Gerontology: Working with the elderly

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The Social Security Act of 1935 was established in order to help Americans receive benefits when they retire or in the event that they are not able to work anymore. All Americans who work pay taxes, which in turn are put into the Social Security system. When this act was passed, it was meant to supplement a person's income, when reaching the age of retirement. This money would add to their pensions or savings. Many retirees now depend on it as their only source of income. In the past, the majority of jobs had pensions and the employee contributed to it. In modern society, pensions are no longer the norm in jobs as they were 50 years ago. Blue collar jobs are more than likely to not have any sort of pension plan as opposed to white collar jobs. Not all people receive the same amount of money when they retire. Depending on the salary you earned when working, that will determine how much you will receive in your monthly Social Security check. A person who has worked at low paying jobs in their lifetime will barely receive enough in Social Security. Many of our elderly in the United States barely receive enough money that many elderly live below or just barely above the poverty level.

As a person reaches retirement age, they are faced with many things to deal with. Retirement from work is one of the many realities they face. If they are not financially stable enough to retire, many continue to work rather than face the uncertainty of their financial future. Retirees do not get enough from Social Security that many are forced to live in low cost housing or become homeless, especially our veterans. Applying for Medicare Insurance is another obstacle an elderly person will have to face. Many are afraid that they may not be able to han...

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...sure they can afford their medication. A person who has worked hard throughout his or her life may be surprised to find out that they may not receive what they anticipated in Social Security when they retire. It may be far less than what they are used to and that person will have to adjust to a new way or lifestyle in order to survive. Elderly people may be on many medications to control their diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol etc.; that many will be forced to go without them. The cost of the medication for the elderly population is so expensive now that their health insurance is no longer through their place of work. It was affordable when they were working due to that person having health insurance through their place of employment. There are many obstacles an elderly person faces when retiring, being able to afford your medications should not be one of them.

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