All these figures on aging illustrate the consequence of the ‘demographic transition’ - the shift from higher to lower levels of fertility and mortality, when women have fewer children and life expectancy increases. The transition is occurring much more rapidly in developing countries than it did in developed countries, and this has important consequences. 

In France, for example, an increase in the aged population from 7% to 17% took 115 years (from 1865 to 1980), but developing nations are expected to see a rise of up to 300% over a period of only 35 years, which some demographers are now calling the most significant population shift in history. 

This shift stems from the progress made in health and economic opportunities and the enabling of couples to freely decide the number and spacing of their children. But its economic, social, cultural and spiritual implications already affect individuals, families, communities and nations. 

Although in Asia it is traditionally assumed that younger family members care for older people, extensive urbanization and the young leaving their homes to search for employment is challenging, in terms of finding new ways to care for older people. Large groups of older people remain poor and are unable to provide for their own basic needs, such as food and shelter. Few governments in the region have policies that explicitly deal with their needs. With either limited or no social safety nets, several countries have pension systems that do not reach most people outside the formal employment sector, and some citizens are left with little or no income security in old age. A lack of health services for the elderly also worsens the poverty cycle, as poorer older people are more likely to face health problems and lost earnings through ill-health and the cost of medicines. The elderly are also particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, such as earthquakes or the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Women comprise by far the greatest number of older persons in almost all societies, and the disparity increases with advancing age. Gender inequalities are therefore an issue, as widows not only lose income generated by their husbands, but also suffer low social status, political and economic marginalization and increased risk of abuse. 

Clearly, adjustments to older populations have to be made. These include infrastructure for physical accessibility of public services, adequate healthcare and policy changes to pensions and retirement age. Adjustments will be a particular challenge for developing countries, as they have less time and fewer resources available. And the global financial and economic crisis only makes these issues more challenging. 

At the global level, the international community has responded to global aging in a number of ways. At the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, 179 Member States agreed to enhance the self reliance and promote the quality of life of older people; develop systems of health care and economic and social security in old age; and set up formal and informal social support systems to help families take care of their elderly. 

In 2002, governments adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging, agreeing to advance health and well-being into old age and ensure supportive environments for older persons. 

The challenge for the Asia-Pacific region is to pull together the information, training and support needed to implement appropriate policies for older people. 

A strategic focus of UNFPA is to influence public policy and strengthen national capacity to respond to the challenges posed by the consequences of population aging. Of particular concern to UNFPA are eradicating poverty, promoting lifelong health and active ageing, ensuring equal access to basic health and social services, and eliminating discrimination, violence and abuse of the elderly. The Fund’s strategy seeks to raise awareness among governments and non-governmental stakeholders of the speed of population aging and its health and social implications, with particular focus on the needs of the poor and older women. 

The Millennium Development Goals present a good opportunity to advocate for older persons. Although the goals do not specifically mention them, meeting the goal of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 requires that national development frameworks and poverty reduction strategies also address the needs of the older poor. 

For both human rights and economic reasons, older persons should be provided with the same access to basic social services and health care as the rest of the population. 

There is an urgent need for adequate support services for abused elderly, as well as a need to train caregivers to detect and report elderly abuse. There is also a need to promote lifelong education and training, and the full participation of older persons in community life. Older persons should be given opportunities for self-fulfillment and encouraged to participate in the widest possible range of activities, including employment and community volunteer work.