ABSTRACT

The population of the world is aging, with the exception of areas devastated by war, disease and natural disasters. More people are living longer than ever before in history. Declining birth rates, immigration to lands of greater economic prosperity and civil order, surges of population growth such as the “baby boom” after World War II, medical advances, and public health successes have all contributed to this rising “Age Wave” (Dychtwald, 1990) which has the force to change the landscape of societies worldwide. There is both opportunity and danger in this demographic revolution. Increased longevity in richer countries with government benefits may allow a standard of living later in life that is unsurpassed in modern times. However, even in these countries, not all share equally in the bounty. In poorer countries with no income for elders after they stop working, families may become more impoverished, leading to an even greater disparity between rich and poor nations in the future (Ayres, 2005).