October 2024

Well-Being of Older People in East Asia: The People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea

By Hidehiko Ichimura, Xiaoyan Lei, Chulhee Lee, Jinkook Lee, Albert Park, & Yasuyuki Sawada East Asia is undergoing a rapid demographic transition and “super” aging. As a result of steadily decreasing fertility and increasing life expectancy, older people’s proportion of the population and the old-age dependency ratio is rising across all countries in East Asia, particularly in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK). In this paper, we empirically investigate the well-being of older...

More and more older adults are aging alone. This can increase the risk of dementia

A growing number of people 65 and older are living alone. While aging solo presents challenges, solutions are in the works. Kent Ellsworth is the executive director of the Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition in Sedona. "Out of the 3,000 individuals we've served over the last year or two, about 65% are living alone," Ellsworth said. Ellsworth says they’re also serving 10 individuals who are over the age of 100. "And they're all living alone," Ellsworth said, either by choice or circumstance. Spouses die....

US. Most older adults face ageism, and it’s taking a toll on their mental health

Discrimination against older people has become a pervasive part of American culture. Think birthday cards declaring someone "over the hill" and ads for "anti-aging" cosmetics. Most older adults say they experience ageism daily, according to a 2019 survey of more than 2,000 people between 50 and 80 conducted by the University of Michigan. Ageism, which includes stereotyping and discrimination based on age, is one of the most common forms of prejudice. A 2021 report from the World Health Organization found at least...

September 2024

EU. Who can expect the most healthy life years?

In 2022, the number of healthy life years at birth in the EU was 62.6 years on average, 62.8 years for women and 62.4 years for men. Life expectancy at birth for women in the EU was, on average, 5.4 years longer than that for men (83.3 years compared with 77.9 years). Healthy life years - free from activity limitations - represent 75% and 80% of the total life expectancy for women and men, respectively. Therefore, on average, men tend to spend a greater proportion...

August 2024

Impact of COVID-19 on Healthy Life Expectancy of Older Adults in the Region of the Americas

The Region of the Americas has experienced a significant decline in the health life expectancy (HALE) of older adults at age 60 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New data from the WHO Global Health Observatory reveals that the HALE at 60 years old was reduced from 16.61 years in 2019 to 15.21 years in 2021 in the region. This dramatic decline underscores the severe impact of the pandemic on older populations, reversing years of advancements in public health and longevity. The...

July 2024

Over 60% of Hong Kong elderly with children living abroad at ‘high risk’ of social isolation, survey finds

Feelings of loneliness among elderly people who have children not living in Hong Kong were common, according to a survey by the Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS). A total of 63 per cent were at high risk of social isolation, while close to 50 per cent showed signs of depression. The figures were an improvement from last year, when almost 80 per cent were found to be at high risk of social isolation, and nearly 70 per cent showed signs...

June 2024

Hidden Figures: LGBT Health Inequalities in the UK

By LGBT Foundation  We believe in a fair and equal society where all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people can achieve their full potential. Our work started in 1975 and we’ve been changing the lives of LGBT people ever since. Over the last five decades, we’ve provided information, services and support for LGBT people who’ve had nowhere else to turn. We’ve been at the forefront of the social and legal changes that mean LGBT people in the UK have more rights...

Providing inclusive services and care for LGBT people

By National LGBT health education center A visit to a health care facility can make people nervous for any number of reasons. Some people may be uncomfortable revealing sensitive information to health care professionals who need it to provide certain services. Others find it difficult to talk about private health concerns. Creating an environment in which these conversations are more comfortable for the patient is an important goal for all health care staff. Because health care is for everyone, we...

South Korea. Achieving optimum mental health for older adults

The population in Korea is aging at an alarming pace. According to Statistics Korea, by 2025 the country is forecast to become a super-aged society, with individuals aged 65 years and older comprising over 20 percent of its estimated total population of 52 million. By 2050, the number is expected to rise to 44 percent. This demographic change has important implications for the health sector and social systems. How the nation deals with these changes will determine its population's...

Early-Life Circumstances and Racial Disparities in Cognition for Older Americans: The Importance of Educational Quality and Experiences

By Zhuoer Lin, Justin Ye, Heather Allore, Thomas M. Gill & Xi Chen Given the critical role of neurocognitive development in early life, this study assesses how racial differences in early-life circumstances are collectively and individually associated with racial disparities in late-life cognition. Leveraging uniquely rich information on life history from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study for non-Hispanic White (White) and non-Hispanic Black (Black) Americans 50 years or older, we employ the Blinder-Oaxaca method to decompose racial gaps in...