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Structural changes in multi-pillar systems require greater individual responsibility for retirement saving. Therefore, in recent years, the need for multi-pillar pension information systems has been increasingly discussed in many countries. These discussions have either culminated in the introduction of various digital pension overviews or a planned rollout in the next few years. We provide an integrative review of existing international research on the use of pension communication and its effects on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of individuals. Small positive changes have been found in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and retirement planning behaviour because of the information provided. The paper concludes with a discussion of emerging issues, new research directions, and practical implications of pension communication in ageing societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper addresses the growing healthcare needs of an ageing population and the lack of advanced technologies with social capabilities that are cost effective, user friendly, and readily adopted. In response to this motivation, a socially assistive walker is designed to provide physical and cognitive support in activities of daily living for older adults. Methods: Physical and cognitive support is provided by walker's structure, sensors, and feedback interfaces to assist users daily living activities, as well as, in navigating environment safely and efficiently. The walker's design arises from semi-structured interviews conducted with ageing experts, leading to the development of two levels or modes of social interaction, namely low and high interaction. Results and discussion: In a cohort of 14 adults, the study found the device easy to use regardless of the interaction mode, with 78.5% expressing a preference for the version featuring embodiment, verbal feedback, and more proactive cues (p < 0.05). The results also prompted ideas and suggestions for new designs based on insights gleaned from the user. This research contributes to the field of socially assistive robotics by offering an example of a user centred approach to address the healthcare challenges an ageing population poses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to discuss the notion of silver entrepre)neurship in the context of the silver economy. Policy-wise knowing who silver entrepreneurs are and what it takes to support them is an essential step to productively managing the ageing population and promoting an age-ready but age)friendly approach to creating a sustainable economy and society in the new demographic reality. The paper provides a theoretical and empirical literature review of silver entre)preneurship to identify the current state of the art. It also identifies selected policies and strategies aiming to foster silver entrepreneurship, representing a more inclusive and age-diverse entrepreneurial landscape. The silver entrepre)neurship proves to be a challenging research field due to the elusive nature of entrepreneurship itself and the lack of universal definitions for this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent sluggish economic growth in developed countries has become a cause for concern regarding the long-term sustainability of the global economy. Continuous declines in the total fertility rate (TFR) constitute an essential factor in stagnant economic growth in developed countries. In this paper, we utilize fixed and random effect models to examine the relationships of TFR with putative TFR determinants in G7 countries from 1980 to 2020. Our findings support the societal response hypothesis wherein the relationship between TFR and female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) is posited to be stable and positive. Furthermore, the present study confirms a positive relationship of crude marriage rate (CMR) and market childcare availability (MktCC) with TFR. A negative relationship between the ageing population (AGE) and TFR was observed, consistent with broad concerns regarding the impending economic impacts of population ageing in developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current projections show that between 2000 and 2050, increasing proportions of older individuals will be cared for by a smaller number of healthcare workers, which will exacerbate the existing challenges faced by those who support this patient demographic. This review of a collection of Age and Ageing papers on the topic in the past 10 years explores (1) what best practice geriatrics education is and (2) how careers in geriatrics could be made more appealing to improve recruitment and retention. Based on these deeper understandings, we consider, as clinician educators, how to close the gap both pragmatically and theoretically. We point out paradigm shifting solutions that include innovations at the Undergraduate level, use of simulation, incorporation of learner and patient perspectives, upskilling professionals outside of Geriatrics and integration of practice across disciplines through Interprofessional Learning. We also identify an education research methodological gap. Specifically, there is an abundance of simple descriptive or justification studies but few clarification education studies; the latter are essential to develop fresh insights into how Undergraduate students can learn more effectively to meet the needs of the global ageing challenge. A case of improving understanding in delirium education is presented as an illustrative example of a new approach to exploring at greater depth education and outlines suggested directions for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper investigates senior citizens' housing preferences and needs in medium-sized Polish cities, aiming to inform sustainable housing development strategies that cater to an ageing population. Methodology: Utilizing a questionnaire survey, the study engages a representative group of seniors and pre-seniors within the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship to gather data on their housing conditions, preferences, and expectations. Results: Findings reveal a significant demand for housing adapted to seniors' needs, with preferences leaning towards dwellings without architectural barriers and including essential services. The research highlights the discrepancy between current living conditions and the ideal housing situation for seniors. Theoretical Contribution: This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban development by emphasizing the importance of integrating senior citizens' housing preferences into planning and policy-making processes. Practical Implications: The study offers valuable insights for real estate developers, urban planners, and policymakers, suggesting the need for a diversified housing market that includes options tailored to the elderly, potentially influencing future housing policies and market offerings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The demand for retirement villages globally has been increasing due to the rapid growth in the ageing population in recent years. To address the rising challenges in the retirement market, the public–private partnership (PPP) has become a feasible method to develop retirement villages. This paper aims to survey and examine the key success criteria (SC) for using the PPP approach in the retirement village sector. