Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons^™

婆婆的原宿 : 遊日本看銀髮市場, Pak Hang, Eric Tang

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

伴隨著人口不斷老化的趨勢，長者群組日益龐大，他們在不知不覺間改變著我們的社會。人口老化雖帶來種種挑戰，但也包含商機，有不少人正看準了這個新興市場，建立多姿多彩的銀髮經濟。

亞太 : 活用彈性退休 應對人資挑戰, Ting Cao

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

隨著人口老齡化及社會經濟的發展，退休制度的改革已成為國際討論的焦點之一。在傳統意義上，退休意味著停止工作以及領取養老金。從社會老年學的角度看，在以僱傭勞動為主的工業社會，退休至少具備兩個重要意義：1.對員工過往工作的認同及補償；2.令年輕人有更多的工作機會。然而，工作方式的變遷和養老保障模式的結構性改革，使得退休與工作之間的對應關係日漸模糊。隨著預期壽命的不斷延長，越來越多的長者在退休之後，仍然有長達20年或更多的時間保持到健康，並且擁有繼續工作的意願和能力。此外，面對勞動力供給下降，龐大的養老金缺口及財務壓力等問題，國際社會對於退休改革的呼聲亦不斷增強。

長者理財挑戰多 及早教育增保障, Ting Cao

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

當人們進入人生的後半段，需要面對更多的不確定性及特別的財務挑戰。據加拿大財務及消費者機構 (FCAC) 在2014年的報告，長者在生命後期，大致要面對十個有關於財務方面的挑戰，分別是：1.為退休作計劃；2.住房改變的需要；3.再就業；4.疾病與殘疾的適應；5.將儲蓄轉變為不間斷收入；6.失去配偶或者同伴；7.處理可能出現的財務詐騙或者財務虐待；8.對親人或伴侶的照顧；9.旅遊；和10.房產安排。

從懼怕死亡到管理生命 : 「晚晴+Ve」殘疾長者生命教育計劃的啟示, Man Yin, Emily Chan

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

傳統中國人視「死亡」為忌諱，即使深明每個人終將難逃一死，很多人仍會本著「只談氐，避談死」的心態，選擇避而不談「死亡」。難道不談，就代表其不重要且可以被忽略？

退休準備 : 豐儉不由人, Wai Sun, Derek Chun, Wai Yee, Annie Ng

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

退休意味著失去固定工作收入，亦標誌著生活方式的轉變，同時也會衍生出一系列的健康及社交需要。因此，應制訂一個全面的退休計劃，讓退休人士和準退休人士可更好地應對退休帶來的挑戰。

家居改善減危險 原址安老樂頤年, Man Yin, Emily Chan

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

人人對「安樂窩」的定義都不同，但必定有一個共通元素：必須令人感覺舒適安全。長者普遍希望留在原來的「安樂窩」生活，但隨著年齡增長、身體機能減弱，部分長者失能愈見嚴重，需倚靠輪椅、扶手杖等輔助工具移動。昔日居所室內設計或會變得危機四伏，不再適合他們居住。

有感現時很多居所並不能滿足長者的住屋需要，香港房屋協會與測量師學會建築測量組合作，推出「長者住安心計劃」，藉路演和講座等公眾教育、諮詢服務以及家居評估，提升市民大眾對無障礙家居設計的認識。

子非魚，焉知魚樂乎? : 重訪女性發展需求, Man Yin, Emily Chan, Wenyu, Angel Gao

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

香港老龄化情況加劇，而老年人口女性化的趨勢也更加明顯。由於長者群組之生活質素與其生命歷程有著密切的關係，因此嶺南大學亞太老年學研究中心就接受香港婦聯的委託，翼透過建立婦女發展指標，儘早介入以助改善女性之晩年生活。

