Nowadays people live longer after they retire. How does this affect individuals and society? What can be done about this?
Better life expectancy has brought numerous benefits, it has also resulted in an unusual problem with people surviving long after retiring from work. This phenomenon is adversely impacting not only the individuals but also the society. Thus, discovering practical solutions to this challenge has become imperative.
The elderly living longer after being relieved from jobs tend to suffer not only financially but also emotionally. Several senior citizens subsisting on their own find it hard to make their both ends meet due to the dearth of money. The pensions they receive are not enough to pay for their living. Even the ones living with their extended families often feel abandoned since they are considered to be a hindrance in freedom. These factors often leave them emotionally drained making them vulnerable to mental disorders.
Moreover, the ones having enough money to survive comfortably are exposed to age related disorders and ailments which necessitates frequent medical intervention and support, lowering the quality of life, and making it burdensome. The society also faces ramifications of such longevity: it must bear the obligations of extending appropriate health care besides the pensions, which is funded by taxpayers.
This issue needs quick redressal and practical solutions to render relief to ageing people, as well as others impacted by this trend. It will be quite reasonable to suggest either raising retirement age or engaging retired individuals in some kind of work that could support them financially and also help them evade the feeling of loneliness.
Overall, a longer life that continues well in the autumn years is rather a boon than a bane, and any detrimental impact resulting out of this should be mitigated with the help of judicious planning. After all, everyone is going to get old and face a similar situation.
