Working with Older People, 8(4), December 2004, pp.33-34.
Publisher:
Emerald
Reports on experiences of intergenerational work in Japan, concluding it is developing around positive ageing. The World Health Organization says Japan has the fittest and healthiest older population. Describes the Wonderful Ageing Club, which encourages and supports older people in social activities.
Reports on experiences of intergenerational work in Japan, concluding it is developing around positive ageing. The World Health Organization says Japan has the fittest and healthiest older population. Describes the Wonderful Ageing Club, which encourages and supports older people in social activities.
The author asks what lessons the UK can learn from several case studies from overseas about how the well-being of older people can be incorporated into a wider range of policy areas than those, traditionally, of pensions, health and social care. For example, in the UK an ageing population brings more focus onto mental health, loneliness and isolation issues, whereas life satisfaction is highest of an ageing population in the UK.
The author asks what lessons the UK can learn from several case studies from overseas about how the well-being of older people can be incorporated into a wider range of policy areas than those, traditionally, of pensions, health and social care. For example, in the UK an ageing population brings more focus onto mental health, loneliness and isolation issues, whereas life satisfaction is highest in Japan among those over 65. In addition, case studies from Ireland, the United States, Norway, Finland, New Zealand and China are presented with much variation in findings. Examples of how the well-being of older people can be addressed in the four key areas of relationships, work, learning and the built environment are discussed and put forward by the author as good practice for the future of an ageing population in the UK.
Subject terms:
older people, quality of life, ageing, comparative studies;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
China, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, United States
Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work, 6(1), March 1996, pp.1-5.
Publisher:
Times Academic
In view of future shortages of manpower and slower growth of populations in countries like Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, it is expected that the question of retirement from work will receive more attention. Discusses the issue of the ageing workforce and introduces special issue on social security and family concerns.
In view of future shortages of manpower and slower growth of populations in countries like Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, it is expected that the question of retirement from work will receive more attention. Discusses the issue of the ageing workforce and introduces special issue on social security and family concerns.
Subject terms:
older people, retirement, ageing, employment;
Location(s):
Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea
Healthy ageing has become a popular topic worldwide. So far, a consensus measure of healthy ageing has not been reached; and no studies have compared the magnitude of socio-economic inequality in healthy ageing outside Europe. This study aims to create a universal measure of healthy ageing and compare socio-economic inequalities in healthy ageing in the United States of America (USA), England, China and Japan. We included 10,305 American, 6,590 English, 5,930 Chinese and 1,935 Japanese participants for longitudinal analysis. A harmonised healthy ageing index (HAI) was developed to measure healthy ageing multi-dimensionally. Educational, income and wealth rank scores were derived accounting for the entire socio-economic distribution and the sample size of each category of socio-economic indicator. Associations between socio-economic rank scores and HAIs were assessed using multi-level modelling to calculate the Slope Indices of Inequality. Healthy ageing trajectories were predicted based on the full-adjusted age-cohort models. We found that education was a universally influential socio-economic predictor of healthy ageing. Moving from the highest to the lowest educational groups was associated with a 6.7 (5.2–8.2), 8.2 (6.0–10.4), 13.9 (11.4–16.3) and 6.1 per cent (3.9–8.2%) decrease in average HAI at 60 years in the USA, England, China and Japan, respectively. After 60 years, the educational inequality in healthy ageing kept increasing in the USA and China. The educational inequality in healthy ageing in China was also greater than any other socio-economic inequality in the four countries. Wealth was more influential in predicting healthy ageing inequality among American, English and Japanese participants, while income was more influential among Chinese participants. The socio-economic inequality in healthy ageing in Japan was relatively small. Chinese and American participants had worse healthy ageing profiles than Japanese and English participants.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Healthy ageing has become a popular topic worldwide. So far, a consensus measure of healthy ageing has not been reached; and no studies have compared the magnitude of socio-economic inequality in healthy ageing outside Europe. This study aims to create a universal measure of healthy ageing and compare socio-economic inequalities in healthy ageing in the United States of America (USA), England, China and Japan. We included 10,305 American, 6,590 English, 5,930 Chinese and 1,935 Japanese participants for longitudinal analysis. A harmonised healthy ageing index (HAI) was developed to measure healthy ageing multi-dimensionally. Educational, income and wealth rank scores were derived accounting for the entire socio-economic distribution and the sample size of each category of socio-economic indicator. Associations between socio-economic rank scores and HAIs were assessed using multi-level modelling to calculate the Slope Indices of Inequality. Healthy ageing trajectories were predicted based on the full-adjusted age-cohort models. We found that education was a universally influential socio-economic predictor of healthy ageing. Moving from the highest to the lowest educational groups was associated with a 6.7 (5.2–8.2), 8.2 (6.0–10.4), 13.9 (11.4–16.3) and 6.1 per cent (3.9–8.2%) decrease in average HAI at 60 years in the USA, England, China and Japan, respectively. After 60 years, the educational inequality in healthy ageing kept increasing in the USA and China. The educational inequality in healthy ageing in China was also greater than any other socio-economic inequality in the four countries. Wealth was more influential in predicting healthy ageing inequality among American, English and Japanese participants, while income was more influential among Chinese participants. The socio-economic inequality in healthy ageing in Japan was relatively small. Chinese and American participants had worse healthy ageing profiles than Japanese and English participants.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
comparative studies, older people, ageing, socioeconomic groups, health inequalities;
Ageing International, 32(3), September 2008, pp.236-255.