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted with experts experienced in international PPP and retirement village. The analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance, mean score analysis, Kendall's coefficient of concordance and factor analysis. Findings: Results indicate that out of the 16 recognized SC, the most significant ones are SC1: "Affordability", SC11: "Reduced social isolation of residents" and SC14: "Improvement of emotional wellbeing of residents". Furthermore, results from the factor analysis technique indicate that the 16 SC can be classified into five major factor groupings, and these include SCG1 – "Financial performance of project"; SCG2 – "Adherence to design and technical specifications"; SCG3 – "Adherence to local council/authority's environmental health and socio-economic requirements"; SCG4 – "Social inclusion and risk management"; and SCG5 – "Advancement in emotional wellbeing and physical health of residents". Originality/value: The study will sufficiently assist retirement village stakeholders, retirement village project participants and related government authorities of the best measures to put in place to maintain the sustainable development of the global retirement village market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the prevalence of a rich literature on bank profitability, yet, none of it analyzes the simultaneous effects of GFC and COVID-19 on bank profitability. We attempt to fulfil this gap by using a model which factors in digitization, ageing population, endogenous and predetermined variables, let alone control for G-SIBs. Findings show that the impacts of COVID-19 were twice as much deleterious as those hailing from the GFC in the case of NIM and four times as harmful in the case of ROE, with ageing population exerting bearish forces on bank profitability. Mobile usage interacted with COVID-19 crisis dummy and is found to leverage on ROE, underscoring the significance of technology-driven sources of activities during the pandemic. Overall, our paper justifies the significantly larger bailout package launched by the authorities during the pandemic compared to that triggered during the GFC with the critical role of technology being underscored in securing banks' profits during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being old comes with a lot of health crises that inhibit an aged person from adequately living a comfortable life as desired. However, advancement in medicine and technology is expected to make life comfortable for every human, particularly the ageing population. This paper relies on secondary data sourced from the internet to measure the health crises facing the ageing population. Evidence from the works of scholars showed that Nigeria has a very high, consistent, and rapid growth rate of the older population with serious health, social, economic and political implications. Findings revealed that old people without adequate care are often confronted with physical and psychological crises that eventually compound their socioeconomic and political lives. It is affirmed in this paper that maintaining a healthy state in old age is hampered by the onset of mental diseases, neurological disorders, drug use disorders and other health crises (diabetes, hearing loss and osteoarthritis). It is concluded that old age is crisis-driven and devastating to individuals and society. Thus, the paper recommends adequate medical and social support tailored to the specific need of individuals. Additionally, access to medical care should be tailored to the physical activity, occupation, education, and communication of the aged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that, on average, younger citizens in advanced industrial democracies tend to have different policy preferences to those aged 65 and over. Population ageing and relatively lower levels of electoral participation among young people amplify the political voice of older citizens and contribute to policymakers being more responsive to their preferences. This paper presents qualitative evidence on whether young adults and older Australians recognise a need to increase young people's influence on policymaking in the context of intergenerational inequality. The paper considers possible responses to this need, such as voting age reform. Results indicate that there is reasonable support, including from the older participants, to enhance young people's political voice and influence over policymaking. Growing awareness of intergenerational inequality in ageing democracies may make public opinion more favourable towards voting age reform and other measures to increase the political voice of young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of research is to analyse the impact of population ageing process on labour force market, as well as economic factors on the transition from labour activity to pension in the Republic of Moldova. The change in the structure of labour force to wards elder ages, as well as interruption of active economic activity and retirement is one of the factors in economic growth slowdown, which is conditioned by a reduction of labour force reproduction and its growth. In this situation, in order to mitigate the negative consequences of labour force deficit, it is necessary to take effective measures to increase labour productivity not only to ensure economic growth, but also to ensure the welfare of the country's population and meet the necessities of an increased share of the population-dependents (both the elderly population and children under 15). Taking into account the relevance of the above-mentioned problem, the analysis of the relationship between economic factors and the transition from labour activity to pension in the conditions of demographic ageing was carried out, including the evaluation of the role of economic factors in making a decision to exit from the labour market to pension. In this context, the comparative quantitative and qualitative analysis of tendencies in the economically active and employed population was carried out, including pre- and pension ages and the phenomenon of precarious employment, the demographic coefficient of dependence on old age, the dependence of pension from the income level, and the financial stability of the Social Insurance Budget. The proposals to improve the effectiveness of government policies in regulation and harmonization the transition from the labour market to pension, including the continuation of active economic activity was elaborated in order to reduce the negative consequences connected with the process of population ageing and to ensure the stability of labour market development. The article is developed in the framework of the research Subprogramme "The demographic transition in the Republic of Moldova: particularities, socioeconomic implications and demographic resilience straightening" (2024-2027). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annali di Igiene, Medicina Preventiva e di Comunità is the property of Societa Editrice Universo s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Access to digital health and care solutions and services that promote healthy ageing, independent living, and ageing in place is limited due to significant market barriers and challenges. The SHAPES project addresses the challenge of ageing populations by developing a sociotechnical ecosystem comprising a variety of health and care digital solutions, tools and services to enable and facilitate active, independent, and healthy ageing at home. Within the SHAPES project, the SHAPES Marketplace serves as a one-stop-shop for digital solutions and services designed for the Silver Economy that target the smart and healthy ageing and independent living markets. Delivering a dynamic catalogue of health and care digital solutions and services, the Marketplace promotes a transparent expansion of a trusted market offer on digital solutions and services for healthy ageing and independent living on a pan-European scale, thereby preventing vendor lock-in and enhancing the agile and fair competitiveness of the health and care industry, particularly in Europe. This paper introduces the SHAPES Marketplace and considers its function as a market driver to raise awareness on the benefits and impact of health and care digital solutions and services, as well as to shape the healthy ageing market, upholding the Systems-Market for Assistive and Related Technologies (SMART) Thinking Matrix to stimulate transparency, trust and fair competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

