Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: - HelpAge International

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Chapter 1: Setting the scene Our ageing world The ageing of the world population is progressive and rapid. It is an unprecedented phenomenon that is affecting nearly all countries of the world. As long as fertility continues to fall or remains low and old-age mortality keeps on declining, the proportion of older people will continue to increase. The numbers are staggering. In the past ten years alone, the number of people aged 60 or over has risen by 178 million – equivalent to nearly the entire population of Pakistan, the sixth most populous country in the world. And in China alone, the estimated number of older people in 2012 is 180 million. The number of people who turn 60 each year worldwide is nearly 58 million, equivalent to almost two persons every second. In 2012, people aged 60 or over represent almost 11.5 per cent of our total global population of 7 billion. By 2050, the proportion is projected to nearly double to 22 per cent. By 2050, for the first time there will be more older people than children under 15 (Figure 1). 2 In 2000, there were already more people aged 60 or over than children under 5. 3 What is ageing? When talking about ageing, it is essential to distinguish between population or demographic ageing as “the process whereby older individuals become a proportionately larger share of the total population” 4 and individual ageing, the process of individuals growing older. This individual process of ageing is multidimensional and involves physical, psychological and social changes. While this report refers to individual ageing in terms of health and well-being and experiences of later life, the main focus is on population ageing. Who is old? The United Nations uses 60 years to refer to older people. This line, which divides younger and older cohorts of a population, is also used by demographers. However, in many developed countries, the age of 65 is used as a reference point for older persons as this is often the age at which persons become eligible for old-age social security benefits. So, there is no exact definition of “old” as this concept has different meanings in different societies. Defining “old” is further challenged by the changing average lifespan of human beings. Around 1900, average life expectancy was between 45 and 50 years in the developed countries of that time. Now, life expectancy in developed countries reaches 80 years. There are other definitions of “old” that go beyond chronological age. Old age as a social construct is often associated with a change of social roles and activities, for example, becoming a grandparent or a pensioner. Older persons often define old age as a stage at which functional, mental and physical capacity is declining and people are more prone to disease or disabilities. re 1: Population aged 0-4, 0-14 and number of persons aged 60 or over, 1950-2050 Figure 1: Population aged 0-4, 0-14 and aged 60 or over, 1950-2050 2,500 million 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Population aged 0-4 (thousands) Population aged 0-14 (thousands) Population aged 0-4 Population aged 60 or over (thousands) Population aged 0-14 Population aged 60 or over Source: UNDESA, Population Division, Source: World UNDESA Population Population Prospects: Division, World Population The 2010 Prospects: Revision The (New 2010 York, Revision 2011). (New York, 2011). 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 20 Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and A Challenge
Discussions with older people in South Africa, for example, showed that they associated old age both with experience gained in life and increasing dependence on others. Chronological definitions of old age were not viewed as so important in signifying old age as changes in physical and mental capacity. 5 Older persons are a highly diverse population group, in terms of, for example, age, sex, ethnicity, education, income and health. It is important to recognize this in order to adequately address the needs of all older persons, especially the most vulnerable. Why is the world ageing? Population ageing is occurring because of declining fertility rates, lower infant mortality and increasing survival at older ages. Total fertility dropped by half from five children per woman in 1950-1955 to 2.5 children in 2010-2015, and it is expected to continue to decline. Life expectancy at birth has risen substantially across the world; it is not just a developed world phenomenon. In 2010-2015, life expectancy is 78 years in developed countries and 68 years in developing regions. By 2045-2050, newborns can expect to live to 83 years in developed regions and 74 years in developing regions. While overall the world is ageing, there are differences in the speed of population ageing. It is happening fastest in the developing world (Figure 2). Today, almost two in three people aged 60 or over live in developing countries, and by 2050, nearly four in five will live in the developing world. Around 1900, average life expectancy was between 45 and 50 years in the developed countries of that time. Now, life expectancy in developed countries reaches 80 years. gure 2: Number of people aged 60 or over: World, developed and developing countries, 1950-2050 Figure 2: Number of people aged 60 or over: World, developed and developing countries, 1950-2050 2,500 million 2,000 Developed countries Developing countries 1,500 1,000 500 0 Source: UNDESA, World Population Ageing 2011 (2012; Developed forthcoming), countries based on UNDESA Population Division medium projection scenario, Developing World Population countries Prospects: The 2010 Revision. Note: The group of “developed countries” corresponds Source: UNDESA, to the World “more Population developed Ageing 2011 (2012; forthcoming) based on UNDESA Population Division medium projection scenario regions” of the World Population Prospects: World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. The 2010 Revision, and the group Note: The group of “developed countries” corresponds to the “more “developing countries” corresponds to developed regions” of the World Population Prospects: The 2010 the “less Revision, developed and the group regions” “developing of the countries” same corresponds to the publication. “less developed regions” of the same publication. 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 21
