In Asia, where the elderly
population is projected to reach 922.7 million by the middle of this century,
countries such as India and Indonesia will still reap the population dividend
until 2030, but the rate of ageing of some countries is as fast as in the West.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that ‘population ageing can no longer
be ignored’.
The picture is not so bleak
medical advances and lifestyle changes have allowed us to defeat many causes of
illness and live longer. Increasing longevity is one of humanity’s greatest
achievements. Indeed, population ageing is cause for celebration. Look at the
rapid increase of life expectation even among low-income countries — 10–15
years over the last 50. The opportunities that this presents are as endless as
the contributions that a socially and economically active, secure and healthy
ageing population can bring to society. But the opportunities come with
challenges. Population ageing presents social, economic and cultural challenges
to individuals, families and society.
It is how we choose to
address the challenges and maximise the opportunities of a growing older
population that will determine the future of developing Asia. Atul Gawande, in
his book Being Mortal, wrote that ‘the ultimate goal is not a good
death but a good life — all the way to the end’. What is needed in one’s
declining years is a life with meaning, a life as rich and full as possible
under the circumstances, with dignity to the end.
The question is: are we
ready to be a compassionate society? Several well-known studies in Asia show
there is a thread of concern about the multiple discriminations experienced by
the elderly. It is unacceptable that millions of elderly continue to live in
poverty, lacking income security, health care, access to basic services,
support in emergencies and the full enjoyment of their human rights.
Asia’s expected ‘grey
tsunami’ should not be an excuse not to act, but rather seen as a call to
action. Several countries have made progress in improving social protection and
care for elderly.
For example, the PRC is
developing comprehensive policy measures to improve the care of elderly people,
including promotion of home-based and community-based services. In 2009, the
government initiated a new pension system for its rural population. The PRC is
also developing comprehensive policy measures to improve the care of elderly
people, including promotion of home-based and community-based services.
Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand
and Vietnam have provided universal or means-tested social pensions. More than
10 countries in developing Asia have passed national laws on the elderly and
established special bodies on ageing within ministries.
Living longer requires
affirmative measures to ensure that older age is experienced as a time of
opportunity, rather than a time of life to be feared. Among the affirmative
measures required is challenging age discrimination and ensuring access to
income security as well as affordable and quality health care.
More importantly, the
elderly must be included as contributors and participants in all types of
development processes that affect their wellbeing. A 2012 United Nations
Populations Fund report mentioned that ‘all people, now and in the future, in
all countries — rich or poor — must be able to age with dignity and security,
enjoying the full realisation of all human rights and fundamental freedom to
lead fulfilled and active lives’.
Let’s act now, and we will
be ready to face the ‘grey tsunami’.
Sri Wening Handayani is the
Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) principal social development specialist.
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