The USA is currently ranked among the countries with the high number of aging population in the world. However, the presence of aging population comes with consequences and a responsibility to the state and the society in entirety. Principally, the aging population is associated with myriads of limitations ranging from healthcare to the higher dependency level. Thus, the aging population does not command the power and energy to produce positively to the economy of a country. Ideally, the broader societal views have shaped the old age policies in the USA, and this becomes the backbone of the essay. Principally, the thesis of this essay is entrenched on three policy frameworks that have significantly changed over the last 100 years due to the broader societal views on this social demographic. Three main areas of policy change include; medical health care, structured dependency on the state and retirement pension schemes. These three points shall be widely captured in the discussion with the view of establishing the impacts of societal views on the change in the old age policies in the USA over the last 100 years.
Healthcare is one fundamental area that has triggered a significant change in the old age policies in the USA over the past 100 years. The deeper societal views of the aged population are that the group is vulnerable to disease and require much care. Such views have been confirmed by medical statistics which put the elderly in the number one priority list. Thus, the high medical needs, but with reduced capacity in this age group has led to a change of policy in health care provision over time. The mainstream changes on health care relate to various programs that cater to the medical needs of the elderly population in the USA. The first change in medical policy refers to the paradigm shift from acute to chronic diseases. This policy change has been necessitated by the higher number of chronic illnesses associated with the old age, and the government has taken the initiative to cater for the interest of its population falling within this age strata (Almgren 229). Some cases of chronic diseases enlisted under this policy include, Alzheimer’s disease, Osteoporosis, heart disease, and the medication plan has been changed from a one-time intervention to an ongoing medical service delivery and attention.
Other healthcare interventions on the old age include a long-term medical insurance on the old. This intervention has earmarked as a major policy change on the old age populace of the USA. Long-term medical cover ensures that the target demographic group is accorded the necessary medical care even after retirement.
The general societal views that retirees were never catered for led to a myriad of amendments that saw the introduction of retirement and pension schemes to the old people. In fact, the policy on retirement income integrated both the public and private sectors through savings and welfare payments (Boris and Jennifer 12). This initiative has been enhanced over time to see most elderly people live a comfortable life even after their retirement. Other programs entrenched on this course to cushion the old against misery include social security and disability programs.
Finally, the aged in the USA have been progressively captured to subvert the unintended consequences attributed to old age. Dependency on the active population has been cited as major threat pitting the old in the society, and as such, the government has continually harmonized the welfare of this group. For example, welfare incentives such housing has been spearheaded by the government over time on this vulnerable population. This is what is commonly termed as a structured dependency (Skocpol 72).
In conclusion, the three elements; structured dependency, health care sectors, and retirement pension schemes have been widely viewed by the society as critical areas of concern to the elderly. Therefore, polices have been centered on these areas to make meaningful changes in the welfare and lives of the old age.
Works Cited
Almgren, Gunnar R. Health Care Politics, Policy, and Services: A Social Justice Analysis. , 2013. Print.
Boris, Eileen, and Jennifer Klein. Caring for America: Home Health Workers in the Shadow of the Welfare State. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
Skocpol, Theda. Social Policy in the United States: Future Possibilities in Historical Perspective. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press, 1995. Print.
