在亞太地區，年齡達60歲或以上者估計占總人口的14.3%；這數字至2030年預估將增加到17.7%，到2050年將達到25%。此外，婦女占所有高齡者的53.1%，這一比例隨年齡增長而上升。

In Asia and the Pacific, 14.3% of the population is estimated to be 60 years of age or older; by 2030, that number is expected to increase to 17.7%, and by 2050, it is anticipated to reach 25%. In addition, women make up 53.1% of all elderly persons, a percentage that rises with age.

財務保障是必須的，如此長者可在更長時間內保持活躍和健康。在該地區的許多國家，不到三分之一的勞動年齡人口享有強制性養老津貼，而且很大一部分人仍然無法負擔得起高品質的醫療服務。

Financial security is required thus older persons can remain active and healthy for longer periods of time. Fewer than one-third of the working-age population in many countries in the region is covered by mandatory pensions, and a large proportion still lacks access to affordable, high-quality health care.

這種保護至關重要，因為長者們繼續貢獻勞動力。例如在泰國，三分之一的65 歲及以上人口為勞動力；87% 的65 歲及以上的勞動女性在非正式部門工作，而同一年齡層的勞動男性則有81%。在該地區的其他國家也可以觀察到這種普遍趨勢。

Such protection is critical because older persons continue to contribute to the labor force. In Thailand, for example, one-third of people aged 65 and up are in the labor force; 87% of working women aged 65 and up work in the informal sector, compared to 81% of working men in the same cohort. This general trend can also be observed in other countries in the region.

長者尤其是老年婦女，為照顧子女和其他高齡者做出重大貢獻。這種無償照顧使其家庭中的年輕成員能夠在本國或國外的大都市從事有償工作。

Older persons, particularly older women, make significant contributions as caregivers to both children and other older persons. This unpaid care allows younger members of their families to pursue paid employment, often in metropolitan areas in their own country or abroad.

老年婦女和男性必須與時俱進跟上科技進步的腳步，以獲得服務並在勞動市場上保持競爭力。年輕人可以通過跨世代倡議教老年人如何使用這些新技術。

Older women and men must keep up with technological advancements in order to access services and remain competitive in the labor market. Younger people can teach older people how to use technology through intergenerational initiatives.

為了保證需要照護的老人能夠獲得廉價與高品質的護理，我們還必須投資有效的長期照護系統。隨著失智症和其他精神健康問題的增加，護理需求也變得越來越複雜。雖然未來可能會減少無償照護，而且家庭護理也不一定保有品質，目前亞太地區許多國家仍依靠家庭成員提供照護。

To guarantee that elderly people who require care can access inexpensive, high-quality care, we must also invest in effective long-term care systems. Care requirements are becoming increasingly complex as dementia and other mental health issues are on the rise. Although there may be less unpaid care in the future and family care is not always of high quality, many countries in the Asia-Pacific region currently rely on family members to offer this type of care.

雖然亞太地區的一些國家有某種形式的高齡化政策，但這一主題必須被納入所有政策和行動計畫的主軸，而且必須將其轉化為一致性、跨部門的國家戰略，以惠及本地區，包括那些生活在偏遠島嶼、沙漠和山區的所有長者。

While several countries in the region have some form of ageing policy, the topic must be mainstreamed into all policies and action plans, and they must be translated into coherent, cross-sectoral national strategies that reach all older people in the region, including those who live on remote islands, deserts, or mountain ranges.

隨著亞太地區許多地方迅速進入高齡化，我們可以採取具體措施為長者們提供安全、可靠和有尊嚴的生活環境，同時也為社會作出貢獻。(iStockphoto-Chinnapong提供)

With many parts of the Asia-Pacific region rapidly aging, we can take concrete steps to provide environments in which our elders can live safely, securely, and dignifiedly while also contributing to society.(Supplied/iStockphoto-Chinnapong)

Citation:

Reimagining ageing: Older persons as agents of development

https://www.unescap.org/op-ed/reimagining-ageing-older-persons-agents-development