This book aims to open up discussion of research findings on ageing issues in Malaysia. The increasing ageing population is an issue across all nations. In due time, there will be more older adults as compared to children. Based on calculations made by the consulting group Deloitte, 60 per cent of Asia’s population will be 65 years and above by 2030. The Department of Statistics Malaysia has projected that by 2040, the percentage of the elderly in Malaysia will increase to 14.5 per cent. This book combines social, clinical, and health sciences, covering qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches regarding potential business activities, health and financial well-being, and also clinical tests, solutions and proposals that will improve elderly health and care. So, this diverse scope of research will allow more readers, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and the public to better grasp issues affecting the elderly. The findings will impact personal health and well-being, care service business, knowledge expansion, and application.

Greater longevity is an indicator of human progress in general. Increased life expectancy and lower fertility rates are changing the population structure worldwide in a major way: the proportion of older persons is rapidly increasing, a process known as population ageing. The process is inevitable and is already advanced in developed countries and progressing quite rapidly in developing ones. The 2007 Survey analyses the implications of population ageing for social and economic development around the world, while recognising that it offers both challenges and opportunities. Among the most pressing issues is that arising from the prospect of a smaller labour force having to support an increasingly larger older population. Paralleling increased longevity are the changes in intergenerational relationships that may affect the provision of care and income security for older persons, particularly in developing countries where family transfers play a major role. At the same time, it is also necessary for societies to fully recognise and better harness the productive and social contributions that older persons can make but are in many instances prevented from making. The Survey argues that the challenges are not insurmountable, but that societies everywhere need to put in place the policies required to confront those challenges effectively and to ensure an adequate standard of living for each of their members, while respecting and promoting the contribution and participation of all.

Compared to other regions, Europe and Central Asia are by far the oldest. Moreover, population aging is set to accelerate further over the coming decades as large segments turn old. Additionally, some countries such as Russia and certain Eastern European countries are facing a shrinkage of their population. Against this backdrop, this report investigates what stands in the way of societies reaping the full benefits of increased longevity--that is, longer lives and potentially prolonged payoffs from human capital--and what can help to mitigate the possible negative impacts of a smaller and older workforce. Beginning with a focus on demographic trends, the report puts the rapid decline in fertility and contrasting migration trends in the region in a historical perspective and looks forward to the varying paths that population change may follow in the region. Next, it examines the evidence on the likely impact of demographic change on growth and savings, the labor force, firm and economy-wide innovation, poverty and inequality, and intergenerational solidarity. Finally, the report goes beyond diagnostics and puts an emphasis on what we know regarding successful policy interventions, presenting evidence on what has and has not worked in the past.--Publisher description.

Ageing in Asia contains a selection of leading social systems and programs, with interesting case-studies offering innovative and useful lessons. The book covers ageing and related developments occurring in the most dynamic industrializing and urbanizing societies of emerging Asia. It includes topical issues such public policies and responses to current challenges from the growing needs of an ageing population due to rise of chronic non-communicable diseases, amidst rapidly changing social, cultural, economic and political changes in the region. The main purpose of the book is to provide useful comparisons of social care systems undergoing rapid transitions, and to offer some examples of best practices and lessons to respond to the changing needs due to population ageing.

This book features more than 95 papers that were presented at the bi-annual Regional Conference on Science, Technology and Social Sciences, RCSTSS 2014, which was organized by Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang. It covers topics ranging from communications studies, politics, psychology, education, religious studies as well as business and economics. The papers, which have been carefully reviewed, include research conducted by academicians locally, regionally and globally. They detail invaluable insights on the important roles played by the various disciplines in science, technology and social sciences. Coverage includes accounting, art and design, business, communication, economics, education, finance, humanity, information management, marketing, music, religion, social sciences and tourism. Throughout, clear illustrations, figures and diagrams complement the research. The book is a significant point of reference to academicians and students who want to pursue further research in their respective fields. It also serves as a platform to disseminate research findings as a catalyst to bring out positive innovations on the development of the region.

Examines national ageing policies and programs, the sustainability of existing pension systems, housing and living arrangements, inter-generational transfer, and aspects of quality of life of the elderly population.

Population ageing is an enduring and global phenomenon which is the result of the demographic transition from high to low levels of fertility and mortality. This report considers the process of population ageing for the world as a whole; for developed and developing regions; for major areas and regions; and for individual countries. It contains demographic profiles covering the period 1950 to 2050 for each country giving a range of socio-economic and demographic indicators which highlight population ageing trends. The report finds that by 2050, the number of older persons (those aged 60 years or over) in the world will exceed the number of young persons (aged under 15 years) for the first time in history. This will have major social, economic and political implications including the effects on economic growth and labour markets, pensions and health care, family composition and housing, migration trends and voting patterns.

In the coming decades, challenges and risks associated with rapid population ageing will be paramount in Asia-Pacific. Examining key trends, dilemmas and developments with reference to specific nations, the book draws conclusions and policy recommendations that apply to Asia-Pacific as a whole. Individual chapters focus on the impact of population ageing, along with urbanization and industrialization, on the lives of people in the region. The book shows how leaders in Asia-Pacific – political, community and others – need to respond to changes in family and social structures, disease pathology, gender roles, income security, the care of older citizens and the provision of social and health welfare.

Ageing populations present considerable challenges to welfare states internationally, and East Asia is no exception. Demographics show that countries in East Asia either have the highest proportion of older people, or the speed at which their population is ageing is faster than anywhere else in the world. This book explores the causes and trends of population ageing in eight countries, and discusses the challenges and impacts of population ageing on public policies. East Asian countries have developed new policies to meet older people’s needs – across health, social care, income maintenance, employment and housing. Ageing in East Asia provides the first comprehensive introduction to ageing policies in East Asian countries. The book: explores causes and trends of population ageing discusses the challenges and impacts of population ageing on public policies examines the important strategic and theoretical policy contexts of ageing policies in East Asian countries covers eight East Asian countries in dedicated chapters: examining Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. This volume brings East Asian countries clearly into focus, and illuminates the state of welfare development internationally. It provides an important resource for lecturers, students, researchers and policy makers with interest in East Asia, older people and welfare policy.

Care Relations in Southeast Asia: The Family and Beyond, edited by Patcharawalai Wongboonsin and Jo-Pei Tan, examines the care relations and transactions within and beyond the family network across three middle-income Southeast Asian countries, namely the Federation of Malaysia, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the national and sub-national level. On the national level, changes and continuity in care relations along the changing demographic, socio-economic and political contexts of each country are addressed. On the sub-national level, the complex dimensions of care relations are analyzed by looking at the attitude towards and practice of elderly and child care within, between and beyond the family system. These regional analyses are based on merged data of three most recent family surveys in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok Metropolis, and Hanoi. Alternative and innovative policy recommendations for current and future challenges are also offered. Contains contributions by: Asmidawati Ashari, Ki Soo Eun, Tengku Aizan Hamid, Rahimah Ibrahim, Thuttai Keeratipongpaiboon, Nguyen Huu Minh, Pataporn Sukontamarn, Jo-Pei Tan, Tran Thi Minh Thi, Kua Wongboonsin and Patcharawalai Wongboonsin