Healthcare and Ageing

Population aging is a global phenomenon and addressing the unprecedented challenges that come from this demographic transition requires a reexamination of our political, social and physical infrastructures. In Hong Kong, the median age of the population will reach 51 years old by 2064, with an elderly support ratio of 567 older people per 1000 working-age population. While this change in the population structure can be perceived as a potential economic challenge given the older population’s high expenditure on health and social care, such a challenge can be turned into an investment through establishing an age-enabling city with a healthy population and creating platforms to unveil the working potential of the older population. Older people’s ability to contribute socio-eco-nomically is not only determined by their health, but also by socio-economic policies and social norms and practices. Investments have to be made in health and social welfare systems as well as in our social and political institutions to yield benefits that could accrue from the older population during this demographic transition.