Older population

The Older Population The Older Population The Population Association of America (PAA) started on December 1930 in New York University. The PAA was an outcome of the American National Committee of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) that was formed in 1927. The Population Association of America (PAA) is the nonprofit organization that I decided to work with. The PAA is a nonprofit and professional organization. The organization is a reputable organization aimed at promoting, advancing and progressing of the human race. PAA does this through researching problems that are related to the human population in this case the older population. The PAA incorporates members and individuals that are interested in research and education revolving around the field of population. The members include demographers, public health professionals, economists, sociologists among other groups of individuals. The PAA has grown and has 3000 professionals that contribute to the growth of the organization in the population field (PAA, 2013). Interview A phone interview was done to get information on the nonprofit organization and what it does and the accomplishments it has done so far. The interviewee started by stating that the researches and all the professional activities carried out by PAA are all in line and consistent to the United States laws and regulations. This includes at both the federal and state level he further added that the researches are also within the scope of the accepted ethical standards. The association encourages its members to acquire and maintain knowledge with ethical principles since they do not have specified set of ethical standards. PAA also encourages its members to keenly identify and address ethical issues that might rise during their activities. The population association of America has come up with a strategy to help their members deal with this, which is in-cooperating profession code of ethical standards that are used by similar professional associations. The respondent focuses on the ever rising older population in the United States. The older population has steadily increased since the 1900s. In 1999 the number of older people in the United States between 65 and over was recorded to 34. 4 million. The older people represented 12. 7 % of the total US population. The ratio of older people was one in every eight people. This number has continuously increased by 10. 6 % since 1990 as compared to the increase of Americans under the age of 65 which is 9. 1% over the years. The sex ratio of the older persons that older women were more compared to older men; in 1999 older women population was recorded at 20. 2 million while, that of older men was 14. 3 million(National Center for Health Statistics (U. S.) & United States, 1937). This stated that the sex ratio was 141 women for every 100 men. This ratio has greatly increased in group form. In the age group of 65-69, the ratio increased from 188 to a high of 237 for persons in the age group of 85 and over. He further states that the older population in America of 65+ has greatly increased since 1990. It has increased 11 times more from 3. 1 million to 34. 5 million. The older population is also getting older shifting the increase in the various age clusters. For example, in 1999 the age group 65-74 was recorded to be eight times larger as compared to the group in 1900. The age group 75-84 was 16 times larger and the 85 plus group was 34 times larger than that in 1900. The respondent further stated that the life expectancy of persons reaching the age of 65 in 1998 was likely to have additional 17. 8 years live. The females’ additional life expectancy was higher compared to that of men; 19. 2 years for females and 16 years for males. He concludes that the older population will continue will continue to grow. Although there was a decrease in the population in the 1990s due to the great depression of 1930s but the population is likely to multiply between 2010 and 2030 when the baby boom generation hits age 65. Statics also state that in 2030 there will be about 70 million older people in the United States (National Research Council (U. S.) & Gilford, 1988). At the PAA, I would be a demographer and offer a journalistic approach in the organization. My duties will be to find out more about the older population. I would research on the rights of older people and also the problems that they face these will also include health issues and getting medical aid. The older people face a lot of problems that range to the abuse of their rights and also suffer diseases like arthritics (Breslow, 2002). My main role would be to work in the nursing home care that PAA provide for the older patients. The organization carried out a research that showed that older people living in poverty cannot access healthcare services thus try to offer them during the researches through the members of the association (Breslow, 2002). As Population ageing, the process by which older individuals become a proportionally larger share of the total population will be a key issue in the modern times of any developed country, it is highly imperative to undertake adequate research on the various aspects, concerns and requirements of the older population. Studies show that there are over 900 million people in the world over the age of 60 and it is predicted that by 2050, that number will have grown to 2. 