Overview (Last update: 3.10.21)
The longest a human has ever been proven to live is 122 years--Jeanne Calment, a French woman who was born in 1875 and died in 1997. In the United States, an estimated 22 percent of the population will be over the age of 65 by 2030, and the fastest growing group within will be people over 75. Similar changes are occurring worldwide. By 2030 the percentage of people aged 65+ will be about 24 percent in Europe and about 12 percent in Asia and Latin America. (% of Population Ages 65 and Over by Country, 1960/2015, The World Bank). [Jeanne Calment might not have lived as long as researchers claim because of identity swap]
Historically, how cultures view and treat their elderly is closely linked to their most important values and traits. In China, Japan, India, Korea and other Eastern cultures, the Confucian tradition of filial piety, a virtue of respect for one's father, elders, and ancestors, predominates. Mediterranean, Latin, Middle-Eastern, African and Native American cultures place similar priority on the family. Learn more about Japan's age boom.
In Western culture, (Europe/North America), the view and treatment of the elderly is more complex. In Judeo-Christian tradition, young people are taught to follow one of the Bible's 10 Commandments: honor thy father and mother. However, in many countries a youth-centric society has evolved which emphasize attributes like individualism and independence. This, in turn, reinforces the Protestant ethic that an individual's value is based on his or her ability to work, which diminishes in old age.
Learn how the elderly were viewed and treated in different eras:
Also, recommended books and TED Talks videos on aging. New Yorker article on Why We Can't Tell the Truth About Aging.
Some of the information was derived from the book, A History of Old Age, edited by Pat Thane (J. Paul Getty Museum), Thames & Hudson, 2005 London.
The longest a human has ever been proven to live is 122 years--Jeanne Calment, a French woman who was born in 1875 and died in 1997. In the United States, an estimated 22 percent of the population will be over the age of 65 by 2030, and the fastest growing group within will be people over 75. Similar changes are occurring worldwide. By 2030 the percentage of people aged 65+ will be about 24 percent in Europe and about 12 percent in Asia and Latin America. (% of Population Ages 65 and Over by Country, 1960/2015, The World Bank). [Jeanne Calment might not have lived as long as researchers claim because of identity swap]
Historically, how cultures view and treat their elderly is closely linked to their most important values and traits. In China, Japan, India, Korea and other Eastern cultures, the Confucian tradition of filial piety, a virtue of respect for one's father, elders, and ancestors, predominates. Mediterranean, Latin, Middle-Eastern, African and Native American cultures place similar priority on the family. Learn more about Japan's age boom.
In Western culture, (Europe/North America), the view and treatment of the elderly is more complex. In Judeo-Christian tradition, young people are taught to follow one of the Bible's 10 Commandments: honor thy father and mother. However, in many countries a youth-centric society has evolved which emphasize attributes like individualism and independence. This, in turn, reinforces the Protestant ethic that an individual's value is based on his or her ability to work, which diminishes in old age.
Learn how the elderly were viewed and treated in different eras:
- Ancient Egypt, India, China
- Before 1500
- 1500s & 1600s
- 1700s & 1800s
- 1900s & 2000s
- Early New England (1600s)
- Quest to Look Younger
- Rising to the Challenge of an Aging Population
- History of Nursing Homes
Also, recommended books and TED Talks videos on aging. New Yorker article on Why We Can't Tell the Truth About Aging.
Some of the information was derived from the book, A History of Old Age, edited by Pat Thane (J. Paul Getty Museum), Thames & Hudson, 2005 London.