Page 1 and 2: Ageing in the Twenty-First Century:
Page 3 and 4: Ageing in the Twenty-First Century:
Page 5 and 6: Contents 6 List of abbreviations 7
Page 7 and 8: Acknowledgements Acknowledgements O
Page 9 and 10: Preface This is a special year for
Page 11 and 12: HelpAge International Foreword Fore
Page 13 and 14: In 1950, there were 205 million per
Page 15 and 16: The way forward In many parts of th
Page 17 and 18: Chapter 1 of the report provides an
Page 19: Chapter 1: Setting the scene In 195
Page 23 and 24: There are also marked sub-regional
Page 25 and 26: The difference between current life
Page 27 and 28: The implications of increasing life
Page 29 and 30: The challenges of population ageing
Page 31 and 32: The response: The Madrid Internatio
Page 33 and 34: When the law was passed we started
Page 35 and 36: Chapter 2: A fresh look at evidence
Page 37 and 38: I take care of eight grandchildren
Page 39 and 40: Older people in the Philippines mar
Page 41 and 42: Income security in old age The chal
Page 43 and 44: A major challenge in interpreting p
Page 45 and 46: social (non-contributory) pensions
Page 47 and 48: The global financial and economic c
Page 49 and 50: Table 2: Selection of social pensio
Page 51 and 52: South Africa’s Old Age Pension co
Page 53 and 54: I’m lucky to have a large pension
Page 55 and 56: Antonio Olmos/HelpAge International
Page 57 and 58: Computer training in Ireland. Rapid
Page 59 and 60: Transforming lives through literacy
Page 61 and 62: The rise of non-communicable diseas
Page 63 and 64: Dementia - a global concern Dementi
Page 65 and 66: Risk factors for chronic diseases T
Page 67 and 68: Many of the determinants of poor he
Page 69 and 70: Hospital care in Haiti. Older peopl
Page 71 and 72:
Living longer with HIV Among infect
Page 73 and 74:
Training of care providers and heal
Page 75 and 76:
Age-friendly environments “Whatev
Page 77 and 78:
Fixed-rate bus fares for people age
Page 79 and 80:
In the UK, 45 per cent of 55-75 yea
Page 81 and 82:
Workers in rural informal labour fo
Page 83 and 84:
Urban life also has negative aspect
Page 85 and 86:
Ageing and environmental change Cli
Page 87 and 88:
A refugee in Dadaab, Kenya. A surve
Page 89 and 90:
Global response In the past 10 year
Page 91 and 92:
In Myanmar, volunteers from older p
Page 93 and 94:
I give my mother my love “My moth
Page 95 and 96:
Exposing elder abuse and discrimina
Page 97 and 98:
Government response Few countries h
Page 99 and 100:
Teresa Minja of the Tanzania Social
Page 101 and 102:
On a different yet equally importan
Page 103 and 104:
News, television, film and advertis
Page 105 and 106:
Chapter 3: A review of progress The
Page 107 and 108:
At least 17 countries have approved
Page 109 and 110:
Table 2: Examples of surveys and re
Page 111 and 112:
In a few countries, including the D
Page 113 and 114:
South Africa’s National Archives
Page 115 and 116:
Residents and staff of a care home
Page 117 and 118:
Regional preparations for the secon
Page 119 and 120:
Regional Strategy for Implementatio
Page 121 and 122:
Since 2011, Peru’s National Solid
Page 123 and 124:
A great-grandmother in Viet Nam, wh
Page 125 and 126:
In preparation for an analysis of p
Page 127 and 128:
More specific recommendations are:
Page 129 and 130:
service policies across sectors and
Page 131 and 132:
In some countries, programmes to su
Page 133 and 134:
Chapter 4: The voices of older pers
Page 135 and 136:
Older persons’ responses to the M
Page 137 and 138:
Health in older age Overall, partic
Page 139 and 140:
In Kyrgyzstan, older people raised
Page 141 and 142:
Some also refer to the shifting rel
Page 143 and 144:
“Older people were also invited t
Page 145 and 146:
“Older women can do many things.
Page 147 and 148:
“Pension fund officers treat olde
Page 149 and 150:
“In the past there was only one h
Page 151 and 152:
“People with mental disorders are
Page 153 and 154:
In various aspects of daily life, o
Page 155 and 156:
Another barrier to tackling abuse -
Page 157 and 158:
Based on these recommendations, a f
Page 159 and 160:
Chapter 5: The way forward “Older
Page 161 and 162:
concern in developed countries, whi
Page 163 and 164:
Capacity development for an ageing
Page 165 and 166:
Specific actions according to the P
Page 167 and 168:
Percentage of total population aged
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
Page 173 and 174:
Page 175 and 176:
Page 177 and 178:
Page 179 and 180:
7. Unemployment rate of older perso
Page 181 and 182:
17. Number and proportion of public
Page 183 and 184:
In most countries, it proved feasib
Page 185 and 186:
30. OECD, Pensions at a Glance 2009
Page 187 and 188:
156. UNAIDS, Together We Will End A
Page 189 and 190:
286. US States Government Accountab
Page 191 and 192:
UNFPA, the United Nations Populatio
show all

Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: - HelpAge International

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?