Global population aging is a triumph of increased longevity and falls in fertility. More people are surviving to older ages due to health and development progress. However, aging populations risk being seen as a crisis rather than opportunity. To prepare, communities must act early, strategically, positively, and together. Aging will impact all areas of society so all generations must see older people as contributors and partners rather than problems. Aging should be a priority in global development frameworks to ensure older people's rights and wellbeing.

1. Population Ageing & Longer Lives –
Global triumph, global challenge
Toby Porter
Chief Executive, HelpAge International

2. HelpAge International
Our vision is a world in which older people fulfill their
potential to lead dignified, active, healthy and secure
lives.
-

3. Global ageing is a triumph of human development
Twentieth Century advances...
Health and sanitation
Education
Poverty reduction

4. Development progress...
more people are surviving childhood
more women are surviving childbirth
fewer children are being born...
...and people are living longer

5. Scale and rate of global population ageing

6. 1209012349035

7. Proportion of population aged 60+
in 2012 and 2050

8. Rapid ageing
time taken to increase the proportion
of older people from 7% to 20%
40
80
7-14% 14-20%
40 40
41
26 26
30
47
31
13 11
22 21
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Germany United
Kingdom
Russia Brazil Mexico Kenya South Africa

9. OLD-AGE SUPPORT
RATIO
9.1
2013
65+
yrs
15-64
yrs
Source: Aging Profile 2013 – United Nation
Cited on 28 June, 2014
5.0
2030
2.8
2050

10. OLD-AGE SUPPORT
RATIO
65+
Source: Aging Profile 2013 – United Nation
Cited on 28 June, 2014
4.2
2030
2013
15-64
8.2
2.6
2050

11. OLD-AGE SUPPORT
RATIO
11.7 6.5
65+
Source: Aging Profile 2013 – United Nation
Cited on 28 June, 2014
8.7
2030
2050
2013
15-64

12. 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 demographic 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”

18. 4 things to do
• Act early
• Act strategically
• Act positively
• Act together

19. 4 things to do
• Act early
• Act strategically
• Act positively
• Act together

20. 120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1960
1965
1970
Importance of Acting Early
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
Low TDR
2000-2020
2000
2005
2010
36.9
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
2055
2060
2065
2070
2075
2080
Child Dependency Ratio Aged Dependency Ratio Total Dependency Ratio
Source: United Nation Database
Cited on 1st July, 2014

21. Aggregate Dependency Ratio – Vietnam
86
76
1980 – 2080 (Medium Variant)
61
43 41.4 41 42 43 44 46
50
54
60
67
74 76 78
81 83
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1980 1990 2000 2010 2013 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 2055 2060 2065 2070 2075 2080
Child Dependency Ratio Aged Dependency Ratio Total Dependency Ratio
Source: United Nations data base
Cited on 26 June, 2014

22. 4 things to do
• Act early
• Act strategically
• Act positively
• Act together

23. How consumption in Old-Age
is covered?
Saving through the
working life period that
provide income
- Pension (Contributory) –
Smoothing consumption
to save for regular
repayment in old age
- Assets – Which can
provide income, such
physical property, stocks,
saving
Mainly family support,
frequently within a
household (but also
remittances or financial
support from family
members)
Indirect (i.e. access to
Health services, LTC,
transport subsidies)
Direct: Social Cash transfer
(Social Pensions)
ASSET
PRIVATE
TRANSFER
PUBLIC
TRANSFER

24. Support system for OP in
developed countries
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
AUT GER HUN SLO SPA SWE USA
Labor income Asset-based Re-allocation Private transfer Public transfer
Source: www.ntaccounts.org Cited on 26 June, 2014

25. Support system for OP in Asian countries
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
JPN PRC IND INO ROK PHI TWA THA
Labor income Asset-based Re-allocation Private transfer Public transfer
Source: www.ntaccounts.org Cited on 26 June, 2014

