Introduction to Special Issue on ‘Ageing in Place’

Abstract

Population ageing has become an increasingly prevalent social phenomenon in the world and especially in advanced economies. The challenges of an ageing population have called forth efforts from governments, the academia, social service providers and individual alike, in devising viable solutions to the problems related to health, retirement protection, human services, housing, life long learning, and a host of it. With increased longevity bestowed by advancement in health technology, there comes the challenge of increased morbidity. However, there has been an aversion across different cultures and societies against institutional living. Older people normally prefer to live in their familiar residence, their home in particular, where they have memories and special meanings attached to it. It thus makes our present concern, that of ‘Ageing in Place’ more forthcoming. This special issue addresses the challenges and opportunities posed by the embracement of ageing in place amongst our senior members. Ernest Chui presents the case of Hong Kong, a westernized Chinese society, in which traditional Chinese culture has been sapped posing challenges to familial care for the elderly people. There are problems posed by urban renewal where gentrification usually results in displacement of elderly residents, thus threatening ageing in place. However, policies and services could be devised to meet with such challenges that might provide reference for other similar cities. From Taiwan, another Chinese community, Chen Yen-jen presents the problems of declining co-residence between elderly people and their family members, threatening the viability of independent living of senior people. Government policies in promoting the care industry in the private sector may provide a possible avenue for meeting with such a challenge. Traditional Chinese culture of filial piety and community care spirits serve as normative support to achieving ageing in place. Hwang Eunju, a Korean scholar currently working in Canada, compares the patterns of service utilization and housing-related decisions between Chinese and Korean senior migrants in Canada. Her findings reveal that the Ageing Int (2008) 32:165–166 DOI 10.1007/s12126-008-9016-1