My paper seeks to explore the linkage between new media and the Urban Marginals with special emphasis on ageing population in Kolkata. Conventional use of media for ageing has made the aged population a passive victim to be duped by the media messages. Given the structural locations and positions, mass media is of no use where the considerations are for younger populations. Although ageing population may be a marginal category keeping in view the larger media ecology, new media provides the potential to the aged population to be inclusive of urban governance provided they have access and availability. With the help of substantive details, my paper would seek to address the idea of 'precarity' associated with aged population and their way of coping with such precarity with the help of new media in Kolkata. This paper would provide a select reading of samples (qualitative data) from different regions of Kolkata. Through substantive details my paper would provide insights about a vulnerable population, otherwise, neglected in the making of urban governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In prosperous nations like Ireland, home support workers (HSWs) play an increasingly vital role in providing person-centred care to ageing populations. However, challenges such as workforce shortages, role ambiguity, low pay, and limited career advancement, hinder workforce development and career building. Method: A scoping review using key terms for "HSWs" and "career pathways" was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology, examining electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PscyINFO, Social Care Online, Social Sciences Citation Index). Inclusion criteria were applied, and a thematic analysis followed and inductive-deductive approach. Results: The review encompassed 261 relevant articles from different countries. Four key themes were identified: (1) Data-driven decision-making on the future workforce, (2) Attracting and developing a competent and motivated home support workforce, (3) Enhancing working lives and retention at every stage of career pathways, and (4) Crafting career pathways to improve quality and impact. Discussion: Leadership, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making across policy, research and practice are pivotal for expanding and enhancing home support. Emphasising a shift towards preventative self-management models, supported by digitally skilled and regulated HSWs, could enhance independence and quality of care. Clear career structures, professional development, and inclusive organisational environments are essential to attract, retain, and empower a competent and motivated workforce, fostering quality and impact. Conclusion: This scoping review provides foundational evidence to establish career pathways for HSWs, identifying key areas for development such as data collection, care model transformation, career progression structures, and systems for safety and quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to provide an overview on loneliness in older people, with an emphasis on how insights from this body of literature can significantly contribute to the enhancement of care provided by community nurses. This review aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to loneliness, its impact on the physical and mental health of older individuals, and the role community nurses can play in mitigating and addressing loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Population ageing and rising poverty are two of the most pressing issues today, even in Western European nations, growing as a result of the recent global economic crisis and the COVID-19 containment measures. This study explores the relationship between long-term care (LTC) needs and risk of poverty at household level in eight European countries, representing the different European care regimes. Methods: The main international databases were scoured for study variables, categorized according to the following conceptual areas: home care, residential care, health expenditure, service coverage, cash benefits, private services, population, family, education, employment, poverty, disability and care recipients, and life expectancy. We initially identified 104 variables regarding 8 different countries (Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania). Statistical analyses were conducted as described hereafter: analysis of the Pearson's Bivariate Correlation between the dependent variable and all other variables; a Multivariable Linear Regression Model between the Poverty Index (dependent variable) and the covariates identified in the preceding step; a check for geographical clustering effects and a reduced Multivariable Linear Regression Model for each identified European cluster. Results: The variables that addressed the risk of poverty pertained to the area of policy intervention and service provision. Rising private out-of-pocket health expenditures and proportion of "poor" couples with at least one child are two factors that contributed significantly to poverty increasing. Moreover, rising private out-of-pocket health expenditures for covering LTC needs (even in presence of public financial contribution to the family) is the main contributor to household poverty increasing in presence of ADL disability. Conclusion: The results reveal the existence of a clear correlation between the need for LTC and the risk of poverty in households across Europe. These results highlight the central relevance of LTC policies, which are often still treated as marginal and sectoral, for the future sustainability of integrated care strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 control policies might negatively impact older adults' participation in volunteer work, instrumental support provision, and the likelihood of receiving instrumental support. Studies that quantify changes in these activities and the related factors are limited. The current study aimed to examine the level of volunteering, instrumental support provision and receipt before and during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and to determine whether older adults' volunteering, instrumental support provision and receipt were associated with individual exposure to COVID-19 and the stringency of country's COVID-19 control policy during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Corona Survey 1 was designed to focus on community-dwelling Europeans aged ≥50 years. History of participation in volunteering work and instrumental support provision or receipt was assessed from the previous SHARE Wave data. The country's COVID-19 control policy stringency index (S-Index) was from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker database. A total of 45,669 respondents from 26 European countries were included in the volunteering analysis. Seventeen European countries were included in the analyses of instrumental support provision (N = 36,518) and receipt (N = 36,526). The multilevel logistic regression model was fitted separately to analyse each activity. Results: The level of volunteering and instrumental support provision was lower during the pandemic, but instrumental support receipt was higher. The country S-Index was positively associated with support provision (OR:1.13;95%CI:1.02–1.26) and negatively associated with support receipt (OR:0.69;95%CI:0.54–0.88). Exposure to COVID-19 was positively associated with support receipt (OR:1.64;95%CI:1.38–1.95). COVID-19 exposure on close ones positively associated with volunteering (OR:1.47;95%CI:1.32–1.65), support provision (OR:1.28;95%CI:1.19–1.39), and support receipt (OR:1.25;95%CI:1.15–1.35). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted older Europeans' volunteering, instrumental support provision, and instrumental support receipt from outside their household. When someone close to them was exposed to COVID-19, older Europeans were likely to receive instrumental support and to volunteer and provide instrumental support. A stricter country's COVID-19 control policy might motivate older adults to provide instrumental support, but it prevents them from receiving instrumental support from outside their households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To synthesize the evidence on the relationships between physical housing characteristics or housing accessibility and different aspects of health among community-dwelling people 60 years and older. Methods: A systematic review of recent evidence with a narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: We included 15 studies and found three themes covering physical housing characteristics or housing accessibility that are associated with aspects of health among community-dwelling older adults: (1) interventions by home modifications targeting housing features both at entrances and indoors; (2) non-interventions targeting indoor features; (3) non-interventions targeting entrance features, that is, the presence of an elevator or stairs at the entrance. The overall quality of evidence across studies was assessed as very low. Discussion: The findings highlight the need for studies with a stronger research design and higher methodological quality that address the physical housing environment