從「醫人」到「醫國」: 濟世為懷的梁智鴻醫生, Chun Kiu, Tony Lai, Wing Chung, David Chan

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

梁智鴻醫生 (GBM，GBS，OBE，太平紳士) 出身醫學世家，是醫術高超的私人執業泌尿科醫生。他手術技巧高超，素有「金刀梁」的綽號，是香港家喻戶曉的一位名醫。他同時是一名「公職王」，自1988年起擔任過立法會醫學界功能界別議員以及安老事務委員會主席等多項政府及不同半官方機構的公職，一直深受各界人士好評。梁醫生多年來熱心公益；為肯定其對社會的貢獻，政府先後向他頒授多個勳銜，包括太平紳士、金紫荊星章以及大紫荊勳賢。現時梁醫生的主要公職包括香港大學校務委員會主席以及安老事務委員會長者學院發展基金主席等。有説「醫有三品: 上醫 醫國，中醫醫人，下醫醫病」，梁醫生是如何從「醫人」到「醫國」呢？

人老就退休? : 以彈性退休解勞動人口老化挑戰, Wai Yee, Annie Ng, Wai Sun, Derek Chun, Chun Yin, Edwin Fok

Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies Newsletter 亞太老年學研究通訊

和很多已發展社會一樣，香港人口也在快速老化，特別是大批戰後嬰兒潮的人口日益步入退休年齡，更加劇了香港的老齡化問題。據政府統計處統計數據顯示，香港老齡人口佔總人口數的比率將會由2011年的13%急速增長 到2041年的30%，屆時香港將進入“超老齡社會”。

大部分機構都嚴格規定了僱員的退休年齡，僱員離開熟悉的工作崗位，不僅嚴重浪費了一批有經驗、技術和能力的勞動力，亦因此削弱了整個城市的生產力。再者，在未來幾十年，隨著年長僱員陸續離開勞工市場，他們對於 社會保障以及其他福利的需求將持續增加。

Canada's Oldest Old: A Population Group Which Is Fast Growing, Poorly Apprehended And At Risk From Lack Of Appropriate Services, Jacques Légaré, Yann Décarie, Kim Deslandes, Yves Carrière

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Discussion Paper Series/ Un Réseau stratégique de connaissances Changements de population et parcours de vie Document de travail

The future of population aging in industrialised countries, including Canada, will be driven not by lower fertility but by extensions in life expectancy. Declining mortality will have the most effect on the oldest age groups.

In this context, Peter Laslett’s (1989) ideas on rethinking traditional approaches to the life cycle are fundamental. He argues that we need to move from three stages of life to four: childhood; adulthood; then the new third age lasting from retirement until old age, which becomes the fourth age (or the oldest-old).

This report examines the present and future characteristics of the oldest old, and …

Projections Of The First-Year Full-Time Undergraduate Enrollment At South Dakota State University To 2020, Census Data Center

Center for Rural Vitality and Community Well-being Project Reports

This report has three parts. The first section provides a brief description of the full-time first-year (FYFT) undergraduate cohort enrolled at South Dakota State University (SDSU) from 2005 to 2014. The second section provides projections by year for the FYFT enrollment to the year 2020. The third section provides project changes between 2014 and 2020 in public high school graduates in South Dakota by school district. Three datasets are utilized for this report. The FYFT undergraduate enrollment data from 2005 to 2014 are provided by the Institutional Research Office at SDSU. These data are used for preparing descriptive statistics and …

Climate And Energy: Opinions Of Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans 2015 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Tonya Haigh

Nebraska Rural Poll

Many rural Nebraskans are concerned about more severe droughts or longer dry periods in their area, insect-borne diseases like West Nile Virus, and more extreme summer temperatures in their area. Fewer rural Nebraskans are concerned about the availability of water for their community or home or more frequent extreme rains or floods. Residents of the North Central region are more likely than residents of other regions of the state to be concerned about more severe droughts or longer dry periods in their area.

Few rural Nebraskans reported their household experiencing health problems during the drought of 2012. However, many persons …

Perspectives On Community Life In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2015 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy

Nebraska Rural Poll

By many different measures, rural Nebraskans are positive about their community. Many rural Nebraskans rate their community as friendly, trusting, and supportive. Most rural Nebraskans also say it would be difficult to leave their community. In addition, most rural Nebraskans disagree that their community is powerless to control its future.

