According to Psalm 90:10, an average lifespan is about 70 years, with the possibility of living up to 80 years if we’re strong. I always like to add that we can live until older than 100 with the help of modern medicine. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re completely healthy in those later years. Living longer than previous generations can exacerbate chronic disease, wear and tear on joints, cognitive decline, and poor health.
It also places more and more people in caregiving roles.
A 2015–17 survey found that more than 24 percent of U.S. adults between 45 and 64 years of age serve as caregivers. These roles can persist for decades and be emotionally and physically debilitating. More than half of the caregivers indicated that a decline in their health has compromised their ability to provide adequate care. The greater the medical issues of the person needing care, the more intense the caregiving demands can be.When patients need hospitalized rehabilitation, it can place an even greater burden on a caregiver who was already overloaded. Depending on what was needed before, they should expect more of the same and then some.
