Julianne Parkinson: Connect September 2023
Despite our myriad cultural and
societal differences, each of us
longs to maintain our wellbeing,
health, and quality of life.
Regardless of our spoken language,
geographic location, or lifestyle, we
are united in our shared aspiration
to live comfortable, connected and
fulfilling lives. That’s why, as experts
in the Longevity Economy, the
Global Centre for Modern Ageing®
applies a holistic lens to the ageing
phenomenon. We are committed to
improving the lives of older people
wherever they live.
Within less than 30 years, it’s projected that 1 in 4 people in the Asia Pacific region (or 1.3B adults) will be aged 60 plus.
Five of the world’s oldest countries will be located at Australia’s doorstep, with adults 65 years and over accounting for more than one third of the population in China & Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Singapore.
Across the entire region, there exists a pressing need for governments, businesses, researchers, and communities to join together with citizens, in order to identify and solve critical, unmet needs at scale.
Already, supply chains spurred by emerging technologies are seeking to better understand the changing needs of older populations, and racing to assemble to meet the changing needs of people at home.
Ageing Asia’s recent World Ageing Festival in Singapore was a convergence of established suppliers and new market entrants from around the globe, offering a diverse array of solutions. Robotic companions, Dementia Tech, daily living solutions, and remote health monitoring technologies were on display, alongside examples of innovative precinct design, placemaking for built environments, and community-led wellbeing initiatives.
At the GCMA, we are privileged to learn from the lived experience of older people, their friends, families, care providers, and other stakeholders in the wider community.
Through our nuanced understanding of older adults’ expectations, aspirations and pain points, we are equipped to inform and guide the supply side, including product developers, to respond with usable, likeable and scalable products and services, that are genuinely fit for end users’ purposes.
Such insights can inform capital investments and facilitate more effective allocation of public funding and resources. Strategic investment decisions, whether public, private, or a blend, are key to ensuring that beneficial innovations find their way into people’s homes, workplaces, shopping precincts, transportation corridors, allied health and community centres.
On behalf of the GCMA team and our global network of partners, it brings us immense pleasure to present this edition’s snapshot of advancements taking place worldwide. These innovations play a pivotal role in supporting the advancement of Ageing Well to the Asia-Pacific region.
