Caring for the elderly's health. — VNA/VNS Photo

Vũ Hoa

TBILISI, GEORGIA — Developing Asia and the Pacific is unprepared to secure the well-being of its rapidly aging population as the growing share of older people in the region faces challenges from low pension coverage to health problems, social isolation, and limited access to essential services.

While longer lifespans reflect the region’s development success, comprehensive policy reforms are urgently needed to support the welfare of older people, according to "Aging Well in Asia: Asian Development Policy" Report, released on Thursday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at its 57th Annual Meeting held in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The number of people aged 60 and older in developing Asia and the Pacific is set to nearly double by 2050 to 1.2 billion – or about a quarter of the total population – significantly increasing the need for pension and welfare programmes as well as health care services. At the same time, economies have an opportunity to reap a “silver dividend” in the form of additional productivity from older people, which could boost gross domestic product in the region by 0.9 per cent on average.

“Asia and the Pacific’s rapid development is a success story, but it’s also fueling a huge demographic shift, and the pressure is rising,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. “Governments need to prepare now if they’re going to be able to help hundreds of millions of people in Asia and the Pacific age well. Policies should support lifetime investment in health, education, skills, and financial preparedness for retirement. Family and social ties are also important to foster healthy and productive populations of older people and maximise their contribution to society.”

The media briefing on ADB Aging Well Report with ADB Chief Economist Albert Park (left) and Aiko Kikkawa, ADB Economic Analysis and Operational Support Division, Economic Research and Development Impact Department. — VNS Photo Vũ Hoa

According to the report, 40 per cent of people over age 60 in Asia and the Pacific lack access to any form of pension – with women disproportionately affected, as they are more likely to do unpaid domestic work. As a result, many older people in the region have no choice but to work well beyond retirement age to survive. Among those still working at age 65 or older, 94 per cent work in the informal sector, which typically doesn’t provide basic labour protections or pension benefits.

Physical and mental health challenges also increase with age. Around 60 per cent of older people in Asia and the Pacific do not attend or receive regular health checks, while 31 per cent report depressive symptoms owing to illness, social isolation, and economic insecurity. Older women in the region are also more likely than older men to suffer from ill health, from depression to diabetes and hypertension.

The report recommends a wide range of policy measures to support healthy and economically secure aging. Among these are government-assisted health insurance and pension plans, improved health infrastructure, and free annual check-ups and lifestyle evaluations. Policy makers should aim for universal health care coverage, while basic labour protections should be extended to older informal workers, according to the report.

By making mandatory retirement ages more flexible, helping older people stay healthy, and providing them with suitable work opportunities as well as lifelong learning and skills development, economies in the region can help older people stay productive longer.

Answering Việt Nam News reporter’s question on specific policy recommendations for Việt Nam to ensure sustainable economic growth and social welfare for older people while also addressing potential strains on the labour market, Aiko Kikkawa, ADB Economic Analysis and Operational Suppot Division, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, said that the Vietnamese Government is making different efforts like the extension of the retirement age and now the government is exploring the issue of long term care. So access to health is challenged.

“The Government is doing the right track, but then we have to speed up because the speed of aging is very fast in Việt Nam, if we compare to some other country that's obviously rapidly aging,” she added.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members – 49 from the region. — VNS