However, the proportion of rural Nebraskans satisfied with many social services and entertainment services has decreased across all nineteen years of the study. Declines in satisfaction levels across all 19 years are seen with nursing home care, medical care services, senior centers, mental health services, entertainment, retail shopping and restaurants. …

Significant Data Limitations Prevent An Accurate Analysis Of The Distribution Of Cils: Recommendations For Change, Lillie Greiman, Tom Seekins, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

This data brief provides a summary of recommendations for using Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze the distribution of Centers for Independent Living across the U.S. for improved program policy and decision-making.

Needs Assessment For Littleton Elder And Human Services And The Council On Aging, Jan E. Mutchler, Bernard A. Steinman, Ceara Somerville, Maryam Khaniyan, Mai See Yang

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes efforts undertaken by the Town of Littleton Council on Aging, in partnership with the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Littleton’s older population. The focus of this report was on two cohorts of Littleton residents—those aged 50 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”), and the cohort of individuals who are currently aged 60 and over (“Seniors”). The content of this report is intended to inform the Town of Littleton, the Littleton Council on Aging and Senior …

Aging In Barnstable: Striving For High Livability In A Cape Cod Community, Bernard A. Steinman, Ceara Somerville, Hayley Gleason, Maryam Khaniyan, Mai See Yang

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Barnstable Senior Services Division and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the Gerontology Institute at the McCormack Graduate School, University of Massachusetts Boston. Beginning in Fall 2014, these organizations partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to living and aging in Barnstable. The focus of this report was on two cohorts of Barnstable residents — those aged 50 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”), and the cohort of individuals who are currently …

Behind At The Starting Line: Poverty Among Hispanic Infants, Daniel T. Lichter, Scott R. Sanders, Kenneth M. Johnson

Carsey Publications

In this brief, authors Daniel Lichter, Scott Sanders, and Kenneth Johnson examine the economic circumstances of Hispanic infants using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey annual microdata files from 2006 through 2010. They report that a disproportionate share of Hispanic infants start life’s race behind the starting line, poor and disadvantaged—an important finding because the proportion of all U.S. births that are Hispanic is growing rapidly. The poverty risk is especially high among rural Hispanic infants and those in new destinations. Despite higher poverty risks, Hispanic infants receive less governmental assistance. High Hispanic infant poverty has immediate and long-term consequences …

Policy Recommendations For Alleviating Homelessness In Chittenden County, Vermont, Brittany E. Nevins

Capstone Collection

Chittenden County, Vermont is suffering from increasing homelessness and poverty among both individuals and families. Residents of Chittenden County face an urban rental vacancy rate of less than .5% in Burlington, VT where the majority of jobs are located and only a 3% vacancy in suburban towns. Residents face waiting lists for rental subsidies of up to 8 years, and decreasing access to services for working class populations who are facing rent to income ratios of nearly 70% and utility costs of 30% of their income. The market rent is increasing and the state budget faces deep cuts to services. …

Red Rural, Blue Rural; Rural Does Not Always Equal Republican, Dante J. Scala, Kenneth M. Johnson

Carsey Publications

In this fact sheet, authors Dante Scala and Kenneth Johnson examine voting data for nearly 9,000 rural residents to identify how voting patterns differ across rural areas comparing farm and recreational counties to those elsewhere in rural America. They also examine voting data from the 2008 and 2012 Presidential elections for each rural county. Scala and Johnson report that rural America is not the undifferentiated Republican bastion depicted by commentators. While Republican presidential candidates do best in rural counties dominated by farming, Democratic presidential candidates do well in rural counties dominated by recreation. In “battleground” states, these rural differences may …

Engagement In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Civic And Political Participation And Views Of Community Leadership: 2015 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy

Nebraska Rural Poll

Most rural Nebraskans have participated in community involvement activities but they have not been as involved in some political activities. However, most rural Nebraskans have spoken with their pocketbooks on political and social issues by either buying or boycotting products because of the social and political values of the company providing them. And, many rural Nebraskans have signed a written petition about a political or social issue and have contacted a local public official to express their opinion.

Certain groups are more likely than others to have participated in community and political involvement activities. While younger persons are more likely …