The average life expectancy in the early 1900's was 49.5 years of age where in contrast an elderly person today could live until well into their late 80's. The elderly had a hard life style back in the early 1900's they had to rely on family and their neighbors. Social Security did not start until 1935.
"During the 20th century, the number of persons in the United States under age 65 has tripled. At the same time, the number aged 65 or over has jumped by a factor of 11! Consequently, the elderly, who comprised only 1 in every 25 Americans (3.1 million) in 1900, made up 1 in 8 (33.2 million) in 1994. Declining fertility and mortality rates also have led to a sharp rise in the median age of our Nation's population -- from 20 years old in 1860 to 34 in 1994. " (Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html).
This statical information is shocking to me how much it has changed in the last century. To think that the average age a person lived was just a little bit beyond 40 makes me now understand why our own social security system is in such a tragic state right now. In 1935 when the system started no one ever thought that the mean age of living would double.
References:
Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html
Life Expectancy. http://www.efmoody.com/estate/lifeexpectancy.html
Ingrid Spies
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