KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (IPS) – With Asia projected to have more than 1.2 billion people aged 65 and above by 2060, adoption of technologies including artificial intelligence can help plan for an active and fulfilling old age, lawmakers attending a regional meeting on Asia’s Ageing and Care Economy said.
The meeting, convened by the Asian Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (AFPPD) Malaysia, looked at several aspects of ageing, including the use of technology, digital health solutions and assistive technologies, all aimed at ensuring that governments have the policies and finances to adequately care for an ageing population.
Malaysian Member of Parliament, Hon. Dato’ Hjh Mumtaz Md Nawi, explained the repercussions of this demographic trend succinctly:
“The implications of this aging trend are serious, affecting everything from the labor market to health care systems. The growing elderly population will require significant investments in health care infrastructure and long-term care services.”
For lawmakers, this means enacting policies that support lifelong learning, older adult employment, and gender equality, which will increasingly be needed to maximize older adults’ economic contributions while minimizing the risks associated with aging.
The Chairman of AFPPD Malaysia, Hon. Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, reminded the audience that ageing affects women differently than men, especially since women have a longer life expectancy and currently account for 61% of the population aged 80 and above.
“Despite living longer than men, older women often suffer from the combined effects of ageism and sexism that permeate both social systems and the workplace,” Ling noted. “Ageism refers to the systematic bias and discrimination that older individuals experience.”
While women were often forced to retire early, men were able to advance their careers into their 60s.
“China is an example of a country that enforces a decade of gender inequality by requiring female civil servants to retire at 50, while allowing men to retire at 60. Vietnam has similar regulations, but with a five-year gap.”
Such age discrimination “unfairly limits women’s career advancement opportunities, resulting in unequal treatment and compensation.”
Ringi urged MPs to break down age discrimination barriers and ensure that social protection includes women, especially those in the informal sector, in order to alleviate poverty and vulnerability, mitigate exposure to risk, improve workers’ ability to protect themselves from income loss, and ensure equitable access to health services.
He noted that in Budget 2024, Malaysia’s Self-Employed Persons Scheme (SPS) initiative aims to provide comprehensive social protection coverage to women engaged in informal sector jobs. The scheme entitles them to a range of benefits, including medical coverage and compensation for temporary and permanent disability due to work-related injuries.
The Speaker of Malaysia’s Parliament, Tan Sri Dato’ Johari bin Abdul, reiterated to parliamentarians that it is essential to invest in and strengthen social protection programmes and health services in the context of an ageing society and growing care population. They must establish sustainable financial mechanisms for the elderly, upskill the employable population and create productive and relevant jobs for the elderly, and invest in research and innovation to develop new technologies and solutions that improve the quality of life of the elderly and enable them to live independently for longer. They must also recognize the importance of care work, recognize the value of unpaid care work, and promote shared responsibility within the framework of a care economy.
“As lawmakers, we have a critical responsibility to shape and implement policies that meet the needs of older adults. We can lead the development of inclusive policies, propose and support legislation to protect the rights and well-being of older adults, and serve as advocates to raise public awareness. Additionally, lawmakers can oversee the implementation of policies and programs to ensure that government agencies are providing effective services to the older adult community and, when necessary, holding them accountable. In conclusion, let us unite to meet these challenges with courage, empathy, and foresight.”
Malaysian lawmaker Haja Halimah Ali said while technology is often associated with youth, it also offers opportunities to improve the lives of older people.
“The term ‘geriatech’ has therefore gained worldwide recognition as a technology designed to address the specific needs of older adults and should be central to all policies on older adults and technology.”
Ali noted that Japan and South Korea are working to transform elder care, including to address social isolation and loneliness.
For example, in Japan, the development of robotic caregivers, such as the PARO therapy robot, has shown significant benefits in providing companionship and reducing stress for elderly patients. “These robotic pets, which learn through interaction, recognize faces, and respond with affection, are very popular with the elderly.”
In Korea, AI technology has been incorporated into nursing homes.
“AI systems can improve safety and response times by detecting falls, monitoring sleep patterns, and alerting caregivers to unusual behavior. For example, robots can interact with elderly people living alone and call emergency services when needed. In nursing homes, robots can assist elderly patients with everyday tasks such as toileting and cleaning.”
And in a lighter tone, the AI robot can “play Go with bored elderly patients,” he said, adding that this is “not a scenario of the distant future, but the reality of Seoul’s smart care service, which the city announced as part of its elderly care service plan.”
Senator Hon. Datuk Wira Dr. Hatta Bin MD Ramli agreed, adding that AI-based devices and wearables play a vital role in health monitoring and telemedicine “as they can analyse an individual’s preferences, health status and routines to provide personalized care and support”.
Another advantage is that AI-based sensors and smart devices can detect falls, unusual movements, or emergency situations and immediately alert caregivers or emergency services. AI-based medication management systems can help seniors organize their medications, set reminders for doses, and monitor adherence to prescribed regimens.
AI-driven data analytics and predictive modeling can help you identify trends, predict health outcomes, and optimize healthcare delivery for older adults.
Throughout the meeting, Hon. Howard Lee Chuan How, Vice President of AFPPD Malaysia, who served as the moderator and session chair, emphasized that the meeting aimed to establish a collaborative framework to share best practices and strengthen international cooperation to improve policies and programmes to support the ageing population. He explained that while each country faces unique challenges, it is important to harmonise policies across the region for an integrated approach to address common issues so that countries are better prepared to meet the challenges posed by demographic change.
“By leveraging our shared knowledge and resources, we will strengthen our shared commitment to building a future where older people are valued, cared for and supported,” he said.
memo: The conference was organized by the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Asian Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (AFPPD) in Malaysia, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal Source: Inter Press Service
