The Quality of Life

Pete Seeger

     We speak about the quality of life, but how do we define it, and how can we measure it objectively? We know, for example, money is not the defining factor in the quality of our lives. Physical, intellectual, social and emotional engagement are key in supporting independence among aging adults. We acknowledge, however, people must meet basic needs, shelter, nutrition, clothing, hygiene and health care, ideally, with their own financial resources. It is a diminishing ideal, as the physical, emotional and financial challenges of aging, literally, hit us where we live. Families cannot always take up the slack, so many elders look to government. Population aging influences so many aspects of society, and is an incontrovertible fact of life everywhere. We know the number of people 50 and over has increased tenfold, since the middle of the last Century. This rate of aging is unprecedented in human history, and the rate at which we are aging continues its rapid advance.

• Although countries experience differences in the rate of aging and are at various stages in the process, population aging is a global phenomenon and will continue. The balance between younger and older people will not reverse at some future time.
• This means many countries will come to the table poorly prepared, particularly, those whose populations age less rapidly.

     So, who's keeping track of how nations are doing in meeting the needs of older citizens? In October 2013 the United Nations (U.N. Population Fund) and HelpAge International advocates published their findings in the Global AgeWatch Index. The study sought to look at conditions facing elderly the around the globe in the face of demographic change.  Here is a link to the rankings:

 http://www.helpage.org/global-agewatch/data/global-rankings-table/

Some countries are not included in the rankings, as well as the criteria used to produce them. It is worthwhile having a look, however, because there were some surprises.

We want a world where life is preserved, and the quality of life is enriched for everybody, not only for the privileged. ~Isabel Allende

     How did the United States come out in the rankings? It ranked eighth. One response to the ratings, however, stood out. It had to do with the estimated 23% of older people living in poverty in the United States. I agree with the responder; this should disqualify the U. S. from inclusion in the top ten. It turns out the study merely considered access to education and employment in developing its rankings.

Added to the dirty secret of poverty among ethnic minorities and women in the United States is another. Americans over 50 face age discrimination in the workplace and in seeking employment. Age adds to other discriminatory criteria, but it is more pervasive and less discussed.  The newer dirty secret is the incremental increase in older Americans who are remaining at work, or returning to work. These are people who cannot retire fully or partially, and meet basic needs.

     This country is a powerhouse, and lead the world in human rights. We can do better by our vulnerable citizens. The hopeful thing, it seems to me, is, as America ages, older people represent a greater proportion of votes. As an American I hold myself accountable to be informed and engaged in the process of furthering a just democracy.