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A resident of one of the outer islands of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, Marie Louise Reremalise recently died at the age of 145 years. In the custom village there were no birth certificates issued, but the family state she was born in 1864.
Just a few years ago the Elite Centenarian (over 100 years old) Clubs were barely in existence. The fastest growing segment of the population in the United States is now the centenarians. Worldwide America had the largest number of centenarians by Nov 1st 2008, with approximately 96,548. With 36,276 Japan taking second place.
The number of Americans aged 100, or older, has been forecast by the U.S. Census Bureau, to increase by more than 22 times the 1990 estimates of 37,306. There only existed 2,300 Americans over the age of 100 years, as short a time ago as 1950.
The President of International Longevity Centre in New York, Dr. Robert Butler, said “The number of U.S. centenarians is expected to reach between 834,000 to 1 million, by 2050”.
The number of people who are 100 or over worldwide has already reached 450,000. The number almost increased tenfold over the last four decades. This symbolizes one in fifty women reaching the century and one in two hundred men.
For the majority of people their concept of middle and old age needs to be remodified. More aggressive and better medical care, better living conditions, improved diet, have all contributed to an increase in the expected average life span.
When life expectancy was 67 years, governments only needed to provide for the elderly for approximately 7 years. These statistics have changed dramatically. Governments are now forced to deal with the massive problem of caring for the aged, on a much larger and longer basis than originally planned.
At the University of Illinois Chicago, the professor of epidemiology, S. Jay Olshansky, says “We can push the average life expectancy beyond the current average of 78 years (about 80 for a woman and 75 for a man) to 100.” The life average expectancy was just 49 years in 1904.
The million dollar question is - how far will your superannuation plan stretch? In your retirement will you need to provide for: 10, 20 or even 40 years? How much money will you require?
The experts are all saying it’s now more important than ever, that you seriously consider your financial situation and get in control of your finances. There will be hundreds of thousands of people dependent on government agencies, who will run out of money.
Your life span may be a lot longer than you expect. Opportunities like being able to retire on a tropical island, with an income, are available to only the very few. Opportunities where you could be handed a million dollars is something to be grabbed with both hands. That goal of finding extra cash has to be striven for and every opportunity taken.
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's of YouMe Support Foundation (http://youmesupport.org) provide high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help in this really great project by taking a few minutes to check it the Tropical Island Treasure Chest at Win a Resort (http://winaresort.com) It really will change your life.
Feel free to contact Wendy on admin@youmesupport.org
