Living Longer:
Challenges and
Opportunities for
Aging Societies
Nancy Morrow-Howell
Bettie Bofinger Brown Professor of Social Policy,
George Warren Brown School of Social Work
Director, Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging
World Population
Pyramids 1950-2100
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2011)
Demographic Revolution
Source: HelpAge International. Global AgeWatch Index. (2014)
Three Forces
• Fertility Rates
• Mortality Rates
• Immigration Rates
Influencing population aging
We are having
fewer children
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. (2012). World Fertility Report.
We are living longer
Japan
Singapore
Chile
United States
Thailand
Chad
Swaziland
1975
2000
2012
75.1
70.3
65.4
72.7
61.9
43.4
51.0
81.1
78.1
76.8
76.7
71.0
46.7
48.7
83.2
82.2
79.7
78.8
74.2
50.8
48.9
Source: World Bank. (2014). Population Estimates and Projections.
Fastest growth of population is the
OLDEST OLD
Projected increase between 2005 and 2030 by age
0-64 years
65+ years
85+ years
100+
years
0%
100%
200%
300%
400%
Source: United Nations. (2005). World Population Prospects.
Global Age Watch Index
Challenges
• Income
• Health
• Environments
• Capability
Active Ageing
The process of
optimizing
opportunities for
health, participation,
and security in order
to enhance quality of
life as people age.
Policy Framework for
Active Ageing
We are aging at different rates
Number of years for population age 65+ to increase from 7% to 14%
France
115
Sweden
85
Australia
73
United States
69
Canada
65
United Kingdom
45
Japan
26
China
26
Singapore
19
Source: National Institute on Aging. (2007). Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective
We are living with age-related
disabilities for different periods
of time
Country
Nauru
Belize
Dominica
USA
Japan
Singapore
China
Life expectancy
at birth (yrs)
Healthy life
expectancy at
birth (yrs)
Gap
79
75
75
79
84
83
75
66
63
63
70
75
76
68
-13
-12
-12
-9
-9
-7
-7
Source: World Health Organization. (2014). Life Expectancy Data by Country
Cross-national Research
“There is a need to raise
awareness about not only
global aging issues but also
the importance of rigorous
cross-national scientific research
and dialogue that will help us
address the challenges and
opportunities of an aging world.”
-U.S. National Institutes of Health
Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging
Global Aging Initiative
Kick-off Meeting at
IAGG’s World Congress
• June 2013 | Seoul, South Korea
• Over 60 scholars participated
• 28 organizations and institutions represented |
16 McDonnell Academy universities
Global Aging 2013 Funding
• Ten awards for pilot projects and partnership
development
• Each collaboration includes at least one PI from
Washington University and one from a McDonnell
Academy Partner Institution
• Principal Investigators are from:
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•
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•
•
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Washington University
Fudan University
National University of Singapore
Florey Institute of Neuroscience &
Mental Health
Peking University
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Tsinghua University
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Universidad de Chile
Universidad de los Andes-Colombia
The University of Hong Kong
Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya
Luleå University of Technology
Transdisciplinary Research
Educating students about
longer lives
Workforce for an
Aging Society
• Need more professionals in
healthcare, social work, business,
law, engineering, and many other
fields that understand issues
related to older adults & aging
society.
• Response of many institutions,
including universities, is required.
US
THEM
It’s personal. It’s professional.
It’s your future: transform it.