ProblemsofageingThetruevalueofage.docVIP

Problems of ageing / The true value of age What is ageing? Ageing is a part of human life circle and it is a process of becoming older. It`s also an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur but also reflecting cultural and societal conventions. Age is usually measured in full years (except for young children, where this downward rounding would be too crude) and a persons birthday is often an important event. Dividing the lifespan A human life is often arbitrarily divided into various ages. Because biological changes are slow moving and vary from person to person arbitrary dates are usually set to mark periods of human life. In some cultures the divisions given below are quite varied. In the USA, adulthood legally begins at the age of eighteen or nineteen, while old age is considered to begin at the age of legal retirement (approximately 65). Cultural Variations In some cultures are older people more respected than in other. They have an important status, they are said to be more wiser than younger people. For example in our culture people try to hide their age. They spend considerable energy, money and time to hide signs of ageing, especially among women. This may involve dyeing hair, elaborate make-up, or even cosmetic surgery. But among the young, there is often a desire to seem older to gain more responsibility and respect. Population ageing Population aging is a highly generalised process, it is most advanced in the most highly developed countries. Among the countries currently classified by the United Nations as more developed (with a population of 1.2 billion in 2005), the median age of the population rose from 29.0 in 1950 to 37.3 in 2000, and is forecast to rise to 45.5 by 2050. The corresponding figures for the world as a whole are 23.9 for 1950, 26.8 for 2000, and 37.8 for 2050. Asia and Europe are the two regions where a significant number of countries face severe population aging in the near futu