May 2023

China issues guidance for basic elderly care system by 2025

China has issued guidance to all provinces to build a basic elderly care system by 2025, state-run Xinhua news agency said on Sunday, in the latest step to prevent a demographic crisis. Who takes care of the elderly in China, where pensions are tiny, is one of the major headaches policymakers face as they deal with the country's first demographic downturn since Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution. The ruling Communist Party has mobilised resources to ensure that more vulnerable age groups are...

How To Minimize Ageism Through The Use Of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise in the fight against ageism, and future technologies powered by AI can be a first step to ensure older adults are fully involved in the processes, systems and, ultimately, services that will affect them throughout the aging journey. Healthcare providers, governments, academia, not-for-profits and businesses can ensure that AI is not only strengthening healthcare for older adults but also empowering them to meet their individual needs. At the same time, there are also significant risks...

Hong Kong’s ageing population time bomb to leave a shortage of 60,000 residences for the elderly by 2032: JLL

Hong Kong will face a shortage of over 60,000 residences for the elderly by 2032 as the city’s population rapidly ages, before eventually becoming the world’s oldest society by 2050, according to JLL. The city’s Kwun Tong, Yuen Long, Sha Tin and Eastern district are among the areas with the most serious ageing problem, the property consultancy said in a report on Tuesday. In Kwun Tong, only one in 41 elderly people will find a place in elderly homes, it...

Loneliness can impact longevity & quality of life, claims study

Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, recently warned that "being socially disconnected" has a similar effect on mortality as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. This statement was widely reported in the media, including in the Washington Post, the Times and the Daily Mail. But where does this "15 cigarettes a day" figure come from? Dr Murthy is referring to a study published in 2010 that explored social relationships and mortality rates. The researchers combined the data from 148...

Impact of Spain’s Aging Population: Demographic Shift’s Effect on Major Sectors

Spain is a beautiful country known for its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and delicious cuisine. However, behind this facade lies a looming issue that threatens to shake the very foundation of Spanish society: an aging population. This demographic shift is having a profound impact on the country’s economy, social services, and overall way of life. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years, with the proportion of seniors projected to rise to 25% by 2050. As per the...

China pursues high-quality population development to support modernization

China has sent a clear signal to adapt to the new normal in its demographics in an effort to boost modernization by improving the overall quality of its population. According to a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs held last week, China is currently experiencing a trend of birthrate decline, population aging, and differentiation in regional population growth. The latest official data showed that China's population reached 1.41175 billion at the end of 2022, a drop of...

Studies on Aging and Late-Life Functioning Given Policy Impact Award

The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) have been awarded the 2023 Policy Impact Award by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). According to AAPOR, the award recognizes "outstanding research that has had a clear impact on improving policy decisions, practice and discourse, either in the public or private sectors." NHATS is designed to support policy-relevant demographic research investigating trends, trajectories, and consequences of late-life disability for individuals and families. NHATS...

Germany has a plan to tackle a rapidly aging workforce: recruiting robots

A robot takeover has long been the stuff of science fiction, but digitalization could be key in solving Germany’s labor shortage crisis, as its population ages. A record 45.9 million people were employed by Europe’s largest economy in the fourth quarter of 2022, the German Federal Statistical Office found. But, while more people than ever have jobs, over half of German companies reported that they were struggling to find skilled workers to fill vacancies, according to German Chambers of Commerce...

April 2023

‘Aging population holds economic prosperity for Nigerians, others’

Individuals across the globe, especially in developed countries, are aging at an unprecedented pace, making many countries increasingly reliant on migration to realise their long-term growth potential, says a new report from the World Bank. The ‘World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees and Societies’ identifies this trend as a unique opportunity to make migration work better for economies and people. Conversely, Nigeria, Ghana and other developing countries that have rising youthful populations are set to benefit from the global aging population...

US. Megatrends: The Longevity Economy

Pick up a birthday card in the supermarket and you might find some humorous quips about longevity, like "Scientific research recently found that the more birthdays you have, the longer you live." In reality, though, that's an experience nearly 90,000 centenarians currently living in the U.S. can relate to and appreciate, according to data from the United Nations. It's also a phenomenon that is expected to increase over time: According to demographers from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of...