Historical census data has shown that in the U.S. in 1900, 100,000 people were age 85 and over. In the year 2000, this age group numbered 4,239,587. In 2020, the number will be 6.5 million, and in 2050, it will have grown to 17,970,000!
Clearly, people are living longer today, in greater numbers, than they ever have (disregarding Methuselah of course!) throughout recorded history. Our medical care providers have succeeded in keeping us alive for much longer than they have in the past. As wonderful as this medical technology is, it has not come without costs. With that longevity comes a host of other problems.
The federal government is working frantically to decrease spending in 2011 by making sweeping cuts to numerous federally funded programs, in order to avoid a government shutdown. Unfortunately, many of the changes proposed will negatively impact seniors. The cuts began in House Resolution 1 (HR 1), passed by the House last month as a long term continuing resolution to cut fiscal spending this year and keep the federal government from shutting down. But 2011 spending cuts are only the beginning. Next, focus will turn to the 2012 budget where a new round of cuts will likely take place, with potential far-reaching negative impacts on seniors. 
A recent article in the New York Times entitled "
The Salt Lake Tribune published an 
RSS