Causes and consequences of increased aging trend in modern society

Abstract

This paper analyzes the causes and consequences of the increasedtrend of population aging in contemporary society expressed in severalprevious decades. This refers to increasing the share of the populationaged between 60 and 65 years and over (chronological criteriaare defined in the modern age in relation to age in which the workingactivity stops, they can not be applied to African countries), thatis the share of the elderly population of 7 (and more) percent of thetotal population. As a result, we have the increased number of demographicallyold societies. Aging is a biological process, but also a socialconstruct, because at different times and in different societies are differentlyset boundaries of age, attitude towards aging, status of elderlypeople and the like. The most important demographic characteristicsthat cause aging of the population in modern society are: lower fertility,lower mortality (especially the older groups) and migrations.Accelerated aging of the population undermines the economic and socialbalance in the society in which it is expressed (increased pressureon funds of social, health and pension protection) it requires the increasedinvestment effort to deal with this problem and its resolution,but there are consequences for individuals (loss of autonomy , loneliness,illness, etc.). In recent years, the attitude towards old people andthe experience of aging have changed due to an improvement of theoverall quality of life (working and living conditions, progress in thefield of medicine), which gives an opportunity to the people of this ageto lead a full life of different activities (travel, education , acquisitionof new skills and the like.). Although progress was made in terms ofhuman rights, quality of life and the situation of old people in society,there are still various problems that they face (social exclusion, poverty,violence, etc.). In contemporary society have beeb undertakenvarious activities which aim to promote a positive attitude towardsthe old (er) people and to prevent discrimination based on age.