Demographic Mortality

A few months ago there was an outbreak of the Hantavirus on a cruise ship, possibly due to some bird watchers who became infected while visiting a rat infested dump in Argentina. As I was reading the article I mentioned to the wife that an outbreak of the Hantavirus was on a cruise ship. As I was reading, she asked if anyone died. I then replied some old man died, his wife and at least one other. When saying "old man" was aged 68, it did not occur to me that I was the same age. Unwittingly, I labeled myself an old man. I did not know this man, but, things hit home with two other deaths over the past several months. One was a college friend who lived next door in the dorms, and another a former classmate from high school.

While I am a seasoned citizen, although not as seasoned as the wife, women live longer than men, on average about 4.9 years, say five years. Given that, perhaps I am a more seasoned citizen than my wife. Currently, in the US, men are expected to live on average 76.5 years, although if you get to 65, you have, on average 18.4  more years to live. At my current age, the wife may have to put up with me for an additional 15 years. Although the math does not always work since other sources identify lesser years on earth if you live to 65. 

It was midweek when I read a Facebook post about the high school classmate who died. He lived in Minnesota, but his funeral will be in Sun Prairie. We were both part of the 1976 bicentennial class. There have been others that have passed on, one of which I was acquainted with since grade school died about 14 months ago. There are also college classmates. Several years ago the wife of one of my college roommates, who was in the same 1980 college class, passed away. Last November, a former friend from college, who lived in the dorm next to me passed away. He was from Madison, and while spent much of his time in Colorado, was back in the area with his funeral and burial in the Madison area.  

Population Pyramid, US, 2025
populationpyramids.org

This increasing level of departing the bonds of earth is starting to become more common for my demographic. The mortality level increases as we age just as travel insurance, and other insurance rates increase for the seasoned citizen set. The wife got her driver license renewal notice recently, and saw that there were options to renew on line, but she did not qualify due to her being a senior citizen.

 According to the 2025 US population pyramid, it is at the 60-64 age cohort where females begin to outnumber males. This of course does not bode well for widows, or single women in the age group looking for a similarly aged man. Does this lead to cougars?  Women live longer than men, and often it was that the man is older than the spouse he marries. Kind of a double whammy. My wife is smart--she is a cougar, marrying a bit younger than her demographic. She has always denied being a cougar, but a former coworker of mine, also a cougar by about the same age difference with her spouse (but a millennial), is proud to be one and suggested that my wife embrace being a cougar.  

The mortality rate for men tends to increase dramatically in my age group. At 68 (65-74), the rate is 2,000 to 4,500 males per 100,000 males, and for the next ten year group (75-84) it increases to 4,700 per 100,000. At 84 it is 14,000-17,000 per 100,000. I am not sure why they have such a large range, it seems as if it is an easy statistic to maintain. Genetics, lifestyle and other factors all play a roll in determining life expectancy. 

As an unwittingly self-described old man, the demographic mortality is starting to hit home.

Have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day!