Overview

In a fast greying global situation, Asia is projected to be the home of more than 5 billion people above the age of 60 by the middle of the 21st century. The rate of population ageing varies between countries, and so does the preparation for the challenges of the changing demographic profile. This book advocates for a gender -sensitive approach to policy planning and service provision for male and female elderly. The cumulative lifespan advantages and disadvantages are gendered in most countries, and taking note of this fact is imperative for policy and service planners. The longer life expectancy of females as well as the tendency for most women in their later ages to be widowed is well known. While younger cohorts of women are benefiting from the liberal policies and societal attitudes towards education and career development in many Asian nations, whether this will translate into a better quality of life in old age in future is not certain. This is because within the family, females are still expected to be the nurturers for young children and older persons. National leaders should be aware that this army of caretakers need to be recognised and protected from financial and health risks. The second edition of Untapped Resources has been largely rewritten and one of the countries, Malaysia, has been replaced with the Philippines. The calibre of the chapters reflects the vast research experience of the authors not only within their own countries but also in the field of ageing. Gerontologists, helping professionals, policy-makers, academics, graduate and undergraduate students will find that their knowledge of the Asian ageing phenomenon will be increased by reading the book.

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9789812103161

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Kalyani Mehta is Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and Psychology, National University of Singapore. She has been invited as consultant to both international and national bodies, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong and Council Member of the International Association of Gerontology. She has authored and edited six books and her articles have been published in numerous international journals. Her research interests include social policies relating to older populations, widowhood, grandparenting, inter-generational issues, and cross-cultural ageing. She is Managing Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development.

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