As the United States population ages and lifespans increase, the United States faces challenges that could either harm the country , or be beneficial if the plans are executed correctly. By 2050, more than thirty-two million Americans will be over the age of eighty, and the share of the generation over 80 will have doubled to 7.4 percent. Health care and the aging population have become a major issue given the impact they are having on the United States. The United States is heading into a new century with an exceptional percentage of people in the aging population. Current challenges related to health care and population aging include the fact that health professions employees represent a large percentage of the aging population, the push toward debt, and the prevention and postponement of illness and disease. disabilities. One of the problems related to health care and the aging population is The majority of employees in health care professions represent a percentage of the aging population. As the knowledge of healthcare professionals is a factor in the aging population, this puts a strain on doctors and nurses entering the workforce after retirement. The fewer employees there are, the greater the workload for a single person. It is imperative that each nurse on a unit has a maximum of four patients. Giving more responsibility to an employee does not make the situation less difficult, but puts people's lives more at risk. New demands on the health system for health services will not only require additional staff, but will also require changes to the way services are delivered. The average age of the registered nurse population is forty-six, and for physicians it is fifty-five. There's a big...... middle of paper ....... Economics." Health Day News for Healthier Living. Np, September 25, 2012. Web.• Kick, Ella. "Overview: Health Care and the Aging Population: What are today's challenges? • “Facing the challenge of an aging population. » The Guardian, nd Web. • Herman, Catherine. “The United States is unprepared for the impact of population aging on the health care workforce, according to the Center for Health Workforce Studies in Albany. » , April 5, 2006. Web. • Czaja, Sara J. and Joeseph Sharit. “The Aging Population: Opportunities and Challenges for Human Factors Engineering,” National Academy of Engineering, Spring 2009. Web.• Today's Major. National challenges. A roadmap for America's future. Np and Web.