Editing Population ageing (section)

== Social policies and intervention ==

In response to the threat of the undesirable consequences associated with an ageing population, many states have adopted preventative [[Human population planning|policies and initiatives]]. Because the dominant causes of population ageing are decreased birth rates and increased longevity, preventative action must address these factors. Lengthened lifespans are considered a significant achievement of the modern age, so many countries are instead turning to [[Natalism|pronatalist]] policies with limited success.<ref>North, Madeleine (21 September 2023). "With life expectancy increasing, here's how 4 countries are addressing their ageing populations". ''World Economic Forum''.</ref><ref>Gauthier, A.H. (2013). Family Policy and Fertility: Do Policies Make a Difference? In: Buchanan, A., Rotkirch, A. (eds) Fertility Rates and Population Decline. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137030399_16</nowiki></ref> Other short-term solutions involve augmenting the workforce, either through increased participation rates or immigration, to be able sustain the economy and an ageing native population.<ref>Bloom, D. E., Canning, D., & Lubet, A. (2015). Global Population Aging: Facts, Challenges, Solutions & Perspectives. ''Daedalus'', ''144''(2), 80–92. <nowiki>http://www.jstor.org/stable/24711220</nowiki></ref> However, increasing workforce participation has a ceiling effect, and the efficacy of expanding immigration is subject to much debate.<ref>Bermingham, J. R. (2001). Immigration: Not a Solution to Problems of Population Decline and Aging. ''Population and Environment'', ''22''(4), 355–363. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1006782904046</nowiki></ref><ref>Canales, A. C. (2024, January 29). ''Still more room to grow: Immigrants can reverse the U.S. population decline and its economic consequences''. National Immigration Forum. <nowiki>https://immigrationforum.org/article/still-more-room-to-grow-immigrants-can-reverse-the-u-s-population-decline-and-its-economic-consequences/</nowiki></ref>

Meanwhile, countries are instead being encouraged to embrace policy that adjusts to the inevitability of demographic change by promoting and improving infrastructure for "active ageing".<ref>World Health Organization. (2002). Active ageing : a policy framework. World Health Organization. <nowiki>https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/67215</nowiki></ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khan |first=Hafiz T. A. |last2=Addo |first2=Kwaku Mari |last3=Findlay |first3=Helen |date=2024 |title=Public Health Challenges and Responses to the Growing Ageing Populations |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/puh2.213 |journal=Public Health Challenges |language=en |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=e213 |doi=10.1002/puh2.213 |issn=2769-2450}}</ref> Additionally, improving the productivity of the elderly has also become a method to alleviate the problem of social aging. But this first requires increasing their investment in education, and providing suitable job opportunities is equally important.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Uhlenberg |first=P |date=1992-01-01 |title=Population Aging and Social Policy |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.18.1.449 |journal=Annual Review of Sociology |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=449–474 |doi=10.1146/annurev.soc.18.1.449 |pmid=12343802 |issn=0360-0572|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Generally in West Africa and specifically in Ghana, social policy implications of [http://www.indexmundi.com/ghana/demographics_profile.html demographic] ageing are multidimensional (such as rural-urban distribution, gender composition, levels of literacy/illiteracy as well as their occupational histories and [http://www.palgrave-journals.com/pm/journal/v16/n2/full/pm201110a.html income security]).<ref name=":0" /> Current policies on ageing in Ghana seem to be disjointed, and ideas on documents on to improve policies in population ageing have yet to be concretely implemented,<ref name=":0" /> perhaps partly because of many arguments that older people are only a small proportion of the population<ref name=":1">{{Cite web
| url = http://www.ifa-fiv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/061_Age-Discrimination-in-Africa-Age-Concern-England-DaneAge-Association-IFA-2006.pdf
| title = Age Discrimination in Africa
| last = Ogonda
| first = Job
| date = May 2006
}}</ref>

Global ageing populations seem to cause many countries to be increasing the age for old age security from 60 to 65 to decrease the cost of the scheme of the GDP.<ref name=":0" /> Advocates for raising the retirement and pension eligibility ages hope to allocate larger payments during the years the elderly are most vulnerable and in need of assistance.<ref>Reznik, G. L., Shoffner, D., & Weaver, D. A. (2007, April). ''Coping with the Demographic Challenge: Fewer Children and Living Longer''. Social Security Administration. <nowiki>https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v66n4/v66n4p37.html</nowiki></ref> Evidence also suggest that as lifespans lengthen, people remain healthier into older age than in the past, indicating that they may be able to participate in the workforce longer.<ref>Fry, Richard; Braga, Dana (2023-12-14). "1. The growth of the older workforce". ''Pew Research Center''. Retrieved 2025-04-06.</ref> However, even so, in industrialized countries with the greatest improvement in life expectancy, discussions about continuing to raise the eligibility age for pension benefits have intensified in order to reduce economic burden more significantly.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rowland |first=D. T. |title=Population aging: the transformation of societies |date=2012 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-94-007-4049-5 |series=International perspectives on aging |location=Dordrecht ; New York}}</ref> 

Age discrimination can be defined as "the systematic and institutionalized denial of the rights of older people on the basis of their age by individuals, groups, organisations, and institutions."<ref name=":1" /> Some of the abuse can be a result of ignorance, thoughtlessness, prejudice, and stereotyping. Forms of discrimination are economic accessibility, social accessibility, temporal accessibility and administrative accessibility.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.ifa-fiv.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/061_Discrimination-of-Older-People-in-Asia-Age-Concern-England-DaneAge-Association-IFA-2006.pdf
| title = Discrimination of Older People in Asia
| last = Gerlock
| first = Edward
| date = May 2006
}}</ref>

In most countries worldwide, particularly countries in Africa, older people are typically the poorest members of the social spectrum and live below the [[poverty line]].

Moreover, the growing burden of health expenditure has evolved into a social policy and cost management issue, not just a population issue.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Getzen |first=T. E. |date=1992-05-01 |title=Population Aging and the Growth of Health Expenditures |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/47.3.S98 |journal=Journal of Gerontology |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=S98–S104 |doi=10.1093/geronj/47.3.s98 |pmid=1573213 |issn=0022-1422|url-access=subscription }}</ref>