This figure is high because people are living longer than ever before. During this century, the life expectancy has been increased by twenty-nine years. It is a new phenomena, never before faced in history.
Older adults are pioneers of an extended life-span.
In addition, we are all pioneers in this aging society. The retirement age was originally set at 65 in part because most people did not live far beyond that age and thus they were on pension for a very limited time. Now we are all learning to deal with retirement plans and Social Security programs that are based on many years of post-retirement life. A special subgroup of the elderly is the elderly poor. Many aging folk can be found in our churches.