East and South-east Asia : issues of ageing in the region

This introductory chapter focuses on the region itself, providing some demographic data for comparative purposes, but stressing that the purpose of the book is to move beyond demographic description and projection. It aims to investigate the research and policy implications of ageing in the region for what is broadly defined below as "social care'. It seems that the above trends will generally increase the role of governments in providing more than a safety net and providing many basic services for elderly people who cannot care for themselves and who do not (or will not) have family support for whatever reason. Much more information is needed to inform policy or persuade policy makers in this area. In particular, housing, pensions, health care, day care and institutional requirements will require approaches probably considerably different to the laissez-faire, minimal or residual policies currently being applied in most of the countries covered in this book. In addition, considerable boosts to the family care tradition will need to come from coherent public support of a practical nature if families are to be able to continue their expected roles far into the future.