Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm 64 and 74 and 84 and 94...?

I came across an interesting sponsored blog post from a financial institution that had some useful facts about aging.

Best factoid: "...there are more centenarians, or people living above the age of 100, than at any point in history."

Key points:

• "Breakthroughs in healthcare, sanitation and nutrition; mass urbanization; and the introduction of social security systems to supplement old-age income have all helped elongate the human lifespan."
• "More than 80 countries worldwide already have fertility rates lower than replacement levels, and by 2050, the share of the global population above 65 is expected to rise to 16%, up from 8% today and 5% in 1950."
• "While emerging markets are younger relative to developed economies, they are following a similar trend, often aging more quickly than historical precedents."

Implications for the aging phenomenon:

• Study, work, retire is an obsolete model.
• Older people will have greater spending power.
• Economic sectors relevant to longevity are: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare providers, assisted care and senior living facilities.

Apparently, no one really knows what to expect as populations age.