Experiences and implications of demographic ageing in the Asia-Pacific region

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Hong Kong Journal of Gerontology = 香港老年學報

Publication Date

6-1-1995

Volume

9

Issue

1

First Page

20

Last Page

29

Abstract

The Asia-Pacific Region includes countries at: various slaves of demographic ageing and their proportions aged 65 years or more range from about 4% to over 14%. High percentages of older people can be significant for social and health care and for the economies of the countries generally. Increasing expectation of life at: birth, declining total fertility rates, increasing elderly support ratios, smaller completed family size, low birth rates and low death rates are associated with demographic ageing. Several countries have experienced very rapid shifts in mortality and morbidity away from infectious diseases towards chronic and degenerative diseases. This, too, is significant for health services and social care systems. Perhaps the most significant impacts of demographic ageing and epidemiological transition will come from the combined effects of smaller total family sizes, greater longevity and changes in household structure, with changing attitudes to family support and families' abilities to maintain it. Will it be reasonable to expect, families to care for older old members and to deal with often complex medical and social conditions including dementias and terminal conditions? Will care in the community be developed with sufficient resources to bolster or replace traditional support networks and will the public sector be able to meet such challenges in the Asia-Pacific countries?

Print ISSN

16082346

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 1995 Hong Kong Association of Gerontology

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Phillips, D. R. (1995). Experiences and implications of demographic ageing in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong Journal of Gerontology = 香港老年學報, 9(1), 20-29.

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