in relation to health among older adults to strengthen the body of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of people in China aged 60 and older has risen from 10.0% in 1999 to 17.9% in 2018, signaling that Chinese society is facing an unprecedented challenge to care for their ageing population. With the decline of traditional family support for elderly relatives and subsequent development of social provisions for them, nursing homes are expected to increasingly take on a caregiving role in the coming years. Therefore, this paper first ascertains the spatial distribution of nursing homes in China. Based on a global ordinary least squares (OLS) model and geographically weighted regression model, it then investigates which socio-economic factors affect the spatial distribution of nursing homes and the degree of their influence. Study results show that, (1) nursing homes are mainly located in the Bohai Bay Economic Zone and the Yangtze River Delta region, with fewer in western cities, except Chongqing; (2) urbanisation and fiscal expenditures are the main drivers for promoting nursing homes in the Yangtze River Delta region and southwest China; (3) the increase of nursing homes in the Pearl River Delta and Northeast China may largely rely on the level of social welfare, social welfare services, and higher number of elderly people; (4) outward migration poses a major challenge to the development of nursing home services in southwest China, and North and Central China Plain, given that population size is positively associated with the number of nursing homes, and (5) population migration from west to east is continuing, so regional collaboration between east and west is urgently needed to cope with the ageing issues. This research advocates for more detailed and region- and city-targeted elderly care policies on the basis of actual situations in cities and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last few decades, the shape of Europe's population pyramid has transformed substantially, due to a considerably older population structure, with fewer working-age people and more pensioners. This paper examines the EU's demographic problem which involves an increasing ageing population as a result of low birth rates and longer life expectancies, leading to the so called "greying of Europe". Therefore, certain recommendations are suggested in order to mitigate the negative economic, social and geopolitical effects of this demographic phenomenon. It is concluded that the EU's ageing population should not be regarded solely as a threat, as it has also the potential to provide opportunities for societies through intergenerational solidarity and the rapidly emerging silver economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life expectancy of the world population is increasing and the art of aging well is of global interest (European Commission, n.d.). In Ireland, the number of people over the age of 60 will increase from 1.1 million currently, to 2.44 million by 2041, constituting nearly one third of its total population (Institute of Public Health, 2018). Despite the benefits of regular physical activity (pa), particularly with the frail (≥65 years and requiring a walking aid), rates of participation remain low (Colley et al., 2011).Health concerns raised, such as smoking and weight issues, are more prevalent in this cohort (Witcher et al., 2016). Currently, when they reach a certain age, pa is not seen as beneficial and older adults refrain from participating in pa (Witcher et al., 2016), particularly post-retirement (Chaudhury and Shelton, 2010). Education of the older population concerning the benefits of pa is critical, and pa perceptions and behaviours must be examined both contextually and historically (Witcher et al., 2016) to provide greater clarity and understanding. In order to develop a more comprehensive, inclusive policy for active ageing in Ireland, particularly rural Ireland, we need to reflect on the research to date. This conceptual paper develops a framework of meaning-making to active leisure, focusing on perceptions and motivations of a rural based population. It also examines the impact of being physically active on participating in tourism in this population and how Ireland is targeting this growing older market for various forms of tourism activity. An unhealthy population brings a financial burden to the country. Encouraging a healthier lifestyle which includes more meaningful active leisure, facilitating an engagement with tourism, is required to enable this cohort to age healthily and well and thus reduce the cost associated with an ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of food security, and the association of food security with financial hardship and socio-demographic characteristics among the ageing population in Thailand. Methods: The study extracted data on 1,197 persons age 60 years or older from a nationally-representative sample survey of Thai households. The food security data were collected using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the association between financial hardship, socio-demographic characteristics, and food security. Results: Of the total sample, 71% had food security. The least probability of having food security was observed in the respondents who sometimes and often had income problems (p < 0.001), and felt dissatisfied with their financial situation (p < 0.001). The respondents who were female, at oldest-old age, with lower than primary school education and in the Northeast were less likely to have food security. Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for government assistance for those who are experiencing financial hardship to help them manage their finances and food security more effectively, taking into account different socio-demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a common cause for visual impairment in the ageing population. An increasing number of nAMD patients causes significant health burden, although intravitreal anti-VEGF agents have revolutionized nAMD treatment during the past 15 years. We aimed to define incidence and prevalence of nAMD in different age-categories in the anti-VEGF era and to estimate the number of the individuals over 75 years of age in 2050. We conducted an epidemiological study of the nAMD cohort (n = 2121) in a Finnish population of 410,000 inhabitants. Demographic and clinical data were gathered from Oulu University Hospital's database during 2006–2020. The incidence and prevalence rates were calculated using population data from national registers. The three-year moving average of incidence of nAMD per 100,000 person years was estimated. Prevalence figures were calculated per 100,000 age-specific inhabitants. The average age at the diagnosis of nAMD was 78土8 years, and 62% of the patients were women. The incidence of nAMD was 71 (95% CI 55–90) and 102 (95% CI 88–118) per 100,000 person years in 2006 and 2020, respectively. During 2006–2020, 1.2- and 2.4-fold increases in nAMD incidence were noted in 75–84 and in 85–96 age groups, respectively. In the oldest 75–84 and 85–96 age categories the nAMD prevalence was 2865/100,000 (3%, 95% CI 2665–3079) and 2620/100,000 (3%, 95% CI 2323–2956), respectively. The proportion of the inhabitants >75 years old is estimated to increase from 10% in 2020 to 17% by 2050. Our results indicate constant 1.2- and 2.4-fold increases in nAMD incidence during the past 15 years in age groups of 75–84 and 85–96 years, respectively, and 3% prevalence of nAMD in 2020. An almost two-fold increase in the ageing population by the year 2050 may also predict the trends in nAMD. The results of the current population-based study indicate 1.2- and 2.4-fold increases in the incidence of neovascular AMD (nAMD) during the last 15 years in the Finnish population aged 75–84 and 85–96 years and 3% prevalence of nAMD in 2020. An almost two-fold increase in the number of individuals over 75 years of age by the year 2050 is estimated, which may also predict the trends in nAMD. