Productive Ageing: Changing Burden to Resources

Late life can be a time of productivityHong Kong is one of the fast ageing society in Asia mainly due to increase in longevity and decrease in birth rate. This is accompanied by an increase in old age dependency rate, and a worry about rising need and cost for medical and social care, reduced productivity of the society, making Hong Kong less competitive. It is the aim of this paper to advocate productive ageing since many older people continue to be productive on personal, interpersonal and societal levels, if given the chance and the support. Three levels of Productive AgeingOn the individual level, it may take the form of life-long learning, or engagement in creative or constructive leisure activities (e.g. calligraphy, painting). At the interpersonal level, older people contribute to their family through caregiving to frail or young members and taking up household chores. Outside the family, a lot of retired people would take the initiative to get in touch with peers and organize mutual aid or social activities. At the societal level, it may take the form of either paid employment or non-pay voluntary work. Moreover, the growth of silver market provides golden opportunities for new businesses and jobs. Resources and support requiredTo maximize older people’s contribution, support and resources are required. This paper will recommend measures and support that are needed to maximize the contribution of people at late life, so that the threats from population ageing would become rich and contributing human and societal resources.