Demographic and Social Aspects of Aging and Old Age

Posted on May 3, 2024 in Economy

Demographic and Social Aspects of Aging and Old Age

Demographic Aspects

Demographics refer to the quantifiable statistics of a given population, including natality, mortality, aging, and gender. They are also used to study specific subsets within a population at a particular time.

Developed Countries

  • Low natality
  • Aging population: 20% over 60 years old
  • Life expectancy: 75 years
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): 3 per 1000 births
  • Fertility rate: 1.2 in Czech Republic

Developing Countries

  • High natality
  • Decreasing IMR leading to increased life expectancy

The Elderly

There is no universally accepted definition of “old age”, but several criteria can be considered:

Biological Criteria (3 Generations)

  • Children (pre-reproductive): 0-14 years
  • Parents (reproductive): 15-49 years
  • Grandparents (elderly, post-reproductive): over 50 years

Three types of populations based on age distribution:

  • Progressive (young): 400 children : 500 parents : 100 grandparents
  • Stationary (balanced): 265 children : 505 parents : 230 grandparents
  • Regressive (old): 200 children : 500 parents : 300 grandparents

The Czech Republic has an old population.

Working Process Criteria (3 Generations)

  • Pre-productive: 0-14 years
  • Productive (income earning): 15-59 years (male); 15-54 years (female)
  • Post-productive: over 60 years (male); over 55 years (female)

WHO Criteria

  • Middle age: 45-59 years
  • Early old age: 60-74 years
  • Advanced old age: 75+ years
  • Longevity: 90+ years

Trends in Czech Population Aging

  • 22% of the population is over 60 years old, 16% over 65 years old, and 2.5% over 80 years old.
  • Aging Index: 70-100
  • In people aged over 75, there is a female-to-male ratio of 2:1.
  • 38% of the elderly report poor health.
  • 8 out of 10 elderly people living alone are women.
  • 10% of the elderly have no children.

“Risk of Old People” According to WHO

  • People living alone, including lonely couples
  • People over 80 years old
  • Old lonely women
  • Old people living in social institutions
  • Old childless people
  • Old people with vision and hearing disorders
  • Couples where one partner is seriously ill or handicapped
  • Old people with serious health disorders and loss of independence
  • Old people with low income and poverty

Global Picture

  • The young/old balance is shifting worldwide, with Asia aging rapidly.
  • Population aging is a social and medical problem, requiring integrated care.
  • General practitioners, geriatricians, and family cooperation are crucial.
  • Social and health status are closely linked in old age.
  • Changes in population age distribution will accelerate in less-developed regions over the next 50 years.

Variables Considered

Aging Index
  • Calculated as the number of persons aged 60 or older per 100 persons under age 15.
  • Significantly higher in developed regions but expected to increase faster in less-developed regions.
Dependency Ratio
  • Total dependency ratio: number of persons under 15 and over 65 per 100 persons aged 15-64.
  • Measures potential social support needs.
  • Youth dependency ratio: number of persons aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64.
  • Old-age dependency ratio: number of persons aged 65 and over per 100 persons aged 15-64.
Potential Support Ratio
  • Number of persons aged 15-64 per person aged 65 or older.
  • Inverse of the old-age dependency ratio.
  • Expresses the relationship between potentially economically productive and dependent populations.
  • Expected to drop globally by over 50% in the next 50 years.
Global Ratio
  • Ratio between “dependent” and working-age populations has decreased but will increase in the future.
  • Median age in developed regions is over 13 years higher than in less-developed regions and almost 20 years higher than in least-developed countries.
  • Trend towards “double aging” where the old care for the old.
  • More people in their fifties and sixties are likely to have surviving parents or very old relatives.

Social Aspects of Old Age

Living Situation

Old people live with:

  • Family
  • Other persons (relatives, friends, social care)
  • Alone

Loneliness

Factors contributing to loneliness:

  • Families living far away
  • Widowhood
  • Living alone

Sources of Help

  • Family and relatives
  • Neighbors and friends
  • Community
  • Social services (domiciliary care, day and week centers, protected housing, homes for the elderly)

Deterioration in health can negatively impact social situation by reducing self-care ability and social contacts.

Social Services Aims

  • Assist people with limited capabilities in personal care, household care, accommodation, and meals.
  • Promote self-sufficiency with the goal of returning to home environment.

Social Counselling

  • Provides information and mediates follow-up services.
  • Offers problem-solving options.
  • Always free of charge.

Domiciliary Care

  • For people with limited capacity.
  • Provides assistance with personal care, meals, and household care.
  • Paid service with user participation in funding.

Daycare and Week-care Centers

  • For people with limitations in personal care, household care, and who cannot live alone.
  • Paid service with user participation in funding.

Homes for the Elderly

  • For people with limitations in personal and household care who cannot live at home.
  • Provides alternative accommodation.

Protected and Supported Housing

  • For people with limitations in personal and household care who wish to live independently.
  • Offers apartment living with assistance.