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Shobha Shukla, Citizen News Service - CNS [ Podcast ] [ Video ] As fertility rates decline and life expectancy increases, the number of senior citizens is growing globally. Among the 7.3 billion people worldwide in 2015, an estimated 617.1 million, were aged 65 years or more. The Asia Pacific region is ageing rapidly and South-East Asia’s elderly numbers are growing fast at around 5% a year - between now and 2030 there will be nearly 20 million more people aged 60 and above in the region. Listen or download this audio podcast   Watch this video interview Turning its focus upon the the ageing populations in ASEAN countries, the European Union (EU) awarded a grant to the HelpAge East Asia Pacific Regional Office ( HelpAge EAPRO ) to implement a 4 year project (February 2013-January 2017) with key partners for "Strengthening the CSO Network on Ageing as a Development Partner in Southeast Asia (AMCo)". This project prioritised strategic activities in 6 ASEAN countries of Cambod...

[ Listen or download this podcast ] Jerome Pons, Head of Cooperation (Malaysia and Thailand) at the European Union spoke with CNS (Citizen News Service) in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 19th January 2017. He raised important ageing related issues and made a strong case calling upon countries to not ignore the elderly and adapt development responses to meet the unique needs of changing population demographics. Thanks to the HelpAge International's East Asia Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) for helping facilitate this interview. [ Listen or download this podcast ]

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service) As fertility rates decline and life expectancy increases, the proportion of people aged 60 and above is growing globally. Global average life expectancy has increased from 48 years in 1950 to 68 years in 2010 and is expected to become 81 years by the end of the century. Nearly 60% of the world’s over 60 population resides in the Asia Pacific region and this number is expected to more than quadruple by 2050. While people living longer is a cause for celebration, this demographic transition towards an ageing society in the Asia-Pacific region brings new challenges with deep social, economic and political ramifications. With increasing age, health and well-being take their toll. Non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes and dementia, are becoming more widespread. Yet, health and social security systems in the region are under-prepared to meet the needs of older persons. As countries age, they need to invest in supporting the cont...