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF)- agents have revolutionized the treatment and prognosis of nAMD. Timely recognition and referral of nAMD patients to ophthalmologist can ensure vision-related functionality especially among the ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: How to improve healthcare for the ageing population is attracting academia attention. Emerging technologies (i.e. robots and intelligent agents) look relevant. This paper aims to analyze the role of cognitive assistants as boundary objects in value co-creation practices. We include the perceptions of the main actors – patients, (in)formal caregivers, healthcare professionals – for a fuller network perspective to understand the potential overlap between boundary work and value co-creation practices. Design/methodology/approach: We adopted a grounded approach to gain a contextual understanding design to effectively interpret context and meanings related to human–robot interactions. The study context concerns 21 health solutions that had embedded the Watson cognitive platform and its adoption by the youngest cohort (50–64-year-olds) of the ageing population. Findings: The cognitive assistant acts as a boundary object by bridging actors, resources and activities. It enacts the boundary work of actors (both ageing and professional, caregivers, families) consisting of four main actions (automated dialoguing, augmented sharing, connected learning and multilayered trusting) that elicit two ageing value co-creation practices: empowering ageing actors in medical care and engaging ageing actors in a healthy lifestyle. Originality/value: We frame the role of cognitive assistants as boundary objects enabling the boundary work of ageing actors for value co-creation. A cognitive assistant is an "object of activity" that mediates in actors' boundary work by offering novel resource interfaces and widening resource access and resourceness. The boundary work of ageing actors lies in a smarter resource integration that yields broader applications for augmented agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The culture of rights and the inclusive processes that promote the participation of people with disabilities in the community context has grown significantly in recent years, partly as a result of changes in demographic development at national and international level. The progressive ageing of the population and the increase in life expectancy represent a very significant challenge for both people with disabilities and their families This is a social and cultural challenge we have to face not only to guarantee inclusion and participation rights, but also to implement organizational and managerial practices and processes that make them possible. It is therefore increasingly necessary to promote reflections, to develop project ideas and practical experiments aimed at building the adult identity of people with disabilities. The creation of an adult identity is the most important prerequisite for being able to relate to and to perceive oneself as such. On the basis of these considerations, this paper presents some elements derived from a research/action aimed at the realization of a service for people with disabilities in a city area of Lombardy, in order to respond, in a logic of innovation and sustainability, to the different needs of the users who will be welcomed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift fur Wirtschaftspolitik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The growth in ageing population globally has led to the increase in demand for retirement or aged care homes. Adopting public–private partnership (PPP) in the global retirement village market has become the new approach to address some of the emerging challenges. This paper aims to explore and analyse the critical success factors (CSFs) for the adoption of PPP in the global retirement village market. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted with experienced practitioners in the global PPP and retirement village markets. Mean score analysis, normalization range method, Kendall's coefficient of concordance and factor analysis were used for analysis. Findings: Results show that out of the 27 CSFs identified, the most significant ones in developing PPP retirement village projects are "the age-friendly design of villages", "appropriate location of PPP retirement village", "reliable and accessible health and physical facilities" and "effective social inclusion and integration in villages". Further analysis shows that the 27 CSFs can be grouped into 7 major factor groupings, namely, "effective project monitoring", "financial support", "social integration", "effective contractual arrangement between parties", "government commitment and support", "sustainable design of village" and "effective payment structure". Originality/value: The outputs of this study will adequately inform retirement village developers, retirement village stakeholders and local government authorities of the best practices they should put in place to ensure the sustainable growth of the global retirement village market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population ageing becomes a serious issue not only in developed countries, but also in a post-socialist country such as Romania. Nowadays, the demographic tendencies of ageing trends are visible in the demographic dynamics of developed countries, especially in Central and Eastern European Countries in the context of economic growth and population loss. For example, in Romania, it is noticeable in urban areas and rural areas where the demographic trajectories show the presence of a certain demographic phenomenon in age structure of population such as "population ageing". In the last decades, Romania has entered a period of rapid and dramatic ageing demographic phase. In this respect, first we investigate the phenomenon of population ageing in Transylvania region. Secondly, the paper presents the calculation of elderly dependency rate based on demographic statistical data provided by the National Institute of Statistics. Thirdly, it drives some possible social-economic effects of the progressive process of ageing tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With patients living longer and retaining their natural teeth for longer, dental healthcare professionals are presented with new challenges. This paper outlines considerations for dental health care professionals managing periodontal disease in an ageing population. Although age itself is not considered an independent risk factor for periodontal disease, there may be complicating factors associated with ageing that impact upon the planning and delivery of care. This paper describes current evidence for the management of periodontal disease in the context of health conditions associated with ageing. It identifies aspects to consider and provides advice on how treatment planning for this patient population may be tailored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of an ageing workforce on the workplace is a concern internationally. Governments are increasingly encouraging the continued labour market participation of older workers, seeking to remove previous barriers to the extension of working lives and give more choice to workers. Despite these legislative drivers, research has consistently found a lack of systematic approaches by employers to prepare and benefit from these demographic and labour market changes. In this paper, qualitative research is drawn upon to examine how managers and older workers think about age and ageing in the workplace; the support put in place for older workers, as well as future priorities; and the lived experiences of the older workers. It is highlighted that employees' age and fitness for work is treated on an individual basis, rather than having formal plans to manage the workplace for older workers. This thus indicates a hands-off approach from management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing comes with several discomforts such as a decline in mobility and losses in social networks as well as societal roles. Therefore, improving the life satisfaction of older adults has become a significant policy focus for delivering age-friendliness in national and international movements in the living environment. The hypothesis of the current study is that older people, who live in urban neighbourhoods that provide safe, aesthetic and accessible environments, experience greater life satisfaction. Accessibility, attractiveness and attachment as the three key dimensions of life satisfaction were used to understand the key aspects of the life satisfaction of older people in the neighbourhoods and how the urban environment serves as an indicator. This research consists of two steps. The first step