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3 Solutions to Elderly Poverty in Japan

Elderly Poverty in JapanJapan has some of the world’s highest rates of elderly poverty. While the average poverty rate for seniors among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries is 14%, Japan’s rate is notably higher at 20%. There are many potential causes, the most obvious being the country’s rising population of older adults. In 2020, 29% of Japan’s population was older than 65.

Many seniors rely on national pensions for necessities like food and medical expenses. However, a 2019 survey found that approximately $10,000 is needed annually to cover these daily necessities. In contrast, individuals above 65 receive an annual basic pension of only about $6,000, falling significantly short of the required amount. The pension system is also heavily patriarchal, as single, divorced and widowed women are at a heavy disadvantage. For example, around 44.1% of elderly, single Japanese women live in poverty and that rate is much lower for men (30%).

One reason for this could be from the post-war era when women were socially expected to raise children. At the same time, their husbands would work and earn money for the family. The pension system was therefore built to support men and families, not single women. To address this issue of elderly poverty, Japan has offered solutions that include the continuation of employment, improving health care and city accessibility. 

Encouraging Lifelong Work

By encouraging lifelong work, older people can continue to earn money and support themselves. Almost 40% of Japanese companies keep elderly employees and these companies have started programs that aim to keep elderly employees with specialized skills. And company jobs aren’t the only source of work.

More than “70% of the temporary or part-time workers at convenience stores and supermarkets, security guards, custodial workers, care providers, workers at call centers and so on” are above 65. Taxi firms are also increasingly hiring elderly drivers. In addition to these job markets, each municipality in Japan has a “Silver Work” center that helps older adults find jobs.

Improving Health Care

Improving health care can help older individuals stay healthy and remain in the workforce, reducing their reliance on pensions. Better health also decreases the costs associated with medical care and medication, thereby mitigating elderly poverty. One foundation, in particular, has made it its mission to achieve this goal.

The Nippon Foundation and MetLife Foundation initiated the “Better Life Better Place” for the Elderly and Children Program. The program aims to develop 12 care facilities for older people and children by the end of the year. These care facilities will operate like hospice care homes for older people, with volunteers from MetLife Japan employees helping run the homes.

Making Cities More Elderly-Friendly

Creating more elderly-friendly cities can support active lifestyles among seniors, leading to improved health, reduced health care costs and decreased elderly poverty, ultimately fostering happier lives. Some Japanese cities have begun implementing such changes. For instance, Akita has launched initiatives to encourage social engagement among older adults, including a one-coin bus service that provides affordable transportation for seniors.

Conclusion

These three solutions aim to ensure that the elderly remain healthy, enabling them to earn income and lead fulfilling lives. Since health care costs are a significant driver of elderly poverty, improving health and reducing these costs can greatly alleviate financial burdens. By fostering better health, seniors’ overall cost of living could decrease significantly.

– Hannah Chang

Hannah is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Elderly Poverty in Botswana

Elderly Poverty in BotswanaWith Botswana’s extended family system, different generations keep closely in touch and often live under the same roof. It is refreshingly different from the isolating nuclear family set-ups common in other parts of the world. However, it also means that the responsibility of the young orphans of HIV and AIDS victims falls disproportionately on older generations, who bear the brunt of the financial obligations that come with caregiving. Thus, elderly poverty in Botswana is a considerable challenge.

Elderly Poverty in Botswana

Many elderly are impoverished but unable to take part in productive economic activity comfortably. Some force themselves to partake in hard labor like land tilling and alcohol brewing to keep afloat. Caregiving further strains those who suffer from non-communicable age-related health problems, like arthritis, according to the Journal of Nursing Scholarships. These issues, however, are not restricted to caregivers. They are symptomatic of the wider condition of the Botswanan elderly.

More and more people are reaching old age in Botswana, with the number of older people (60+) as a proportion of the population reaching 7% in 2020. Yet, socio-economic development has not kept pace with this increase. Elderly poverty in Botswana is a salient issue, with 91% of the older population living below the poverty datum line, or the level of income needed by a household to achieve minimal levels of well-being across different parameters.

Vulnerability to Poverty

One answer is that many Botswanans tend to leave the labor force relatively earlier, beginning at age 50. This is often because of ill health, participation in lower-productivity activities like subsistence farming, and obligations to undertake unpaid care work, as outlined above. This significantly reduces the period over which their retirement savings can build up. It also increases the number of years that such savings must provide for, according to the 2022 UNFPA report.

For those who do not exit the workforce so early, the legal retirement age is 60, according to the Journal of Nursing Scholarships. The five-year gap between this and the state pension age – 65 – leaves many in financial insecurity.

Households headed by older persons in Botswana tend to have relatively lower per capita income and more dependents than wage-earners, UNFPA reports. A more detailed individual-level analysis finds that the elderly show higher levels of multidimensional poverty than any other age group.

Although the old-age public pension scheme mentioned above is a step in the right direction, many have trouble accessing benefits. This is because of lengthy commutes to pay points and delays in processing life certificates.

Inadequacies in Public Health Care

Botswana has an effective public health care system, with minimal out-of-pocket expenses for citizens. Recent advances have reduced the incidence of communicable diseases. But it is yet to adapt to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases: for example, 36% of 50 to 59-year-olds now self-report hypertension. Close to 34.5% of older men and 65.8% of older women are overweight or obese.

BMC Proceedings reports that there is a lack of expertise in treating such diseases across health care providers, especially in rural areas. National health care guidelines are not adhered to strictly. It follows that those who already suffer because of elderly poverty in Botswana are hit even harder by the uneven access to high-quality health care.

