expectancy for men in countries such as Zimbabwe and Uganda.[3]

Psychosocial aspects

According to Erik Erikson’s "Eight Stages of Life" theory, the human personality is developed in a series of eight stages that take place from the time of birth and continue on throughout an individual’s complete life. He characterises old age as a period of "Integrity vs. Despair", during which a person focuses on reflecting back on their life. Those who are unsuccessful during this phase will feel that their life has been wasted and will experience many regrets. The individual will be left with feelings of bitterness and despair. Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity. Successfully completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and a general feeling of satisfaction. These individuals will attain wisdom, even when confronting death.[4][5][6]

Individuals who became famous in their old age

Harry Patch, known as "the Last Tommy", was a British supercentenarian, and the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the First World War.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Table 26: Life expectancy at birth, at 65 years of age, and at 75 years of age by race and sex: Unted States, selected years, 1900 - 2005" (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  2. ^ Meyer, Julie (2001). ""Census 2000 Brief, C2KBR/01-12, U.S."" (PDF). "Washington, DC": "Census Bureau". Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  3. ^ de Blij, Harm. The power of place. Geography, Destiny, and Globalization's Rough Landscape. Oxford University Press. London:2009. p161ff
  4. ^ Erikson, E.H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. New York: Norton.
  5. ^ Erikson, E.H. (1963). Childhood and Society. (2nd ed.). New York: Norton.
  6. ^ Carver, C.S. & Scheir, M.F. (2000). Perspectives on Personality. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon
Preceded by Stages of human development
Old age
Succeeded by