| Abstrakt: |
Up until the 1980s, most Pacific island populations were either ageing slowly or not at all and the proportion of the population aged over 60 remained below 6 per cent. In the last two decades of the twentieth century, the pace of ageing accelerated and is now projected to reach a peak around 2025. The number of elderly in the Pacific is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 3.6 per cent between 2000 and 2050 and to grow from around 376,000 to 2.2 million. The oldest old age group (80 years and over) is currently growing at a faster rate than the 60 and over age group. The oldest old are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 5.2 per cent between 2000 and 2050. In the Pacific, the extended family is the main provider of care and social security for the elderly and this will remain the case. Family solidarity remains strong but is weakening in urban areas. Governments will need to develop ways to supplement family care with more formal institutional care as the number of elderly grows. The development of national strategies and plans to address the challenges of population ageing are at an early stage, therefore, there is a need to raise awareness of the implications of population ageing in the Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
