The global ageing century: challenges

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• "The global ageing century challenges
  opportunities"
• Silvia Stefanoni
• Interim Chief Executive Officer
• HelpAge International

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The Century of Ageing

• The 21st century is the century of ageing
• The new millennium closes the first chapter in
  human history when we were young
• (Paul Wallace Agequake)
• Life expectancy is extending worldwide, fertility
  rates are falling, and ageing is accelerating.
• The ageing of humanity across the world is a
  defining stage in history. It will change
  everything from business and finance to society
  and culture (Wallace)

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Demographic transition

• In 2009, the global number of older people
  passed 700 million. This is projected to be 2
  billion by 2050. Already two-thirds live in low
  middle income countries
• In the more developed regions over 20 of the
  population is 60. By 2050, nearly 33 of the
  population is projected to be in that age group
• In the less developed regions, older people
  account today for 8 of the population by 2050
  they are expected to account for over 20

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Longer lives everywhere
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The future thats here already
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The poorest and the oldest

• The pace of population ageing is fastest in low-
  and middle-income countries
• The population of older people is itself ageing.
  Among those aged 60 years or over, the fastest
  growing population is that of the oldest-old,
  those aged 80 years or over

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Asia has the largest, fastest growing older
population
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Why global population ageing matters Despite
theevidence, the significance of population
aging and its global implications have yet to be
fully appreciated. Preparing for longer lives
and finding ways to reduce age-related disability
should become national and global priorities. For
nations, as for individuals, it is critical to
address problems sooner rather than later.
Waiting significantly increases the costs and
difficulties of addressing these
challenges. Paula J. Dobransky, Under-Secretary
for Democracy Global Affairs, U.S. Department
of State 2007
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(No Transcript)
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A demographic dividend?

• By 2020 the Asian economic miracle will
  still be driven by demographic change
• High rates of investment and saving will
  continue
• highest possible numbers of working-age adults
  in e.g. India China
• resources which had been used to bring up
  children will be free for saving

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A demographic dividend

• By 2030 will the Asian demographic
• window begin to close as many in
• work-forces in a number of countries
• enter their sixties?
• Countries in East Asia Latin America
• will experience rapidly ageing populations
• with changing economic needs, changing
• health status

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An older workforce?

• Already millions work into old age especially
  in low-income countries. These numbers are
  likely to continue to grow
• Much of this work is unpaid or poorly paid
  the challenge is to provide decent work

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Ageing health

• A key priority for older people in low- and
  middle-income countries
• Many poor people enter old age in poor health
  lifetimes of physical labour, poor diet and
  environments, multiple pregnancies
• Health services are rarely age friendly
• physically inaccessible
• health providers have low levels of relevant
  knowledge
• attitudinal barriers especially where resource
  are scarce

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Epidemiological transition

• In low-income countries - a shift from
  infectious diseases, poor nutrition hygiene to
  chronic diseases
• Rapid health gains of 20th Century due to new
  drugs technologies have been difficult to
  sustain in low-income countries
• More limited progress in clean water supply,
  sanitation and basic education
• Double burden in many countries - both
  communicable and non-communicable disease

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Health systems ageing

• In low-income countries health systems,
  established in times of high fertility and low
  population growth, focussed on mother child
  health
• Focus on reproductive healthcare concerns
  about HIV AIDS
• Curative services have been prioritised -
  limited services for older people
• MDGs very influential health targets are on
  MCH combating HIV AIDS other infectious
  diseases (TB Malaria)

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The rising demand for care

• Rapid growth in the number of the oldest
• old
• Increase in labour force participation by
• women growing migration
• Attitudes to care-giving show signs of
• changing
• In 2010 an estimated 35.6 million people
• are living with dementia this is projected
• to double every 20 years, reaching 115.4 m
• in 2050

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Why this matters

• Long-term chronic illness and the need for
  long-term care have major impacts on
• individuals and households
• psychological stress for older people and
  caregivers
• economic burden producers become consumers of
  care
• societies and economies
• loss of productivity, lost development

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Chheut (68) has been looking after five
grandchildren. Four are the children of his son
and daughter in law, who died about four years
ago. People said it was AIDS. In the past my
wife would help. But she needed to work and the
only job she could get was near the Thai border.
He still grows crops on his remaining land. and
all the children have never stopped going to
school. During Khmer New Year and at
spiritual ceremonies his sons visit, and if they
cant come they send money. I had thought that I
would give them all my assets land, oxen and ox
carts. But they say dont worry about passing on
the assets. 
Chheut, 68, Battambang Province, Cambodia

• (c)Jon Bugge /HelpAge International

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• Ciprian, (77) a farmer in Peru. I am one of the
  lucky ones. I worked in a government factory for
  28 years. Now I receive a small pension and my
  wife and I also have health insurance.But
  even with our pension it is difficult to make
  ends meet. Rice has gone up three-fold just in
  the last 6 weeks. My wife and I work in our
  small field seven or eight hours every day to
  grow vegetables to supplement our diet. The
  pension doesnt cover our living costs like
  electricity. My other children have moved to
  other parts of Peru find it hard enough to
  survive without supporting us.

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Opportunities in the ageing century

• The world has never been more able to afford
  financing solutions
• Health promotion and disease prevention at all
  ages
• Accessible and appropriate health social care
• Social protection the social floor