Adding Life to Retirement Years by The Hon. Tam Yiu Chung
Chairman, Elderly Commission 15 February 2003
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Topics: Background and Introduction Contribution of Older
Persons to Society Retirement Age Senior Volunteerism Preparation
for Retirement Intergenerational Relationship and Continuing
Education Way Forward
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10.2% 11.2% 11.9% 12.2% 14.4% 17.2% 21%24.3% Source: Census and
Statistics Department
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Population Ageing is first and foremost a success story for
public health policies as well as social and economic development
Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO Director General
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Elderly Commission: Symposium on Challenges and Opportunities
of an Ageing Population 8 June 2002 first of its kind in Hong Kong,
a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach to discuss the
implications of population ageing
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Elderly Commission: Symposium on Challenges and Opportunities
of an Ageing Population 8 June 2002 policy framework for an ageing
society economic and business perspectives of population ageing
public perception of ageing changing workforce and concept of
retirement built environment changing healthcare focus
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Contribution of older persons to society
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Elderly Dependency Ratio the number of persons aged 65 and over
per 1,000 persons aged between 15 and 64 people in the age group of
15 to 64 years old support persons aged 65 or over assumption: as
population ages, fewer workers to support more older persons
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But the question is: are societal wealth and productivity only
generated by persons in the age group of 15 to 64?
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The fact is, older persons are going to be: more healthy better
educated and will aspire to play a different role in society
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not so long ago, a report of the League of Nations, in
anticipation of post World War II labour requirements, described
population aging as a major problem for industrial economies where
maximum productivity was thought to be reached by men under 35
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Research shows: older workers are usually willing and
enthusiastic about learning new skills older workers can learn,
although training techniques may need to beadapted lower
absenteeism and staff turnover among older workers
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Research shows: initial cognitive functioning of most
individuals is higher than that needed for most ordinary tasks
older persons are still fit to work at 75 years of age with their
IQ and EQ intact while some older workers may be less flexible and
adaptable, they are more reliable, conscientious, and loyal
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Employment of older people can be a very positive
socio-economic factor. Older workers: continue to pay taxes
contribute to retirement fund schemes generate wealth for
themselves and society Being employed enhance personal dignity and
keep people out of poverty.
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Retirement Age
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at the time the average life expectancy was 55 years manual
labour was the norm life in retirement was much shorter Retirement
age came into being in about 1889
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with people living longer, healthier lives, can we afford to
spend less time working and ever more time in retirement? Today
Hong Kongs average life expectancy for men and women are 78.4 and
84.6 years respectively:
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Retirement Age in USA - being gradually raised to 67 years
Japan 69 years Korea - 67 years
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Flexible or part-time work arrangements for older persons -
would not block the advancement of younger workers, while retaining
valuable insight and expertise for the employer likely to become a
necessity as the population ages
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a study has shown that late retirees who retired after the age
of 65 tended to die within two years after retirement (Sing Lin,
Ph.D, Mar 2002 Optimum Strategies for Creativity and Longevity )
but other studies also show that people who retire earlier also die
earlier
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important message is that we should all take care of our
health, have proper leisure and relaxation throughout life people
should be given a choice as to whether or not to retire, or to
continue working part- time
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Change societys attitude towards retirement and retirement
practices - consider how employment practices could be reinvented
so that older persons can continue working to the benefit of the
employers, themselves and society at large
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Labour Force Participation Rate
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Senior Volunteerism Apart from paid employment, older persons
can still make positive and productive contribution to society
through volunteer work.
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Senior Volunteerism over 200 000 volunteers, many of them are
older persons, in non-governmental sector 12 000 elder volunteers
in Social Welfare Departments Senior Volunteer Programme 1 000
elder health ambassadors in Elderly Commissions Community
Partnership Scheme projects
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the contribution of volunteer work are estimated at between 8%
and 14% of Gross Domestic Product consider ways to recognize the
value of voluntary work by older persons in Hong Kong
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Volunteering as a broader community investment strategy and
means of staff development time off with pay for their staff
financial support or assistance in kind company volunteering
schemes recognize and support existing staff involvement with
voluntary organizations
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Opportunities for retiree professionals to share their
experience and serve the community in sectors that are usually not
involved in ageing related issues
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Preparation for Retirement exit programmes for retiring
employees for active and healthy ageing healthy and active retirees
lessen demands on public medical and social services generate
business opportunities: investment management, travel services,
health products, etc.
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Intergenerational Relationship Continuing Education Reinvest in
Ageing
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Decrease in average household size and Increase in households
with persons 65+
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Intergenerational Gap growing segregation of the older and
younger generations in the domestic setting the chasm made greater
with the digital gap dwindling interaction between different age
groups deterioration in the younger generations perception of older
people
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Continuing Education older persons pursue lifelong learning
update themselves and keep up with technological advances in every
day living self-enrichment reconstruct the image of ageing and
improve intergenerational connectivity
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Reinvest in Ageing compartmentalized life course: - education
when young - work in adulthood - leisure after retirement
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Reinvest in Ageing integrated life course- lifelong learning
interspersed with periods of work and leisure and self-reflection
promotion of lifelong learning among elders- joint process of
individuals, families, communities and Government
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Elderly Commission advocate preventive and life-course approach
in health and positive image of ageing in the Healthy Ageing
Campaign promote active and healthy ageing according to the World
Health Organization Policy Framework on Active Ageing
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Initiatives to be considered rethinking retirement and human
resources practices review volunteering activities for older
persons and explore new opportunities
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Initiatives to be considered demonstration projects in
cultural, arts and sports arena to highlight the abilities of
active, healthy and creative older persons encourage lifelong
learning programmes and promote intersectoral collaboration in the
provision of lifelong learning opportunities for older persons
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The challenge: to socially evolve in a forward-looking,
sustainable manner add life to years after adding years to life
transition into a satisfying retirement in old age a win-win
situation for older persons and the rest of society
