Key research in the world’s largest aging population – in China – has fed into this important new work, which aims to answer questions critical to older people worldwide. These include: is the period of disability compressing or expanding with increasing life expectancy and what factors are associated with these trends in the recent decades? And is it possible to realize morbidity compression with a prolongation of the life span in the future? Essential reading for gerontologists.
This book analyzes data from eight waves (1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011-12, 2014 and 2018) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Surveys (CLHLS) to explore how health status of the Chinese oldest old has changed over time and across birth cohorts. It also intends to investigate how period and birth cohorts have played a role in the associations between Chinese oldest olds health and a variety of demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors. The book applies the age-period-cohort (APC) approach and constructs cross-classified random-effects models (CCREMs) to carry out the analyses. The oldest olds health is measured by self-rated health (SRH), chronic diseases, cognitive function and subjective wellbeing which is indicated by positive and negative feeling scores. The results show that Chinese oldest olds health status has changed over time and across birth cohorts. Significant period and cohort effects are shown when linking Chinese oldest olds health to various demographic, socioeconomic and health lifestyle covariates. In general, period effects surpass the cohort effects. Particularly, the oldest olds subjective wellbeing is more likely to be influenced by period than cohort effects. Period changes caused by social events, such as economic hardship and natural disasters, have left strong imprints on Chinese oldest olds mental than physical health status. Based on these findings, the book highlights some important policy implications and points out future research directions to improve the current study. It provides an interesting read for researchers in gerontology and public health studies. It is also of interest to general audience, including practitioners in health care and policy makers who are interested in old age care and healthy aging policies.
This book studies healthy aging in China based on analyses of the datasets of eight waves of longitudinal survey in 1998-2018 with worldwide largest sample of oldest-old. It consists of four parts. The first part reports the 6th, 7th, and 8th surveys of “Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey” (CLHLS), with the largest sample of oldest-old aged 80+ in the world and comparable sample of young-old aged 65–79, trends and characteristics of physical health and mental health of older adults in China based on analyses of the CLHLS datasets. The second part focuses on analyses and discussions of the influencing factors of healthy aging from perspectives of families, socioeconomics and community environments. The third part reports studies on the gender and age differences in main chronic diseases’ prevalence rates, inflammation, anti-oxidation, trace elements, effects of the nutritional dietary structure and the environmental selenium on health among the older adults. The fourth part focuses on the analyses and discussions of policy recommendations to face the serious challenges of the population aging in China and the database of the eight waves of CLHLS from 1998 to 2018, which are available free of charge to scholars, practitioners and general public for scientific research and socioeconomic planning. This book is easy to read and to understand by researchers and the general public, and no special professional background is required.
States that the number of genuine long-livers is exploding and a substantial proportion of new-borns in developed countries may survive to celebrate their 100th birthday. This book examines the storied realms of exceptional longevity.
This volume is based on Green Book of Population and Labor No. 16 originally published in Chinese. Chapter one reviews developments in population and family planning during the 12th five-year plan period (2011–2015), presents forecast, and examines the relationship between demographic changes and economic development. Chapter two focuses on population movement trends and employment situation of rural migrant workers. The country’s overall employment situation in this period is presented in chapter three. Chapter four examines trends in China’s labor supply and demand. Chapters five and six look at recent progress in and development of China’s old-age insurance and medical insurance systems. As in previous volumes, this one contains policy suggestions for labor market development and population management.
The WHO World report on ageing and health is not for the book shelf it is a living breathing testament to all older people who have fought for their voice to be heard at all levels of government across disciplines and sectors. - Mr Bjarne Hastrup President International Federation on Ageing and CEO DaneAge This report outlines a framework for action to foster Healthy Ageing built around the new concept of functional ability. This will require a transformation of health systems away from disease based curative models and towards the provision of older-person-centred and integrated care. It will require the development sometimes from nothing of comprehensive systems of long term care. It will require a coordinated response from many other sectors and multiple levels of government. And it will need to draw on better ways of measuring and monitoring the health and functioning of older populations. These actions are likely to be a sound investment in society's future. A future that gives older people the freedom to live lives that previous generations might never have imagined. The World report on ageing and health responds to these challenges by recommending equally profound changes in the way health policies for ageing populations are formulated and services are provided. As the foundation for its recommendations the report looks at what the latest evidence has to say about the ageing process noting that many common perceptions and assumptions about older people are based on outdated stereotypes. The report's recommendations are anchored in the evidence comprehensive and forward-looking yet eminently practical. Throughout examples of experiences from different countries are used to illustrate how specific problems can be addressed through innovation solutions. Topics explored range from strategies to deliver comprehensive and person-centred services to older populations to policies that enable older people to live in comfort and safety to ways to correct the problems and injustices inherent in current systems for long-term care.
Declining fertility rates and increased life expectancies over the last few decades have conspired to make China one of the more rapidly aging societies in the world. Aging Families in Chinese Society focuses on the accelerated social and demographic changes in China and examines their implications for family care and support for older adults. Contributors to this landmark volume portray various challenges facing aging families in China as a result of reduced family size, changing gender expectations, rapid economic development and urbanization, rural-to-urban migration, and an emerging but still underdeveloped long-term care system. Divided into four thematic areas – Disability and Family Support; Family Relationships and Mental Health; Filial Piety and Gender Norms; and Long-term Care Preferences – chapters in this volume confront these burgeoning issues and offer salient policy and practice considerations not just for today’s aging population, but future generations to come. Combining quantitative data from social surveys in China, comparative surveys in Taiwan and Thailand, and qualitative data from in-depth interviews, Aging Families in Chinese Societies will be of significant interest to students and researchers in aging and gerontology, China and East Asian Studies and population studies.
The continuous growth of older populations, as a consequence of demographic changes, is a huge global challenge. The growing proportion of older adults not only burdens the healthcare system, specifically, in developing countries but also posits a challenge at the household level, specifically, in nuclear and one-person households. For societies as a whole to avoid costly and negative effects, it is crucial to increase their knowledge of how to promote good health among older adults, so that they can live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. Active aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. An active and healthy life has remained one of the most important aspirations for all people, both young and older adults alike. This ambition has become a genuine possibility for many due to a rising life expectancy among people of diverse attributes across the world. While celebrating longer life and more financial security in later life than ever before, we need to challenge how these aspirations can be sustained, through our own behavioral responses and through public policy, institutional reforms, and innovations. The challenge is to identify, recommend, and promote strategies and interventions that stimulate and sustain the activity, independence, and health of people of all ages, especially older adults, and, in the process, promote the well-being and quality of life of people and make public welfare systems more sustainable.
