It’s Time to Discuss Aging and Politics in Today’s Society
Aging and politics intersect as we face challenges with representation and health
Aging, Politics, Health, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Texas, California, Kentucky
Dec. 27: It’s tough to chat about aging, isn’t it? We can discuss illness, but most folks stay optimistic. Disabilities? We think they happen to others. But when it comes to our elders, we hesitate.
We know that drawing lines for others might limit us sooner than we think. It’s like having that awkward talk about wills or medical powers of attorney. We really should have these conversations as a society.
Just look at the recent election. We had the oldest presidential candidates ever, with Joe Biden stepping back in July. Donald Trump, the oldest elected president, faced age-related attacks during the campaign.
And Congress? It’s getting older too. Chuck Grassley is 91, Grace Napolitano is 88, and Bernie Sanders is 83. Can you believe it? Even the Supreme Court has justices who could qualify for Social Security!
This isn’t about disrespecting our senior leaders. Their experience is valuable. But life expectancy has changed a lot since 1789. Back then, people lived to about 40. Now, it’s nearly 80!
And it’s only going up. The National Institutes on Aging says there were 720,000 people over 90 in the U.S. in 1980. That number could hit 33 million in 25 years!
Many of these folks deal with age-related health issues. Almost 7 million Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s. It’s a serious concern.
Take Rep. Kay Granger from Texas. At 81, she stepped down from her role but was living in an assisted-living facility due to dementia. Her family did the right thing, but her district missed out on representation.
This isn’t a new issue. Dianne Feinstein faced similar challenges before her passing in 2023. And Mitch McConnell has had his own health scares but hasn’t stepped down yet.
The Constitution sets minimum ages for office, but maybe we should think about maximum ages too. It’s a tough conversation, especially for those in their 60s who don’t want to give up their seats.
Grassley has been in office for over 43 years! It’s a tricky situation, but we need to start talking about it.
Lori Falce, the Tribune-Review community engagement editor, has been covering Pennsylvania politics for over 30 years. You can reach her at lfalce@triblive.com.