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Japan Statistics
According to an article written by Hideyuki Sano, the demographic shift is perhaps more prominent in Tokyo than anywhere else, it being the world’s largest metropolis.
Sad stories making reference to the corpses of elderly tenants lying unnoticed in apartments for several years are used to support such statistics as ‘more than 20,000 people a year die alone in Japan’. This accounts for 2% of all deaths there. With the fastest ageing society in the world, Japan ’s over 65’s are estimated to account for 40% of the population by 2055.
> Read the entire article here
Older Workers More Prevalent in New Zealand
New Zealand has more workers aged 55 and over than ever before, according a Department of Labour report released on 17 th June 2007 .
Department of Labour acting deputy secretary for work directions Alison Dalziel said the report on older workers showed the labour market was entering new territory. One in six workers was now 55 or over, and older workers accounted for 43 per cent of total employment growth the five years to March 2007.
Source: NZPA
Ageing in America
From a recent article in the Observer on ageing in America come the following figures:
- In 2007 4.6 Americans turn 65 every minute. By 2025 it will 8 every minute.
- Every day 10,000 Americans reach their 50 th birthday
- There are 76 million ‘baby boomers’ in America, those who were born between 1946 & 1964. They started turning 61 last year.
- As fewer young workers enter the US workforce, there will be a labour shortage of 5 million people by 2010.
- Some US firms are facing the retirement of up to 40% of their workforce over the next decade.
The new Speaker of Congress Nancy Pelosi is 66 and John McCain, Republican frontrunner for 2008 presidential race is 70. One of the most powerful organisations in the US is the American Association of Retired People with 35 million members and an operating budget of $800m (₤408m) a year and has the ability to lobby government, influence policy and legislation for its membership.
Life Expectancy Increases
In Tokyo , the life expectancy for Japanese women (already the longest in the world) has risen by nearly one year. Female life expectancy increased to 85.52 years in 2005 from 84.60 years in 2000.
Japanese women’s life expectancy remained the world’s longest for the 21 st straight year, ahead of Hong Kong and Spain (according to UN demographic figures). For men, life expectancy rose to 78.56 years from 77.72 years, the fourth longest in the world after Hong Kong , Iceland and Switzerland .
- Morio Akimoto, Health Ministry of Japan citing fixed census data taken in 2005
Japan has long been touted as one of the world’s longest-living populations, but experts worry that changing eating patterns may soon affect this as many Japanese people move from the traditional fish and rice-based diet to less healthy fast food.
Senioren Supermarket
An article in the 17 th January edition of The Guardian newspaper highlighted the Senioren Supermarket in Germany. The store caters to the older population of East Berlin.
It offers wider aisles, magnifying glasses to read label print, shopping trolleys that also act as chairs and a meeting place area with comfortable sofas and massaging armchairs. The Kaiser supermarket chain appears to be making the most of the population trends we’re all familiar with.
‘Use-it-or-lose-it’ Theory
A $15 million study commission by Penn State University shows that short frequent sessions of brain exercises including puzzles and reading can help older people stay mentally fit longer.
3,000 men and women in six different cities participated in the five year study. To test your brain power, visit the website www.memoryconcepts.com.
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