Late Adulthood

Per this Atlantic article, America is facing a “longevity revolution” as 100-year lifespans become increasingly common, prompting calls to rethink traditional models of school, work, and retirement. Historically, 20th-century policy achievements like Social Security and Medicare almost eliminated poverty among the elderly, transforming old age from a period of dependency into a stage associated with leisure and security. Communities like Sun City epitomized the “golden years” ideal, but this model was based on assumptions of a shorter life expectancy and a relatively brief period of retirement after a single, long career. I have a friend who retired several years ago and lives in Sun City. She absolutely loves it there but its probably too early to say if she'll continue to see it as living her dream if this way of life goes on until she's hundred years old.

Authors James Chappel and Andrew J. Scott both agree that the retirement system designed in the mid-20th century is now out of step with demographic and fiscal realities. While Chappel calls for further expanding the welfare state for elders, he largely sidesteps fiscal sustainability issues. Scott, by contrast, highlights a new challenge: our added years may be spent in poor health and wasted potential unless society pivots toward prevention, lifelong learning, and workplace flexibility. He argues that policy should prioritize closing the gap between lifespan and health span, and that the concept of retirement itself needs to be reconsidered for an era where living into one’s 80s and 90s is normal.

Scott proposes that we move away from age-based entitlement programs and enable people to remain productive and engaged, regardless of their age, as long as they are able and willing. This approach entails reshaping work environments for older workers, creating opportunities for continued education, and fostering intergenerational collaboration. He introduces the idea of “late adulthood", a new phase between traditional middle age and old age, where people can pursue second careers, less demanding work, and meaningful contributions to families and communities. I would say that I am in a sense trying to pursue late adulthood by doing things that I would have previously postponed. Someone with a higher risk tolerance could a lot more value than I am able to in this phase of life.

Ultimately, the article concludes that the expansion of healthy, satisfying years in late adulthood is potentially the greatest benefit modern society can offer. However, to truly “grasp the gift” of longevity, America must abandon outdated assumptions about aging, invest in prevention and ongoing engagement, and embrace a holistic understanding of aging that recognizes its emotional and social rewards—not just its challenges. The challenge for policymakers and society at large is to create a framework in which longer, healthier lives are both productive and fulfilling, redefining what it means to grow old in the 21st century.