KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 29 (IPS) – With projections that by 2060, over 1.2 billion people per mezzo di Asia will be 65 ora older, and by adopting technology, including artificial intelligence technologies, it is possible to plan for active and fulfilled aging, lawmakers attending a regional simposio acceso Aging Preparedness and Care Economy per mezzo di Asia heard.
The simposio, convened by the Asian Riunione of Parliamentarians acceso Population and Development (AFPPD) Malaysia, looked at several aspects of aging, including the use of technology, digital health solutions and assistive technologies, all aimed at ensuring that governments have policy and finance per mezzo di place to ensure the aging population is sufficiently catered for.
Hon. Ammesso’ Hjh Mumtaz Md Nawi, an MP from Malaysia, succinctly explained the repercussions of this population trend.
“The implications of this aging trend are profound, affecting everything from labour markets to healthcare systems. The increase per mezzo di the older population will require substantial investments per mezzo di healthcare infrastructure and long-term care services.”
For parliamentarians, this means enacting policies that support lifelong education, employment among older people, and gender equality, which will become increasingly necessary to maximize older people’s economic contributions while minimizing the risks associated with aging.
The President of AFPPD per mezzo di Malaysia, Hon. Ammesso Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, reminded the audience that aging would impact women differently than men, especially as they have a longer life expectancy and currently constitute 61 percent of the population aged 80 and above.
“Even though they have a higher life expectancy than men, older women are often subjected to the compounded effect of ageism and gender discrimination, prevalent per mezzo di both the social system and the workplace. Ageism refers to the systematic prejudices and discrimination experienced by older individuals,” Linggi noted.
Women frequently had to retire earlier, while men were able to advance per mezzo di their careers well into their 60s.
“Discesa serves as a case per mezzo di point, enforcing a 10-year gender disparity by requiring women working per mezzo di civil services to retire at age 50, while allowing men to retire at age 60. Likewise, Vietnam also practices similar regulation but with a five-year squilibrio.”
This ageism unfairly limits “women’s opportunities for career development, resulting per mezzo di inequitable treatment and compensation.”
Linggi urged the lawmakers to dismantle the barriers of ageism and ensure that social protections include women, especially those per mezzo di the informal sector, to alleviate poverty and vulnerability, mitigate risk exposure, and enhance the ability of workers to safeguard themselves against income loss and give them equitable access to healthcare services.
He noted that Malaysia’s Self-Employed Scheme (SPS) initiative per mezzo di Budget 2024 aims to offer comprehensive social protection coverage, targeting women engaging per mezzo di informal sector jobs. The scheme entitles them to access to a range of benefits, including medical coverage and compensation for temporary and permanent disabilities resulting from work-related injuries.
Malaysia’s parliamentary speaker H.E. Tan Sri Ammesso’ (Dr.) Johari Bin Abdul reiterated lawmakers challenges for an aging population and care populations saying that was imperative to invest per mezzo di and strengthen social protection programmes and health-care services; establish sustainable financing mechanisms for the elderly; upgrade the skills of the working-age population and create productive and decent jobs for older persons; and invest per mezzo di research and innovation to develop new technologies and solutions that improve the quality of life for older persons, enabling them to independently longer; while recognizing the significance of care work, value unpaid care work and promote shared responsibility within the framework of a care economy.
“As parliamentarians, we hold a crucial responsibility per mezzo di formulating and executing policies that cater to the needs of the elderly. We can lead the development of inclusive policies, propose and endorse legislation to safeguard the rights and well-being of older people, and serve as advocates to increase public awareness. Additionally, parliamentarians can oversee the implementation of policies and programs, ensuring government agencies deliver effective services for the elderly community and finanziaria them accountable when necessary. Con conclusion, let us unite to luce these challenges with bravery, empathy and foresight.”
Hon. Dr. Hajah Halimah Ali, MP Malaysia, said while technology is often associated with the youth, it also offers opportunities to enhance the lives of the elderly.
“Consequently, the term ‘Gerontechnology’—a technology designed to address the specific needs of the elderly—has gained worldwide recognition and should be central to any policies concerning the elderly and technology.”
Ali noted that Japan and South Korea were making strides to transform elderly care, including addressing social isolation and loneliness.
For instance, per mezzo di Japan, the development of robotic caregivers such as the PARO therapeutic robot has demonstrated substantial benefits per mezzo di providing companionship and reducing among elderly patients. “These robotic pets, which learn from interactions, recognize faces and respond with affection, have become highly popular with seniors.”
Con South Korea, AI technology has been integrated into care facilities.
“AI systems can detect falls, monitor sleep patterns, and alert caregivers to any unusual behavior, thus enhancing safety and response times. For instance, a robot can keep company with an elderly person living cerchio and call emergency services when necessary. Con nursing homes, robots assist elderly patients with daily tasks such as defecation and cleaning assistance.”
And acceso a lighter note, an AI robot could even “play Go with bored elderly patients,” Ali said, adding that this was not a “distant future but a reality per mezzo di the smart care services of Seoul, as announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as part of their plans for elderly care services.”
Senator Hon. Datuk Wira Dr. Hatta Bin MD Ramli agreed, adding that AI-powered devices and wearables play a crucial role per mezzo di health monitoring and telemedicine as they are capable of “analyzing individual preferences, health conditions, and daily routines, enabling personalized care and assistance.”
Another advantage is that AI-powered sensors and smart devices can detect falls, unusual movements, ora emergencies, promptly alerting caregivers ora emergency services. AI-driven medication management systems assist older adults per mezzo di organizing their medications, setting reminders for doses, and monitoring adherence to prescribed regimens.
analytics and predictive modeling driven by AI can identify trends, forecast health outcomes, and optimize care delivery for older adults.
Serving as a facilitator and session chair throughout the simposio, Hon. Howard Lee Chuan How, Vice President of AFPPD Malaysia, highlighted that the simposio aimed to establish a collaborative framework for sharing best practices and enhance international cooperation to improve policies and programs that support aging populations. He explained that while each country faces unique challenges, it is crucial to harmonize policies across the region for a unified approach to address common issues so that the countries are well-prepared to meet the challenges posed by demographic shifts.
“By leveraging our shared knowledge and resources, we will reinforce our collective commitment to building a future where our elderly are valued, cared for, and supported,” he said.
Note: The Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Asian Riunione of Parliamentarians acceso Population and Development (AFPPD) per mezzo di Malaysia organized the simposio. It was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