4 billion (Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, 2002). According to World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan, ” Being in the older age group is becoming the ‘new normal’ for the world’s population.” The shift in age structure associated with population ageing has a profound impact on a broad range of economic, political and social conditions. For example, concerns are growing about the long-term viability of intergenerational social support systems, which are crucial for the well-being of both the older and younger generations (Cliquet and Nizamuddin, 1999). As a Non- profit organization, we, at The Population Association of America (PAA) intends to research on the issues of concern to the older population, make them aware of their rights, find appropriate solutions to their problems and provide services to mitigate their problems. Major Issues of Concern We have to start by determining whether or not our society is suited to assist older persons and provide them with all the necessary assistance to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Our research studies should be focused to understand whether or not our fast-changing social, cultural and economic norms are aiding or outpacing seniors. It can be observed that the in order to create a better and happier tomorrow for the older population, the following key areas needs to be addressed. They are: Health, Financial security, Opportunity and Ability to be productive, Ability to connect with their society and Opportunity to have adequate recreation. Of these the prime importance can be given to the health care sector of the older population. There is a rampant inequality in the health care sector and health services due to the inequality in the economic capabilities. The poorer sections are deprived of proper medical facilities and services. Due to the illness as such and coupled with the non- availability of proper treatment and diagnosis facilities, the sufferings of the older population mount-up. Diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Heart disease, and osteoporosis are the most common old age diseases. Other diseases like various cancers, Diabetics and other respiratory diseases are also wide spread. (Pawlson GL, 1994) Measures to mitigate the problems Innovative ways to address the health inequity, increase physical activity and healthy diets and empower citizens to make their own decisions about their health choices should be evolved. Organizations like The Population Association of America (PAA) and other public and private sector organizations play a major role in achieving this goal. Through the health services offered, we can limit modifiable risk factors and take advantage of prevention and treatment interventions to manage the diseases that cause much of the morbidity in older people. Palliative care should be provided to mitigate the sufferings of the diseased people. Efforts should be taken to create a pleasant and old age friendly environment where older generation can lead a healthy and productive life. They should not be discriminated from work just because of the factor of age. Enabling workforce and community engagement, together with creating age-friendly environments and promoting technologies that facilitate greater independence and patient-centered care are some of the beneficial measures for the older population. Rights of the older population The rights of aged persons can be considered under three main categories: protection, participation and image. Protection refers to securing the physical, psychological and emotional safety of elderly persons with regard to their unique vulnerability to abuse and ill treatment. Participation refers to the need to establish a greater and more active role for older persons in society. Image refers to the need to define a more positive, less degrading and discriminatory idea of who elderly persons are and what they are capable of doing (Human Rights Education Associates, 2003). It should be noted that Elderly person’s Right to Security also includes right to health care as due to old age they be is unable to afford or pursue healthcare on one’s own. Awareness should be created among the older population about their rights and they should be motivated to utilize the Medicare facilities initiated by government and other organizations. Conclusion As a society we have to develop a particular sensitivity to overcome the misconceptions and negative notion about the older population that the aged population are nonproductive and concerted efforts should be undertaken to create a world where aging is a boon and not a burden. Together, we should develop services, policies, programs and technologies to facilitate “ Aging Well”. References Breslow, L. (2002). Encyclopedia of public health. New York: Macmillan Reference. Cliquet, R., and M. Nizamuddin, eds. (1999). Population Ageing: Challenges for Policies and Programmes in Developed and Developing Countries. New York: United Nations Population Fund; and Brussels: Centrum voor Bevolkings-en Gezinsstudien (CBGS). Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division.( 2002). World Population Ageing:  1950-2050. Retrieved from http://www. un. org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/ Human Rights Education Associates. (2003) . The Rights of the Aged. Retrieved from http://www. hrea. org/index. php? doc_id= 435 National Center for Health Statistics (U. S.)., United States., United States., & United States. (1937). Vital statistics of the United States. Washington, D. C: United States Bureau of the Census. National Research Council (U. S.)., & Gilford, D. M. (1988). The aging population in the twenty first century: Statistics for health policy. Washington, D. C: National Academy Press. Pawlson, GL. ( 1994). Chronic illness: Implications of a new paradigm for health care. Journal of Quality Improvement, 20: 33–39. The Population Association of America (PAA). (2013). About the Population Association of America (PAA). Retrieved on 1st February 2013 < http://www. populationassociation. org/about/>