Research reports the global presence of a structural population change, metaphorically depicting it as a demographic tsunami, “silver tsunami”,1 or “gray tsunami”.2 This analogy specifies the impacts of an unceasing rise of people who are aged ≥60 years.3 The aging of the baby-boom generation (1945–1965), low fertility, increased life expectancy, and reduced old-age mortality have caused population aging,4,5 with the result that 12% of the world population is now aged 60-plus and this segment is growing at a rate of 3.26% annually.6 Such a faster growth of the proportion of older adults compared to other age groups creates a “demographic revolution”7 that affects economical, political, and social dimensions. In particular, 22% of the aging population is in high-income countries, such as Japan (33% of its local population), Germany (28%), Italy (28%), and Finland (27%).8 Many scholars are alarmed by the negative effects on human capital9 and overall economic growth10 due to a contraction of the younger age groups and total population size.11
In addition, misrepresentations of aging in the mass media12,13 result in a phobia concerning aging, or gerontophobia, i.e., “the unreasonable fear and/or irrational hatred of old people by the society and by themselves”.14 The media magnify pessimistic perceptions, negative images,15 and stigmatized attitudes toward the elderly16 regarding their vulnerabilities in personal (e.g., stereotypic assumptions), institutional (such as compulsory retirement), intentional (for instance, elder abuse), and unintentional (such as insufficient aged care facilities) deficiencies.17 They also belittle this group as being an inactive labor force.18 Worse, they allude to gender-biased social representations19 stemming from the loss of beauty and reproductive value in older women.20
These contentious social perceptions21 hinder social cohesion. Many older adults suffer from unfavorable housing conditions, income sources, social support, and civic participation.22 Younger generations may be unwilling to involve themselves with this disadvantaged group. This not only engenders an insufficient health-care workforce serving the elderly,23 which hampers the medical system, but also causes negligence. Moreover, social exclusion worsens their physical and psychological health24: for instance, it can lead to disability,25 cognitive underperformance,26 anxiety,27 and depression,28 resulting in social disengagement.29
Such a problem-directed discourse30 toward the aged is controversial. Aging is an inevitable part of the life process, resulting from accumulated physiological changes31 associated with illnesses and the natural deterioration of bodily systems32; for instance, sensory (auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and visual) and kinesthetic dysfunctions lessen the quality of life among elderly people. Conversely, reframing the discourse on the aging population will enrich inclusiveness and social justice.33, 34
This study (1) analyzes the challenges and the opportunities in the context of population aging; and (2) subsequently highlights the paradigm shift from a biomedical to a humanistic perspective. It also suggests various measures to achieve a senior-respecting context.
The fear of getting old35 originates from the rejection of the natural life span leading up to death, which emphasizes the losses while neglecting the gains acquired in late life. These losses relate to health, economic capacity, status, and power, implying impotence and helplessness.
Aging erodes physical fitness and health,36 with a high prevalence (25%–30%) of neurodegenerative diseases,37 such as dementia38 and Parkinsonian syndromes,39 together with chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases,40 hypertension,41 osteoporosis,42 constipation,43 memory loss,44 vision and hearing impairments,45 and poor oral health.46 Additionally, malnutrition and obesity are not rare among this population.47 These produce limitations, e.g., gait abnormality,48 recurrent falls,49 and swallowing difficulties.50 Such age-related disabilities51 not only weaken everyday competence,52 but more importantly, they increase the risks of psychiatric problems,53 including depression54 and sleep disorders,55 along with weaker emotion regulation due to an aging brain.56 These factors restrict their social life. Therefore, heavy long-term care costs are incurred.57,58,59,60
Reinhardt61 argued that age-specific health-care spending is not necessarily the sole factor of public medical expenditure. Life-threatening illnesses occur in younger age groups as well, e.g., heart attack62 and stroke.63 Early-onset dementia64 and Parkinson's disease affect the middle-aged. Medical expenses cover all ages. Medical specialists recommend health promotion in early life,65 such as a good diet and a nonsmoking, nonalcoholic lifestyle. Such health-care planning and preventive measures66 maintain good health fundamentally, especially for diminishing medical costs in low-income or underdeveloped countries.67
Scholarly studies elucidate a negative correlation between the growth of population aging and the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, pointing to a decrease of 5.5% in the GDP due to a 10% increase in 60-plus-year-old citizens.68 This decrease is caused by a shrinking labor volume69 and lower productivity, with a 0.2% yearly reduction over the following 2 decades,70 directly mitigating national competitiveness.71
Apart from demographic restructuring, age discrimination in the workplace72 limits the employment and career promotion opportunities available to older people. Prejudices against the elderly stem from misunderstandings regarding them, e.g., poor job performance, low retraining ability, inflexibility, less adaptability, resistance to change, higher medical leave rates, and higher wages,73 which result in excessive operational expenses and push them to retire involuntarily,74 especially in the process of escalating economic development during urbanization.75
Despite the fact that social pensions and retirement schemes can improve the financial conditions,76 health,77 and well-being78 of the elderly, the monetary amount provided by social security occupies a significant proportion of public expenditure.79 However, the effects of wealth redistribution are debatable,80, 81 and the poverty rate among the elderly increases with age,82 urging pension reforms.83,84 Turner85 refuted that age-driven economic burdens are probably overestimated or overstated.