involved in-depth interviews with the older adults aged over 65 in different urban areas, the district of Fatih and Şişli in the city of Istanbul, Turkey, with sampling based on the diversity, heterogeneity and urban functions. Second, these urban areas were analysed using space syntax to understand the street network and connectivity to reveal the urban structure. The qualitative and quantitative findings were analysed comparatively. The study concluded that when attachment to the place is supported by walkability and psychical enticing, the older adults experience a higher level of life satisfaction. Additionally, financial independence serves as a backup solution to access a better environment. This comparative analysis also highlights a mixed method for policymakers to analyse the urban environment and makes room for older adults to raise their voices and participate in the policy and planning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction frailty is common in older adults and is associated with increased health and social care use. Longitudinal information is needed on population-level incidence, prevalence and frailty progression to plan services to meet future population needs. Methods retrospective open cohort study using electronic health records of adults aged ≥50 from primary care in England, 2006–2017. Frailty was calculated annually using the electronic Frailty Index (eFI). Multistate models estimated transition rates between each frailty category, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Prevalence overall for each eFI category (fit, mild, moderate and severe) was calculated. Results the cohort included 2,171,497 patients and 15,514,734 person-years. Frailty prevalence increased from 26.5 (2006) to 38.9% (2017). The average age of frailty onset was 69; however, 10.8% of people aged 50–64 were already frail in 2006. Estimated transitions from fit to any level of frailty were 48/1,000 person-years aged 50–64, 130/1,000 person-years aged 65–74, 214/1,000 person-years aged 75–84 and 380/1,000 person-years aged ≥ 85. Transitions were independently associated with older age, higher deprivation, female sex, Asian ethnicity and urban dwelling. Mean time spent in each frailty category decreased with age, with the longest period spent in severe frailty at all ages. Conclusions frailty is prevalent in adults aged ≥50 and time spent in successive frailty states is longer as frailty progresses, resulting in extended healthcare burden. Larger population numbers and fewer transitions in adults aged 50–64 present an opportunity for earlier identification and intervention. A large increase in frailty over 12 years highlights the urgency of informed service planning in ageing populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Frailty is a new concept in rheumatology that can help identify people more likely to have less favorable outcomes. Sarcopenia and inflammaging can be regarded as the biological foundations of physical frailty. Frailty is becoming more widely accepted as an indicator of ageing and is linked to an increased risk of negative outcomes such as falls, injuries, and mortality. Frailty identifies a group of older adults that seem poorer and more fragile than their age-matched counterparts, despite sharing similar comorbidities, demography, sex, and age. Several studies suggest that inflammation affects immune-mediated pathways, multimorbidity, and frailty by inhibiting growth factors, increasing catabolism, and by disrupting homeostatic signaling. Frailty is more common in the community-dwelling population as people get older, ranging from 7 to 10% in those over 65 years up to 40% in those who are octogenarians. Different parameters have been validated to identify frailty. These primarily relate to two conceptual models: Fried's physical frailty phenotype and Rockwood's cumulative deficit method. Immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and vasculitis, are leading causes of frailty in developing countries. The aim of this review was to quantitatively synthesize published literature on the prevalence of frailty in IMRDs and to summarize current evidence on the relevance and applicability of the most widely used frailty screening tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sustainably addressing the social and economic demands from an ageing population is a major global challenge, with significant implications for policy and practice. This is resultant of the increasing demand for housing adaptations to prevent increased pressure upon acute health services. Through the lens of institutional theory, this paper aims to explore the levels of joined-up retrofit practice within a Scottish social housing provider, under a constructivist approach. Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory single case study of a Scottish local authority was undertaken. Within this, nine key stakeholders were interviewed, taking a hierarchical approach, from director to repair and maintenance staff. Results were analysed by using Braun and Clarke's six stages of thematic analysis. Findings: There is a need for greater levels of integration within retrofit practice to not only improve the health and well-being of the older population but also increase efficiency and economic savings within public services. Currently, there are key issues surrounding silo-based decision-making, poor data infrastructure, power struggles and a dereliction of built environment knowledge and expertise, preventing both internal and external collaboration. However, housing, energy and health have interlinking agendas which are integral to achieving ageing in place. Therefore, there must be system-wide recognition of the potential benefits of improved cross-sector collaboration, preventing unintended consequences whilst providing socioeconomic outcomes. Originality/value: This research provides a new perspective surrounding retrofit practice within the context of an ageing population. It highlights the requirement for improved cross sector collaboration and the social and economic cost of poor quality practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is becoming older, and aging in the developing countries of the ASEAN region is unfolding faster than most developed countries in the United States and Europe. This paper examined the effectiveness of old age income security programs mandated in selected ASEAN countries. These programs sought to address the aging problem to encourage the government to promote the aging labor force's efficiency and increase labor force productivity. Furthermore, the study examined the effect of old-age dependency, increase in the life expectancy, and GDP per capita on labor force productivity using a panel data set from selected ASEAN countries from various income brackets, specifically Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, which are also classified as yellow group nations that are in the process of the demographic dividend implementation. Using the Multiple Regression Model, the researchers found out that the Old-Age Dependency Ratio positively impacts Labor Force Participation Rate. However, GDP per Capita, Life Expectancy, and the Non-contributory fund decrease the Labor Force Participation Rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are risk factors for negative health outcomes among older people. This study aimed to investigate socio-demographic differences in polypharmacy and PIM use among older people with different care needs in a standard versus an integrated care setting. Methods: Population-based register data on residents aged ⩾65 years in Stockholm County based on socio-demographic background and social care use in 2014 was linked to prescription drug use in 2015. A logistic regression analysis was used to estimate socio-demographic differences in polypharmacy and PIM, adjusting for education, age group, sex, country of birth, living alone, morbidity and dementia by care setting based on area and by care need (i.e. independent, home help or institutionalised). Results: The prevalence of polypharmacy and PIM was greater among home-help users (60.4% and 11.5% respectively) and institutional residents (74.4% and 11.9%, respectively). However, there were greater socio-demographic differences among the independent, with those with lower education, older age and females having higher odds of polypharmacy and PIM. Morbidity was a driver of