The trend towards the increase in life expectancy leads to significant challenges for countries, including economic strain and healthcare challenges. Even though elderly people can sometimes promote the economy, most of the countries whose leading population is elderly suffer from the difficulty of integrating a system that supports these vulnerable individuals.
Some of the economic burdens that developed countries face are the dependency taxations and the retirement policies. Another difficulty is the escalating demands of care for variable health conditions, such as mental and cardiovascular diseases that are associated with old age. Most of the suicidal cases are related to depressed older individuals who suffer from loneliness, for instance. In addition, the growing need to amplify social services by the government is another challenge faced. The recurrent need for instruction pensions suitable for the vulnerable who can withstand long stairs due to their poor sight and higher accidental fall risk is a clear example of the pressures these countries face.
On the other hand, however, aged folks can promote the country’s economic activity as some of them might have reached a state of wealth, so they are more reluctant to spend a generous amount of money on shopping for example. Another positive influence is the wisdom and valuable life experience that these seniors share, therefore leading to a better working environment. But even if some seniors got lucky enough to collect a fortune, not all of them pay taxes or even donate to support those in need.
In conclusion, although a massive percentage of older citizens may be seen as a sign of prosperity in developed countries, their governments struggle to integrate an adequate system that could support the ageing in their weakest phase of life.