Publisher:
Springer
Place of publication:
New York
... innovations derived from information and communication technologies (ICT), towards ageing-in-place. It examines and discusses the socio-familial-spatial (social networking, location and place) relevance of mobile communication, emphasizing the use of ICT and mobile communication by/with/for ageing population, for realizing the benefits of ageing-in-place. It especially considers elderly and their families,
Against the background of Japanese demographic transition towards a very aged one, the socio-familial reluctance for ageing-in-institutions, and the limited (already the inadequacy of) institutional care, ageing-in-place is both the socio-familial desirable and the policy solution. This paper examines the coping strategies of Japanese society, in the shortage of caring services, with socio-techno innovations derived from information and communication technologies (ICT), towards ageing-in-place. It examines and discusses the socio-familial-spatial (social networking, location and place) relevance of mobile communication, emphasizing the use of ICT and mobile communication by/with/for ageing population, for realizing the benefits of ageing-in-place. It especially considers elderly and their families, in the need for socially and geo-spatially fixed anchors (the essence of ageing-in-place), despite (or perhaps because of) the ‘mobility’ through ICT.
Subject terms:
information technology, intergenerational relationships, older people, ageing, communication;
British Journal of Psychiatry, 193(10), October 2008, pp.316-321.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
A case–control study was conducted in Japan. The participants consisted of individuals with full-scale IQ70, with a DSM–IV autistic disorder or related diagnosis. Unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Parental ages were divided into tertiles (i.e. three age classes). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic regression analyses, with an adjustment for age, gender and birth order. Eighty-four individuals with autistic-spectrum disorder but without intellectual disability and 208 healthy controls were enrolled. Increased paternal, but not maternal, age was associated with an elevated risk of high-functioning autistic-spectrum disorder. A one-level advance in paternal age class corresponded to a 1.8-fold increase in risk, after adjustment for covariates. Advanced paternal age is associated with an increased risk for high-functioning autistic-spectrum disorder.
A case–control study was conducted in Japan. The participants consisted of individuals with full-scale IQ70, with a DSM–IV autistic disorder or related diagnosis. Unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Parental ages were divided into tertiles (i.e. three age classes). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic regression analyses, with an adjustment for age, gender and birth order. Eighty-four individuals with autistic-spectrum disorder but without intellectual disability and 208 healthy controls were enrolled. Increased paternal, but not maternal, age was associated with an elevated risk of high-functioning autistic-spectrum disorder. A one-level advance in paternal age class corresponded to a 1.8-fold increase in risk, after adjustment for covariates. Advanced paternal age is associated with an increased risk for high-functioning autistic-spectrum disorder.
DOLING John, JONES FINER Catherine, MALTBY Tony, (eds.)
Publisher:
Ashgate
Publication year:
2005
Pagination:
204p.