polypharmacy (odds ratio (OR)=1.19, confidence interval (CI) 1.16–1.22) among home-help users. Dementia diagnosis was associated with reduced odds of polypharmacy and PIM among those in institutions (OR=0.78, CI 0.71–0.87 and OR 0.52, CI 0.45–0.59, respectively) and of PIM among home-help users (OR=0.53, 95% CI 0.42–0.67). Conclusions: Polypharmacy and PIM were associated with care needs, most prevalent among home-help users and institutional residents, but socio-demographic differences were most prominent among those living independently, suggesting that municipal care might reduce differences between socio-demographic groups. Care setting had little effect on inappropriate drug use, indicating that national guidelines are followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The workplace is evolving towards scenarios where humans are acquiring a more active and dynamic role alongside increasingly intelligent machines. Moreover, the active population is ageing and consequently emerging risks could appear due to health disorders of workers, which requires intelligent intervention both for production management and workers' support. In this sense, the innovative and smart systems oriented towards monitoring and regulating workers' well-being will become essential. This work presents HUMANISE, a novel proposal of an intelligent system for risk management, oriented to workers suffering from disease conditions. The developed support system is based on Computer Vision, Machine Learning and Intelligent Agents. Results: The system was applied to a two-arm Cobot scenario during a Learning from Demonstration task for collaborative parts transportation, where risk management is critical. In this environment with a worker suffering from a mental disorder, safety is successfully controlled by means of human/robot coordination, and risk levels are managed through the integration of human/robot behaviour models and worker's models based on the workplace model of the World Health Organization. The results show a promising real-time support tool to coordinate and monitoring these scenarios by integrating workers' health information towards a successful risk management strategy for safe industrial Cobot environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health promotion services need to be developed to respond to the needs of an ageing population. Lifestyle Redesign® (LR®) is an occupational therapy intervention that has been addressed as cost-effective in the USA. This scoping review aimed to identify how the LR® has been implemented and what the results have been with older adults living independently in countries other than the USA. Sixteen studies were included. Quantitative results were interpreted through the numeric data and qualitative results through inductive thematic analysis. The delivery of the LR® shared both similarities and differences with the original LR®, and the variations concerned interventions length, facilitators, and the outcome measures used. In the quantitative results, there was often a positive trend in intervention groups' health-related quality of life, mental health, and occupational performance; in qualitative results, there was improvement in self-esteem and possibilities in building new communities. The original LR® was often transferrable into cultural settings other than the USA and many positive outcomes in the health and well-being of older adults were addressed. However, to understand the feasibility and effectiveness of the LR®, scientific research and publications need to be enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on creating age-friendly cities to accommodate the changing needs of older people and to promote their overall health and wellbeing. This paper focuses on some of the urban planning implications related to maintaining the social health, as a main component of overall health and wellbeing, of older people. Specifically, we look at the role and accessibility of third places (popular public places where many people go to socialise) in relation to older people living in different neighbourhood built-form patterns, and how these factors impact on the formation of absent, weak and strong social ties. The data draw upon interviews with 54 older people living in different neighbourhood built-form patterns on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Our findings demonstrate the significant role third places have in affording older people opportunities to engage in the social lives of their local communities, thus contributing to their social health and overall wellbeing. This research supports previous studies relating to the accessibility of amenities by re-emphasising the importance of planning for the provision of third places that are conveniently located and easily accessible by older people. The paper concludes by arguing for the planning of transport and third-place interventions in Australia's sprawling suburban landscapes to allow older people more opportunities to be socially connected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing options for an ageing, predominantly home-owning society have evolved within the shifting context of social, economic, policy and locally-specific property conditions. Drawing on a case study of the retirement housing industry in Victoria, this paper finds that actor groups from overlapping aged care and housing agencies, from not-for-profit and for-profit sectors, have continuously redefined taken-for-granted housing “problems” of old age and developed solutions. The paper contributes to understanding the ideas and conditions that have shaped the retirement housing industry, and contributes theoretically to research that seeks to understand how ideas about housing and ageing are built into institutional arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population group that is often overlooked in the recent revolution of self-tracking is the group of older people. This growing proportion of the general population is often faced with increasing health issues and discomfort. In order to come up with lifestyle advice towards the elderly, we need the ability to quantify their lifestyle, before and after an intervention. This research focuses on the task of activity recognition (AR) from accelerometer data. With that aim, we collect a substantial labelled dataset of older individuals wearing multiple devices simultaneously and performing a strict protocol of 16 activities (the GOTOV dataset, N = 28 ). Using this dataset, we trained Random Forest AR models, under varying sensor set-ups and levels of activity description granularity. The model that combines ankle and wrist accelerometers (GENEActiv) produced the best results (accuracy > 80 % ) for 16-class classification. At the same time, when additional physiological information is used, the accuracy increased ( > 85 % ). To further investigate the role of granularity in our predictions, we developed the LARA algorithm, which uses a hierarchical ontology that captures prior biological knowledge to increase or decrease the level of activity granularity (merge classes). As a result, a 12-class model in which the different paces of walking were merged showed a performance above 93 % . Testing this 12-class model in labelled free-living pilot data, the mean balanced accuracy appeared to be reasonably high, while using the LARA algorithm, we show that a 7-class model (lying down, sitting, standing, household, walking, cycling, jumping) was optimal for accuracy and granularity. