Promoting healthy ageing in the Western Pacific: A mini review of good practices and policy responses

Toward Healthy Aging in Palau

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Palau is facing a rapidly aging population and developing a comprehensive national aging policy to address the growing needs of older adults, but more research is needed to understand their circumstances and needs in relation to healthy aging. This study aims to investigate these factors and contribute to developing the National Policy on Care for the Aging.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study adopted a participatory action research design and included focus groups with older adults, public consultations, and stakeholder interviews, providing insights into the needs of an aging population and how to address them. Thematic analysis was conducted to understand the experiences and needs of older adults and possible system changes to address these needs.

RESULTS

This study identified the need to recognize cultural changes and optimize social and physical environments to improve the health and well-being of older adults. Older adults are valued in Palauan society, but harmful stereotypes and mistreatment of older adults exist. To address those needs and challenges, our stakeholders proposed a range of services, programs, and policies across sectors to create a healthy-enabling environment. Our findings also highlight the importance of health systems proactively reaching individuals and families to address lifelong health needs.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results show the vital role of various sectors in fostering healthy aging and the importance of environmental and cultural perspectives in creating an age-friendly society, which can be an inspiration for other Pacific Island countries.

Creating Age-Friendly Environments in a Smart Society in China: A Policy Review

Technology is increasingly being integrated into Age-Friendly Environments (AFEs). This study explores how technology is manifested in AFE policies in China. We conducted a content analysis of 176 policies spanning seven years to identify the relationship between technology and AFEs and the characteristics of policy development. The findings indicate that technology plays a role in advancing a smart age-friendly society, particularly in terms of enhancing community support and health services and promoting social inclusion. The findings also reveal a list of policy actions and changes in collaborative leadership and strategic priorities throughout policy development. This study emphasizes the need for ongoing policy attention to technology as an integrated component of AFE policies.

Ageing and shrinking population: The looming demographic challenges of super-aged and super-low fertility society starting from Asia

The world is generally getting more prosperous and healthier, and people live longer. Japan, with the world's most advanced population ageing, has made various efforts over the past half-century to prepare for the ageing society. Globally, many countries observe today's rapid demographic changes accompanied by low birth rate and start acknowledging population shrinkage as a looming challenge beyond that of population ageing. The world will face dual challenges of population ageing and shrinkage, but these two issues have been considered in isolation. In addition, the progression differs from region to region and country to country, preventing policymakers from taking a future-back approach to address the core challenges. This issue of Global Health & Medicine carries two valuable articles on population ageing and related policies reported by staff members of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This paper will consider the importance of ageing and low fertility rate (declining birthrate) as global issues by placing the WHO and UNFPA articles in a broader context. Population ageing and shrinkage overlap and significantly impact society through health issues. Still, the impact on countries, regions, and the world will become obvious with a time lag. Therefore, this paper advocates analyzing and critically reviewing the experience of countries in which demographic changes are already well advanced, and sharing them with the world. This will contribute significantly to those regions and countries that will walk the same path in the future.