International active aging: global agendas forge ahead by Marilynn Larkin, MA

The average age of the world’s population is increasing at an unprecedented rate, according to a recent report1 commissioned by the National Institute on Aging, one of the US National Institutes of Health. In mid-2008, there were an estimated 506 million people ages 65 and older worldwide. By 2040, that number will hit 1.3 billion, doubling the proportion of older people globally from 7% to 14%. The report also examines international population trends and their consequences (see page 69 for highlights). Greater longevity, lower fertility rates, and increased demands upon older adults to support their children (and often grandchildren) are among the forces driving multinational healthy/active-aging initiatives.