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the latter model in unlabelled free-living data from a larger lifestyle intervention study. In this paper, we make the validation data as well as the derived prediction models available to the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of frailty in older adults’ health status and autonomy necessitates the understanding and effective management of this widespread condition as a priority for modern societies. Despite its importance, we still stand far from early detection, effective management and prevention of frailty. One of the most important reasons for this is the lack of sensitive instruments able to early identify frailty and pre-frailty conditions. The FrailSafe system provides a novel approach to this complex, medical, social and public health problem. It aspires to identify the most important components of frailty, construct cumulative metrics serving as biomarkers, and apply this knowledge and expertise for self-management and prevention. This paper presents a high-level overview of the FrailSafe system architecture providing details on the monitoring sensors and devices, the software front-ends for the interaction of the users with the system, as well as the back-end part including the data analysis and decision support modules. Data storage, remote processing and security issues are also discussed. The evaluation of the system by older individuals from 3 different countries highlighted the potential of frailty prediction strategies based on information and communication technology (ICT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many worldwide live in households with multiple generations of related adults. This paper shows that the number of UK multigenerational households has been increasing but UK multigenerational households have been little studied. The research found that the motivations for multigenerational living are diverse and reflect multiple intersecting structural pressures, including an ageing population, worsening housing affordability and later household formation amongst young people. These intersect with individual circumstances, such as divorce or illness, to make multigenerational living the most practical option for some families. However, forming a multigenerational household is also often an individual and family choice, based on the expectation of mutual benefits brought about by multigenerational living. The research suggests that the extent to which living in a multigenerational household is a positive experience is determined by an individual's degree of agency and choice in the arrangement, rather than an ability to cope with wider structural pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the burden of the ageing population, time banking can be one of the possible approaches in the community to maximise social capital. Time banking aims to exchange one's time to serve others and the time of service can be saved as credit so as to swap for services when necessary. It can create a virtuous cycle for providing and receiving services. Several positive outcomes to service providers and recipients of time banking are identified in this review paper. Nevertheless, there is a lack of practical adoption of time banking in Hong Kong. To analyse the challenges of the adoption of time banking in Hong Kong, the current practices of time banking in Hong Kong will be evaluated. To promote time banking in Hong Kong, governmental, technical and educational support are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia's prosperity in the twentieth century relied on economic growth to lift incomes, and a tax and welfare state to share the wealth. Australians became rich, and social expenditures equalised wealth and income. This success also relied fundamentally on a gender-unequal care economy, primarily focused on care of children by women. Wage growth accrued to men, while women bore the economic cost of care. Since the 1960s, prosperity led to increased longevity and a population boom. Fertility gradually declined as women pursued education and work during second wave feminism, yet gender inequality in income and wealth persists. Today, in Australia's long-lived and ageing population, economic growth has slowed, wages have stagnated and wealth inequality has increased. As demographic and economic conditions become increasingly unlike the conditions of the mid-twentieth century, tensions in the gendered distribution of wealth and care have come to the fore. This article explores Australia's gendered wealth inequality and considers what should be done to re-orient policies to ensure a gender-equal and sustainable sharing of the wealth in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the multiple urban–rural interactions that make up the territorial dynamics, this article addresses and identifies how mobility relations are produced between neighbouring municipalities that share services. The aim of this research is to carry out a diagnosis of the current mobility situation in an area of low population density in order to identify the needs and possible shortcomings in this area. The initial identification of weaknesses is essential in order to propose solutions for rural mobility. The methodology adopted is based on two distinct lines of work: (1) analysis of information in open data from public repositories using geographic information system tools (GIS), and (2) surveys of citizens living in the study area. The results allude to the fact that the most transcendental problem in the study area is the lack of a quality collective public transport service that meets minimum utility requirements for users, a fact that generates a transfer towards the use of private vehicles. No serious parking, noise, pollution or road safety problems are observed; however, similar dynamics to other rural areas with low demographic density are confirmed, such as the age of the mobile fleet and an aging population with accessibility problems. The presence of new modes of transport (electric bicycles, personal mobility vehicles, and even electric vehicles) is practically insignificant. Both teleworking and the new consumer habits associated with online shopping have not yet had a strong impact. Political decision making by public administrations is identified as a direct application of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a novel look at the links between salutogenesis, health promotion, and urban design supported by the findings of recent research on local high streets and their benefits for the well-being of older people. Salutogenesis and the related explanatory concept of sense of coherence (SOC) have provided a theoretical framework for developing healthy settings interventions, shifting the focus from exploring barriers and deficits to assets and resources in promoting people's health and well-being. While these concepts have informed policies and programmes at the level of regions and cities, no attempt has been made to establish more direct links with the disciplines devoted to the organization and design of the built environment at the scale of public spaces and streets. This article advances the idea that the main categories of SOC—comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness—have found application in urban design theory. Linking these categories with urban design concepts in a comprehensive framework, it is possible to guide interventions aimed at strenghtening well-being resources available in the public realm. This is corroborated by the findings resulting from a study of the well-being experiences of older people (n = 84) across a range of local high streets in the city of Edinburgh (UK) applying an innovative multi-methods approach. The discussion establishes the links between well-being benefits, SOC constructs and urban design concepts, and underscores the potential of the proposed framework to guide a design-oriented salutogenic approach to the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rise in the ageing population is the current demographic challenge which is capable of pressuring the government to borrow more external funds in order to support domestic needs. This study aims to investigate the effects of the external debt of 36 upper-middle-income economies from 2000 to 2017 due to the increase in the ageing population. This study employed the system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM), where it revealed that the ageing population could increase the level of external debt if the population aged 65 and above was used as a proxy to represent the ageing population. However, the results were insignificant when the proxy was changed to the old-age dependency ratio. It illustrated that the increase in external debt occurs due to the increase in the population aged 65 and above because the government has to allocate more funds for healthcare, age-friendly infrastructure, social security and pensions. However, the dependency of the older people on government is minimal because of their long-term savings. Hence, the old-age dependency ratio has an insignificant relationship with the external debt level. For future research, it is suggested that the impact of the ageing population can be investigated on the domestic debt level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]