Year: 2014
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Affected, not Infected – HIV/AIDS and the Elderly in Thailand
The HIV virus is known to affect men and women in their reproductive age, between 15-49 years, leaving behind a large dependent population – children, the elderly, etc. The elderly play an important role in the epidemic although they are the invisible victims of this epidemic. They may not necessarily…
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Caring for the Needs of the Aging Workforce
As the American population continues to age, there is an opportunity and a need to adequately respond to the unique needs of older adults. Ensuring a social structure that considers the needs of the aging is important, particularly as it is projected that by 2030, the number of Americans 65…
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Old and Homeless in Australia: It Can Happen to Anyone
“In Australia, on any given night, 1 in 200 people are homeless.” One fifth of all people who are older than 55 years of age are homeless; many more live in unsecured housing. What is homelessness and what may cause someone to become homeless? A person is considered homeless when…
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Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: A Great Threat to the U.S. National Budget
Since the last Presidential Election, the national budget has been a sore spot for Republicans and Democrats, the two major political parties in the U.S. While government programs such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are leading debates on reducing the national budget, politicians are oblivious of a looming threat…
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Fighting Loneliness – Pet Therapy for the Elderly
For many, retirement and old age is a welcome stage of life with few responsibilities, and a lot of time to pursue interests. To others, it brings on that dreaded feeling which no amount of pills and doctor appointments can cure – loneliness. According to AARP, over a third of Americans…
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Old and Forgotten: The Crisis of Africa’s Elderly
Africa is currently the most youthful continent in the world. At least 35 per cent of its more than one billion population is between the ages of 15 and 35. While investing in the youth is a priority for the continent’s transformation, the elderly should not be forgotten. As Africa’s…
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The Threat of Food Insecurity Among the Elderly in the U.S. and Beyond
In 2012, 1.1 million (9.1 percent) U.S. senior citizens living independently were considered food insecure. This number is expected to increase by 50 percent in 2025 as the U.S. population continues to age. Data reported by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) described increases in the number of older adults…
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Sweden: A Role Model for Elderly Care
As mentioned in previous blog entries, worldwide, countries are facing challenges due to aging. By 2050, the elderly will outnumber children under the age of 15, mostly in developing countries. So, reforms for more cost-effective health care systems for elderly’s long-term care are becoming more and more important. Sweden is…
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Women in India – Longevity, Health Disparities and Empowerment
Being over 65 years and living in India is an increasingly common phenomenon. The Indian population over 65 years is steadily on the rise, totaling to a whopping 90 million people in 2011. Estimates suggest that this number will exceed 227 million by 2050. Within this giant aging population, there…
Global Health Aging 