Finally some good news in America on life expectancy, but we’ve got a ways to go

 

 

It was only about two weeks ago that Funeral Director Daily reported the final numbers for life expectancy in the United States using the 2021 final figures.  At that time, as you can see in this article, life expectancy had been lowered for newborns in the United States to 76.1 years.

 

However, on November 29 press releases and articles, such as this one, reported that United States life expectancies had made a dramatic increase by over one full year according to preliminary 2022 numbers released by the Center for Disease Control.  Preliminary numbers for 2022 indicate that life expectancies for newborns now sits at 77 years and 6 months.

 

The number still sits below the pre-pandemic life expectancy of 78 years and 10 months from 2019, but the rise is a good thing and indicitive that Covid-19 deaths are waning.

 

As a matter of fact, it is the decline in Covid-19 deaths that is raising the life expectancy number.  According to the above linked article, Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death in America in 2021 and in 2022 it was the 4th leading cause of death and early indications for 2023 indicate it may fall al the way to the 9th or 10th leading cause of death for this year.

 

However, America has some work to do on other cause of death metrics as the article points out that “the number of U.S. suicides reached an all-time high last year and the suicide rate is the higest seen since 1941″.

 

Also, drug overdose deaths in the U.S. went up slightly last year and is continuing to inch up in 2023.

 

For more detailed information click here for the recent Center for Disease Control provisional reports.

 

Funeral Director Daily take:  I’m glad this number is starting to rise again.  However, America has to work to do with these unnatural deaths.  When I look at some of the numbers of what I would term “unnatural” deaths I think of the tough work that has to be done by those funeral directors on the front lines of funeral service.

 

As we pass through life older people dying first is the norm. . . . and in many cases grief at that time can be unbearable for their  survivors.  I can remember, however, how much more difficult the obstacles seemed for the mourners at the time of death of young people . . . . . .parents making the necessary arrangements for their own children and young people who had lots of friends who couldn’t understand what life would be like with the permanant loss of a friend from a suicide, drug overdose, or automobile accident.

 

With older people. . .even somebody’s grandparents, we seem to mourn the past, whereas with young people we seem to mourn the hope for the future. . .and at least for this funeral director, especially as I aged and had children of my own, it was difficult to watch.

 

My heart goes out to those that lose young loved ones by any means. . . . .and my respect and gratitude goes out to those funeral directors on the front lines of those death calls who play such a key and vital role in directing those who mourn in honoring, recognizing, respecting, and memorializing the lives that have been lived.

 

You know how much work you put in. . . .and you know how much it means to the people you serve. . . May God bless funeral directors.

 

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