27. The labor force participation rate of Older People
aged 65 and above in other countries
10.11
35.78
19.86
30.96
68.5
19.8
27.32
23.9
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
United
Kingdom
Iceland Japan South
Korea
Brazil Chile Mexico Thailand
Percentage
Labor Force Participation Rate of OP aged 65+
Source: International Labor Organisation database.
Cited on 1st July, 2014

28. Moving the boundaries of work
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
-
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90+
Consumption Labor Income Labor Income within legal retirement age
Labor Income as working time prolonged

29. Continuum of Care
Paid
Home Care
Volunteer
Home Care
Day Care
Home for
The Aged
Short stay
Nursing
Home
Difficulties of ADL & IADL
Of OP
Community-based care Institutional care
Cost
Source: Help Age Korea

30. The importance of Self-care
1
2
Without Self-Care With Self-Care

31. Per capita labor income and consumption profile
USA, 2003
Japan, 2004
Source: www.ntaccounts.org Cited on 26 June, 2014

32. 4 things to do
• Act early
• Act strategically
• Act positively
• Act together

33. A triumph seen as a crisis
Many low- and middle-income countries are said to
be “growing old before they grow rich”
Media headlines on aging...
“Aging population may explode global economy by
2050”
“Silver Tsunami”
“World faces ageing population time bomb says UN”

35. Negative attitudes toward ageing create:
a lack of preparedness (governments and societies)
fear of old age & a wish to avoid it
a reaction against older people (generational competition)
fear-mongering today reinforces a fatalist approach to the
future

36. Old age is seen as a disease
older people frequently report this attitude among health staff
Older people are seen as a problem
economic pressures are challenging traditional caregiving
Older people are seen as a threat
destabilising economies and societies

38. 4 things to do
• Act early
• Act strategically
• Act positively
• Act together

40. ACTING TOGETHER At Family level
Problem
Compartmentalisation of different age groups
Excluding older people, their needs, vulnerabilities, contributions
and capabilities runs counter to the reality of the fabric and
economy of households across the world

41. ACTING TOGETHER: at Community level
Problem
Increasing isolation, family separation due to migration, work
requirements
Lack of community-based facilities – health and community
centres

42. Response
Village-based older people's associations - foster social bonds and
help older people to support each other
training on older people's health
“age-friendly” health consultations
training on home-based care
home care volunteers for frail older people

44. ACTING TOGETHER: At National Level
Problem:
Political voice and power of older people is not sufficiently
organised or heard

46. ACTING TOGETHER: At times of Crisis
Problem
Older people are especially vulnerable to
natural disasters
conflict
long-term crisis – drought, food shortages

49. ACTING TOGETHER: Around the World
As a global community of older people, and advocates for their
rights
• Exchanging information, ideas and best practice
• Coming together as a moral community at times of crisis
• Combatting ageism, exclusion and discrimination
• Joining forces for political and advocacy priorities

51. Ageing in the “post-2015” agenda
a forward-looking global agenda on health, poverty, rights, the
environment -
must recognize demographic change and global ageing
needs a life-course based, inclusive approach

52. “… As the international community embarks on...the post-
2015 development agenda, it is clear that the issue of
population ageing should be fully addressed as part of this
process”.
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General

54. A UN Convention on the rights of older people
Growing concern over challenges to older people’s rights…
…and abuses – physical, social, financial
UN review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing -
major obstacles to older people’s “participation, inclusion & social
integration”, including discrimination and abuse

56. Global AgeWatch Index
• First-ever measure of quality of life and well-being
of older people around the world
• Uses the latest data available from World Bank,
WHO, ILO, and Gallup World View
• Covers 91 countries representing 89% of the
world’s older people
© Randomwire/Flickr

57. Four domains and thirteen
indicators

58. Global AgeWatch Index - overall rankings

59. A new view of old age
Focus on the individual and not the age – her/his capabilities and
assets, not deficits
Old age is not the problem...
...Societies need to adjust– social structures, physical environments,
attitudes

60. Thank you