Arguably the largest impact of modern medicine has been the increase in life expectancies worldwide. In 1770, the life expectancy on every continent ranged from 26 to 35 years old. In 2021, every continent reported life expectancies ranging from 71 to nearly 80, except for Africa at 61.7 years of age. Over the last two decades, life expectancies worldwide have more than doubled. People are living longer, which does not come without implications. Getting older comes with numerous challenges. Most people as they age, experience diminished mobility, hearing, eyesight, energy levels, and more. As a result of the decline of many individuals over time, the elderly are treated differently in every society. 

Aging in China

In Chinese culture, it is seen as the child’s duty to care for a parent as they age. This expectation is based on the Confucian tradition of filial piety, which is the practice of caring for and respecting one’s elders. There are codes of behavior regarding the treatment of these individuals, celebratory traditions honoring the older individuals in one’s family, and social norms surrounding the caretaking of the elderly. Older people are said to be the “happiest people in China” because of Confucian tradition, networks of good friends, and being able to relax and have their children care for them in old age. But in reality, challenges to these traditions have arisen in recent years. China’s one-child policy complicates the ability of children to care for their parents. With limited family members to turn to, the elderly are more commonly left with nobody to care for them later in life. It is said that caring for the elderly places large burdens on family members because of the limited pension and healthcare systems in China, and there are also a limited number of facilities to care for the elderly because of social norms looking down on individuals who put their parents into elderly care homes. 

Aging in Japan

Like in China, the culture in Japan values filial piety and in fact, it is described as a “moral tenet” of Japanese culture. The narrative surrounding the culture of aging in Japan follows a similar pattern to the Chinese culture in that there is a strong tradition of the family being the primary source of care for the elderly, of the institutionalization of an older member of one’s family being looked down upon, and the existence of legal systems to ensure these values are upheld. Japan, however, is also experiencing challenges to the value of caring for the elderly largely due to the fact that the country has the world’s highest proportion of elderly individuals. Caring for the elderly in any society is an aspect that requires allocated energy and resources, but when this population of elderly individuals increases, the resources and energy that the younger populations have run out. In Japan, there are reported instances in which older individuals are residing in hospitals without the need for hospitalization because there is nowhere else for them to go.

Aging in Korea

In Korea, the elderly are respected and celebrated. In recent years, the task of caring for older individuals within Korean society has shifted from the responsibility of adult children to individuals and society as a whole. As a response to the evolving roles of elder care, the government of South Korea has enacted many social and health services for older adults. Despite government efforts, South Korea has the worst senior poverty rate among developed nations, and almost half of all senior citizens live in poverty. A large factor of this issue is that before the 1990s, younger people caring for their parents in old age was not a large financial burden for them as the parents had lower life expectancies. But with increasing life expectancies, this has challenged many in Korea and has begun forcibly changing traditions.

Aging in the Mediterranean

In the Mediterranean, it is common for multiple generations to live in one home. In this culture, there is a sense of duty to care for the elderly, and especially to not move them into a nursing home. However, in recent years, studies have shown a decrease in social support for the elderly. Countries such as Greece and Spain have fragmented systems of social and healthcare policies for older individuals, while countries like Lebanon, Egypt, and Tunisia lack specialized elderly services as well as a system of social security. The values may exist, but the issues are vast. 

Aging in Western Culture – The United States and the United Kingdom

Whereas other cultures have generationally ingrained values to care for the elderly, the Western world is quite different, being culturally upfront about the fact that families tend to live separately and maybe reconvene on occasion for holidays or life milestones. In Western culture, people commonly discuss the desire to stay young. My grandfather used to say “getting old is not for the weak of heart” and to “enjoy my youth.” Messages like these are widespread because of the unfortunate fact that in the Western world, the elderly are commonly institutionalized in old age, do not see their families and life-long friends often, if at all, and many live in poverty as a result of healthcare costs and ill-planned retirement. The culture behind aging in the Western world is one of fear, and perhaps for good reason.

Isolation Among Elderly Populations

It is not just true in one culture, but in every culture around the world that many elderly individuals have been experiencing more isolation as life spans increase, as the world modernizes, and as values shift. Loneliness causes higher rates of disease, earlier death, reduced cognitive function, and more. Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo, a professor at the University of Chicago said it best: “The misery and suffering caused by chronic loneliness are very real and warrant attention.” “As a social species, we are accountable to help our lonely children, parents, neighbors, and even strangers in the same way we would treat ourselves. Treating loneliness is our collective responsibility.”

Conclusion 

Although modern medicine has made living longer possible, governments and societies around the world do not seem entirely equipped to handle the aging populations and longer life spans. Many countries are seeing elderly populations suffer as a result of shifts in social norms, growing poverty, and minimal elderly facilities. Although one person alone cannot change the many institutions worldwide that are responsible for the threat to current elderly populations and an even larger threat to future generations, some steps can be taken on a personal level that can do a lot more than one might think. The first of these is to have the knowledge that an issue exists at all, which you can now say you have. And the second: call your grandparents. And if this is not possible, consider reaching out to an older family member or neighbor. By limiting the feelings of isolation for even a moment of one elderly person, a step in the right direction is made in your own circle. It only takes a few minutes and the impact of this seemingly insignificant action can last much longer.