The UNFPA Seminar, ‘Aging in Asian Cities – Burden or Opportunity?’ was held on 31 October 2008. It was an opportunity for AUICK workshop participants and International Advisory Committee (IAC) members, UNFPA and Kobe City officials, to discuss with citizens of Kobe the challenges concerning rapidly aging societies. The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Kiyoko Ikegami, Director of the UNFPA Japan Office. The ten represented cities’ officials explained the issues and viewpoints concerning aging populations, preceded by Dr. Mari Simonen, Deputy Executive Director (External Relations, United Nations Affairs and Management) of UNFPA.

Population aging is both a cause for celebration and a development challenge that all countries will face. It is a challenge that we must face together with good plans and policies, due to the enormous implications for governments, non-governmental organizations, families, and for older people themselves. 

In the last 40 years, life expectancy in China has risen by 31 years, in the Philippines by 21 years and in Bangladesh by 20 years. Just over half of the world’s older people currently live in Asia, but by 2050, Asia will be home to almost two-thirds of the world's older population. This presents an enormous challenge, which to address, it is essential that governments are very proactive in planning. It is also essential that governments work in partnership with local communities, civil society, and the international community, including the United Nations system, to protect the human rights and meet the needs of older persons, especially the poor. We can see that older people have different requirements and needs. We have to make sure that they live in dignity and with strong self-esteem, while maintaining optimum physical and mental condition. We need to acknowledge the positive contributions of the elderly, and make sure that their voices are heard, so that they can contribute to decision-making of policies and programs that affect them and others, and be active partners in society. 

Aging is an achievement of society, which has to be looked at objectively by utilizing knowledge and expertise, putting appropriate policies and programs in place. It is absolutely essential that all groups, governments or other working partnerships with local communities, cities, civil society and the international community, make sure that together they protect human lives and meet the needs of older persons in all countries and cities.

Panelists at the 2008 UNFPA Seminar on Aging in Asian Cities

A discussion followed Dr. Simonen’s comments, on the themes of the definition of ‘aged’, education for the elderly, financial and pension provision, and the importance of family support in the context of ever more urbanized societies. Some of the questions and comments exchanged included the following:

Comments, Questions and Answers

① What does the panel consider to be the definition of ‘aged’?

In many Asian countries, ‘aged’ is defined at over 60 years of age. This definition was set, however, by the lunar calendar system of 60 years being a milestone in the life cycle, and when life expectancy was far lower than it is today. Now, at 65 years old, many citizens are not only healthy and active, but able to participate in and contribute to society in developed and developing countries, where the aged are increasing rapidly in number. The point was made that the definition of ‘elderly’ should be based on life expectancy, and the retirement age and appropriate terminology should also be set accordingly.

② How are the budgets allocated for social welfare provision to the elderly in the 10 represented cities?

This is an issue which needs to be addressed and reprioritized as the elderly are increasing, and the young are decreasing in number. The provision of pensions and health care cannot be ignored. In most AUICK Associate Cities (AACs), specific budgets, often central government transfers, are set aside for the elderly. However, to sustain current provision to increasing numbers of aged, raised taxes would appear to be inevitable. 

However, if a focus is put on the advocacy of family care for the old through government, media and society, then in the face of modernization, a return to traditional values of family care can lessen the burden on governments and the tax payer, as well as strengthen communities and support networks, which is something that cannot be done by money. 

Focus on education systems for the aged can also strengthen communities, as well as the mental health and economic potential of people who are beyond the retirement age. Developing countries have limited resources for providing expensive health care, and the elderly might be given less priority as citizens than women and children. So, community clubs and the social responsibility to take care of parents should be advocated, as should the re-training of the elderly, which keeps them both active and healthy.

A Kobe Silver College student poses a question to the panel

③ As a student of the Silver College of Kobe, I was surprised by the scheme, which through the vision of Kobe City Government educates over 400 elderly citizens on three-year courses. They will go on to contribute to society after their graduation through volunteer activities and transferring of expertise and know-how. This system should be proposed to other countries.

The system is currently being promoted in Indonesia, where community-based silver colleges provide locally accessible education to elderly citizens. In Thailand too, the founding of such colleges is being promoted, and one such college has already been established in Weihai.

④ In many countries the family system is collapsing, regardless of religious background. As with an issue such as climate change, it should be overcome in unity. To sustain the family, cross-generational care should be promoted, and in ageing societies, people should be able to keep working beyond 60 or 65 years. Hospitals can provide physical health, but mental health and a feeling of contributing to society are also necessary.

To an extent, urbanization and modernization are degrading the value of the family, but this is somewhat exaggerated. For instance, studies in Thailand show that urbanization is generating the movement of the young to cities and away from their parents, but they are often providing financial support, keeping daily communication by cell phones, and returning frequently for holidays to celebrate the aged and family events, so the elderly are not being abandoned. The school curriculum should also teach the importance of family ties, and where possible, people should be encouraged to stay near the elderly.

⑤ Should care givers be trained especially to provide care to the elderly, as family support becomes more difficult to sustain?

Training should be carried out, but does not have to be at too great a cost. An example of locally trained care was the Chinese ‘Barefoot Doctors’; farmers in China who in the 1960s received basic medical and paramedical training and worked in their villages, where there was subsequently a significant drop in the infant mortality rate.

Dr. Hirofumi Ando, President of AUICK, summarized the comments and ideas which had emerged in the seminar. 

The rapid progression of ageing in so many societies highlights the question of who will care for the elderly. Traditionally, this was the role of the family, but globalization and urbanization are in danger of compromising this system. To put priority on the importance of the family, policies should be centered on the family as the base of the welfare system. 

The elderly can contribute to society, but their contributions need to be more appreciated, as well as publicized and promoted. The media have a role to play here. South to South cooperation and achievement should be more widely communicated by Japanese society. Twenty years ago, Kobe Mayor Miyazaki, and Mayor Sasayama recognized the importance of the AUICK initiated dissemination of Kobe and Japan’s experience, such as through the initiation of Silver Colleges in Indonesia. Now though, Japan can learn the importance of keeping the family system, and the enrichment of social security by communities from the South. This, as well as education, can keep the elderly mentally young. 

Dr. Ando ended by thanking the representatives of the ten participating cities, the IAC members, seminar facilitator Dr. Kiyoko Ikegami, and UNFPA and the citizens of Kobe for two decades of support to AUICK.