The world population is increasing at a rapid rate and many countries around the world are paying considerable attention to the constant increase in the age of individuals. People living long to normal retirement age are a major contributor to the massive increase in the world's population. Only in the last century has there been a high rate of elderly people. Today, people around the age of 65 are considered elderly, but 200 years ago this age was probably around 50 (Stevenson, n.d.). This essay will discuss the role and status of older people in different cultures. The number of people is steadily increasing, and one of the main contributions to this growth is the longer life expectancy of the average individual in various cultures around the world. While the vast majority of countries around the world are experiencing an influx of older people, the roles and methods of treating older people are very divergent. The study of aging, or gerontology, has shown the steady increase in the average age of a person, and this is largely linked to improved health care coverage in developed countries. Many countries now participate in health care coverage for the average citizen. In the United States, for example, Medicare has benefited the average citizen – and the implementation of ObamaCare is expected to benefit even more. This shows the American public's commitment to caring for the elderly. While some believe that older people are treated with a lack of respect – which is true in many cases – the welfare system is going through a process of restructuring in which the interests of older people are placed at the top of the priority list. While social health system improvements... middle of document ...... are aimed at counties that do not have the capacity to finance themselves? Works Cited Chapin, R. et. al., (2002). Curriculum Module on Aging and Ethnicity. University of California at Berkeley. Retrieved from http://www.oaltc.ku.edu/gerorich/Reports/AGINGANDETHNICITY.pdfCotlear, D. (2011). Population aging: is Latin America ready? Directions in development. DOI: 0-8213-8469-4Plaque, T. (2004). The age of insecurity: Asia's elderly versus America. Asian Media Archives. Retrieved from http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=11693Rowland, D. (2012). Aging of the population: the transformation of societies. Springer Editions. DOI: 9400740492Smith, C. et. al. (2010). Aging populations. Public management. DOI: 204192554 United Nations. (2002). Aging of the world population: 1950-2050. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. DOI:1613-9372