Senator Herb Kohl, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, writes about how the aging of baby boomers will affect society in the Senior Journal.
In about 25 years, people over 65 will account for 20 percent of the American population, as opposed to 12 percent at present. The focus of insurers, health care providers, manufacturers, retailers, marketing companies, politicians, etc., will shift more heavily toward this segment of society. Kohl writes:
Nearly every issue dealt with by Congress affects older Americans, or is affected by them, in a unique way. From emergency preparedness to broadcast technology, from the size of the labor force to regulation of corporate marketing practices, these issues are worthy of our attention from the older person’s perspective. Then there are, of course, the more obvious challenges ahead of us, such as preserving Social Security, strengthening Medicare, and improving long-term care.
Kohl says the Aging Committee is committed to protecting older Americans from fraud and mistreatment, and to making sure they have the best quality of life.