Place of publication:
Aldershot
The implications of population ageing have long concerned politicians, policy makers and governmental and non-governmental organizations in the welfare states of Europe. However, an ageing workforce is increasingly a matter of concern for the developed and fast-developing countries of Asia. Japan leads the field in this respect on account of the speed of its postwar economic development. But the little tigers of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan are poised to catch up, and Malaysia, though in the second tier of developing Asian economics, faces the prospect of population ageing sufficient to daunt an as yet under-prepared infrastructure for old age support. This book examines in detail the experiences and prospects of population ageing in those Asian countries with the highest GDP
The implications of population ageing have long concerned politicians, policy makers and governmental and non-governmental organizations in the welfare states of Europe. However, an ageing workforce is increasingly a matter of concern for the developed and fast-developing countries of Asia. Japan leads the field in this respect on account of the speed of its postwar economic development. But the little tigers of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan are poised to catch up, and Malaysia, though in the second tier of developing Asian economics, faces the prospect of population ageing sufficient to daunt an as yet under-prepared infrastructure for old age support. This book examines in detail the experiences and prospects of population ageing in those Asian countries with the highest GDP per capita. The authors pose the question to what extent Asia and 'old Europe' can learn from each other in terms of policy planning. The first section of the book sets out the field in terms of the demographic characteristics and policy predicaments of European and Asian countries. The second section presents case-studies of six countries: Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Subject terms:
retirement, social policy, welfare state, ageing, comparative studies;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea
Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 17(3), 2005, pp.61-83.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Among all the industrialized countries, Japan has the fastest rate of population aging and the highest life expectancy at birth. It is projected that the proportion of elderly people will reach 35.7% in 2050. In this demographic environment, Japan launched a social insurance programme for long-term care for the elderly in 2000. What were the forces that led Japan to establish a long-term care programme for elderly people? What are the provisions for financing, benefits, and service delivery? What aspects of policymaking in developing such a programme are unique to Japan? (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Among all the industrialized countries, Japan has the fastest rate of population aging and the highest life expectancy at birth. It is projected that the proportion of elderly people will reach 35.7% in 2050. In this demographic environment, Japan launched a social insurance programme for long-term care for the elderly in 2000. What were the forces that led Japan to establish a long-term care programme for elderly people? What are the provisions for financing, benefits, and service delivery? What aspects of policymaking in developing such a programme are unique to Japan? (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Subject terms:
long term care, social policy, ageing, demographics, expenditure;
Working with Older People, 9(1), March 2005, pp.24-26.
Publisher:
Emerald
The author, who participated in a 'Young Core Leader of Civil Society' programme organised by the Japanese government in February 2003, explains how Japan is dealing with paying for the long-term care of its ageing population.
The author, who participated in a 'Young Core Leader of Civil Society' programme organised by the Japanese government in February 2003, explains how Japan is dealing with paying for the long-term care of its ageing population.
Subject terms:
insurance, long term care, older people, ageing, financing;
Social Policy and Administration, 56(1), 2022, pp.148-162.
Publisher:
Wiley
Responding to a rapidly aging population, Japan and South Korea introduced social insurance-based long-term care systems (LTCSs) in 2000 and 2008, respectively. Korea studied and took up key features of Japan's system while evolving along its own trajectory in line with its healthcare system. The aim of the present study is to unpack the broad category of ‘social insurance’ to explore how distinct system inputs and designs in Korea and Japan related to outcomes in performance measured in terms of coverage, quality of care, and sustainability. In doing so, the study serves as an important starting point for advancing a new stream of social policy research on the comparative performance of LTCSs. The findings demonstrate that despite adopting a common system type, differences in implementation of the social insurance model (particularly in terms of financing and governance) contributed to divergent performance, with Japan outperforming Korea on most indicators during the observed period. This bears contrary implications for policymaking in the two countries: Whereas Japanese policymakers are faced with the challenge of promoting quality while containing spending, in Korea greater investment is required to strengthen the workforce and build up community care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Responding to a rapidly aging population, Japan and South Korea introduced social insurance-based long-term care systems (LTCSs) in 2000 and 2008, respectively. Korea studied and took up key features of Japan's system while evolving along its own trajectory in line with its healthcare system. The aim of the present study is to unpack the broad category of ‘social insurance’ to explore how distinct system inputs and designs in Korea and Japan related to outcomes in performance measured in terms of coverage, quality of care, and sustainability. In doing so, the study serves as an important starting point for advancing a new stream of social policy research on the comparative performance of LTCSs. The findings demonstrate that despite adopting a common system type, differences in implementation of the social insurance model (particularly in terms of financing and governance) contributed to divergent performance, with Japan outperforming Korea on most indicators during the observed period. This bears contrary implications for policymaking in the two countries: Whereas Japanese policymakers are faced with the challenge of promoting quality while containing spending, in Korea greater investment is required to strengthen the workforce and build up community care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
comparative studies, long term care, ageing, insurance, social policy, financing, taxation;