THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF AGING POPULATIONS - SOME MAJOR ISSUES

Citation
He. Restrepo et M. Rozental, THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF AGING POPULATIONS - SOME MAJOR ISSUES, Social science & medicine, 39(9), 1994, pp. 1323-1338
Citations number
133
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Social Sciences, Biomedical
Journal title
ISSN journal
0277-9536
Volume
39
Issue
9
Year of publication
1994
Pages
1323 - 1338
Database
ISI
SICI code
0277-9536(1994)39:9<1323:TSIOAP>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Demographic trends regarding the issue of aging underscore the fact th at both current situations and future trends directly concerns all of us. Aging is the reality for the future world. The pace at which demog raphic transition develops varies among countries and regions of the w orld, but most of the developed and developing countries will be chall enged by increasing numbers of dependent individuals. This is particul arly critical in the less-developed countries where older populations will increase substantially faster. It is expected that by the year 20 00, Latin America and the Caribbean will have 41 million elderly, 7.2% of the total population. By 2025 this percentage will increase to 10. 8%. The stunning growth of the elderly demands special attention of po licy and decision-makers. The total dependency ratio will decrease in the Americas between 1980 and 2025 due to a marked decrease in the fer tility rate, whereas old age dependency ratios will show a marked incr ease in all countries except Haiti and Surinam. Most of the elderly po pulations, predominantly women, are living in urban centers. This fact is one of the most important characteristic of the socioeconomic pict ure in Latin American and Caribbean countries: urbanization with pover ty. Women are bearing mainly the burden. It is obvious that, from a cu ltural perspective, the social impact of aging populations is a comple x issue. The wide range of possible future programs will be the result of differences and similarities in social values, relationships, and dynamics within each society. It is important to recognize that since modern industrialized societies live in a culture emphasizing competit ion for economic wealth, that values economic over social productivity , and where inequities based on class, gender, and race are accepted, that these are the issues influencing the parameters of aging populati ons. Social policy development for the elderly needs to be critically examined in order for society to adapt to aging as well as for older p opulations to adapt to a charging society. The major political challen ge is the need for redistributive policies. Developing countries must add new priorities to their scarce resources, for social programs for elderly, while still having to deal with the problems of their younger populations. Women issues are extremely important in considering soci al policies for elderly population. Feminization of poverty and ill-he alth during old age is a result of exacerbate risks for women across t he life course. Appropriate care and support for this vulnerable group is a priority. Today's realities and future perspectives tell the con sequences of not responding soon enough to social debt reflected in th e elderly, their suffering, disease and disability, will probably beco me unaffordable.