Gerontologists warn that weak health, fiscal incapacity, and discrimination press the elderly to experience social withdrawal,86 and vice versa,87 which are connected to higher risks of suicide88 and mortality.89
The elderly deserve a graceful life, for which a holistic range of health (“a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being”)90 is crucial to substantiate their abilities in developing a silver economy. This makes them capable of active aging, successful aging, productive aging, optimal aging, and vitality aging.
The postponement of functional declines91 is a key strategy for aging care, which ameliorates self-efficacy for cognition performance and physical capability,92 in addition to achieving a balanced emotional state.93 This cultivates
Active aging elicits
The misperception regarding the economic burdens induced by population aging has been disputed. The elderly are eager to advance contributory opportunities to society,109 which is known as
With the aid of advanced technology,114 the dimensions of elderly employability115 and silver entrepreneurship116 increase the involvement and potentiality of old adults in business ventures, gaining financial rewards, autonomy, self-attainment, and recognition in their later lives. This sets them forward as social assets and resources for expediting the use of social capital.117
Meanwhile, the silver consumer market118,119 is growing rapidly and profitably,120 and attracts tremendous investment.121 It expands product development and marketing expenses.122 Aside from private medical services for the elderly,123 community-based programs124 and leisure products125 – for instance, recreation centers,126 spas127 and senior tourism128 – are also some of the major components in the
Productive aging enhances their accessibility and availability in the family and society,129 including in grandparenting130 and volunteering.131,132 Social engagement enhances subjective and objective health.133 Simultaneously, their contributions push society in a positive direction toward this group of people.134
In summary, the notion of
This demographic trend is not necessarily a tsunami137 when it is perceived under a proper lens. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights138 affirms that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”, which values all age groups. In order to comply with this belief, the United Nations should take forward-looking leadership to advocate a humanistic approach toward the elderly and pioneer innovative methods.
In accordance with the Oxford Learner's Dictionaries,139 as a noun, “
Instead, the term
Elderly subjectification149 views the senior as subjects,150 increases awareness of this group, and promotes their values.151 This empowerment152 eliminates the dichotomous connotation between junior and senior, dismantling an
Although aging is unavoidable, it is manageable, thereby boosting “age management”159 effectively to nurture the
Cyber technology positively affects the health and longevity of the elderly.160 Extensive utilization of an e-medical system for physical health161 and emotional care162 is able to improve their physical and cognitive functions and, hence, increase social connections.163 Recent bioengineering equipments164 and three-dimensional printing have revolutionized medical applications.165 These investments in health equity for seniors166,167 enable their longevity while minimizing severe disabilities,168 in spite of having functional physical limitations. Meanwhile, lowering health risks can strengthen psychological resilience,169 forming “the life span diamond”170 that interacts among relational resources, physical well-being, positive mental states, and engaging activity.
With the assistance of advanced technology, a smart home171 provides automated convenience services,172 senior-friendly furniture, and tailor-made facilities,173 accommodating the specific needs of seniors while enhancing their quality of life.
Chronic stress escalates the senescence process among adults174 physiologically and psychologically.175 Thus, a flexible employment pattern and retirement behavior,176 when prevalent among seniors, results in not only a reduction in stress but also in the retention of their knowledge and skills.177 The use of their professionalism in the silver market,178 in collaboration with available technology, elevates silver productivity.179 Amazingly, senior entrepreneurship180 fosters a novel work culture.
Studies signify an inverse relationship between education level and cognitive decline.181 Cognitive performance in late life helps retain social connection,182 as well as prevent disability and social isolation,183 resulting in better life satisfaction.184 Continuing education for seniors refines their sociopsychological adaptability185,186 and personal development,187 building stronger self-confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, and self-efficacy.188
This study investigates the challenges and opportunities in the context of the growing senior population in order to de-stereotype the negative images regarding the elderly. Destigmatizing this group is critical for the demarginalization and sustainability of the elegant senior, who can then proceed toward a graceful ending with dignity in his/her life. A decent discourse concerning them is essential to providing the support of health equity and an age-barrier-free environment, to ensure the fulfillment of their psychological needs, a meaningful life, and wellness. This research reframes, with humanistic concerns, a population in which the number of seniors is continuously rising. Additionally, these shed insightful light on geriatric care for helping professionals, including medical and nursing teams.