Additionally, studies estimate that only 3% of older adults have a good diet. Assessment scores show poor intake of dairy, fruits and vegetables. Many older people also report irregular access to drinking water, according to the 2022 UNFPA report.

Support and Empowerment

The government has responded to these difficulties by developing a National Healthy Ageing strategic programme, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This includes a more thorough public health response to the needs of the elderly population. According to WHO, it also adopted the WHO’s Integrated Care for Older People guidelines to roll out a comprehensive health monitoring tool in 2022.

Masego Leepile’s Beno Society, founded in 2004, focuses on empowering the elderly to be self-reliant. Along with providing palliative care, it also encourages their social well-being by organizing “community wellness days, festivals and campaigns.”

The Sisters of the Charity of Nazareth administer the Pabalelong Hospice close to the capital city of Gaborone. Its experienced team provides home care to more than 90 patients nearby, and accessible palliative care services to people throughout the country.

Botswana has witnessed remarkable economic growth since its independence and has successfully lifted thousands of citizens out of poverty.

– Shiveka Bakshi

Shiveka is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Elderly Poverty in Guinea

Elderly Poverty in GuineaAlthough life expectancy was previously low due to health issues leading to early death, advancements in technology, urbanization and globalization are expected to increase the elderly population in low-income African countries. With an overall lack of resources in line with few studies and policies made for older adults, elderly poverty is a concerning issue in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with the world’s highest poverty rates. “In Guinea, the country is currently facing problems related to aging, not because of the low demographic weight of the elderly (about 6% of the total population) but because of their increasing number.”

Reasons behind Elderly Poverty

Most of the elderly population live in rural areas (65%) and have not received education (82%). As they age and become less able to perform labor, it is hard for older adults to earn income. Deterioration in body function also leads to malnutrition, diseases and illness. Formally, in a traditional family, family members and offspring cared for older people.

However, recently, Africa has been going through a change initiated by colonialism. With development and modernization, change was made toward a Western family structure of a nuclear family or young people moving to urban areas and leaving older people behind. As a result, older adults are often left vulnerable. They have little or no support they would otherwise have had in a traditional setting.

Strategy of Governance

Some solutions to combat poverty emphasize the need for stronger governance and a more effective social pension system. A study that simulated pension systems in 15 low-income sub-Saharan African countries found that considering fiscal capability and operational feasibility, a non-contributory pension program targeting poor elderly individuals was ideal. A targeted social pension was deemed more practical than a universal pension system.

A “Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper” by the Guinean government in 2013 stated that the urban-rural divide and low-income distribution to the poor contribute negatively to national poverty. While the paper does not exclusively cover the topic of elderly poverty in Guinea, it emphasizes efforts regarding policy-making, governance and economic development to combat issues of regional growth, employment and poverty.

A Pan-African Way

However, there is another way of dealing with issues, especially in regard to older people. It is to embrace the African culture and approach rather than implement Western values and modernized social structures. Pan-Africanism is a term that calls for unity within the African region and criticizes colonialism. The book “Aging in Africa” emphasizes the importance of providing support to older adults through family generations. It writes that “this is how Africa had its strength in the decades past and this should be where it draws its strength in the future.”

Conclusion

While there are nongovernmental organizations such as the World Food Program and Helen Keller International operating inside Guinea for poverty allegations, there are not many significant measures taken to deal with elderly poverty. Continuous interest and an in-depth understanding of elderly poverty in Guinea are required. A Pan-African approach, embracing and preserving the African culture of valuing older people, can be implemented to deal with poverty.

– Minji L. Kim

Minji is based in Preston, Lancashire, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Elderly Poverty in Mauritius

Elderly Poverty in MauritiusMauritius is an island country in East Africa with a current population of approximately 1.3 million. Most of the population resides in the capital, Port Louis. In 2020, the World Bank projected the poverty rate in Mauritius to be around 15.8%. Though the economy of Mauritius suffered as the country gained independence, diversifying its economic activities over the years has helped with its economic growth. However, poverty still prevails in the country. Elderly poverty in Mauritius is still a concern for the country.

Elderly Population in Mauritius

As of 2024, around 13.9% of the total population of Mauritius consists of people from the age group of 65 years and above, according to The World Factbook. The dependency ratio of a country is determined by the number of people who are currently not in the labor force, or those aged 0-14 years and 65 years and above and it stands at 40.7% in Mauritius. The elderly dependency ratio constitutes 17.3% of the total.

A matter of concern for Mauritius is that the dependency ratio has been increasing recently, which means an increase in the dependent population of the country. A decline in fertility rates from 2.3 in 1990 to 1.41 in 2021 and a recent “brain drain” could be some of the reasons for an increase in the elderly population.

According to the U.N., elderly poverty represents the percentage of people aged 65 or above whose income is lower than half the income that is available to a household to spend and save. Reasons for elderly poverty can be both income (reducing working hours and earning lower wages) as well as health-related.

Integrated Care for Elder People Approach

Every one in 10 old-age people in Mauritius are victims of elderly poverty. The number of elderly people who are prone to mental health issues like Alzheimer’s and Dementia is increasing day by day. To tackle this low-income and health situation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has initialized an Integrated Care for Elder People Approach (ICOPE) plan to take a step towards ensuring that elderly people have access to proper health and well-being.

Development Context of the ICOPE involves understanding the challenges that older people face in terms of health care and social care and catering to these challenges. Strategic planning aims to improve the general health and well-being of older people by providing prioritized health services, according to WHO. The methodology and processes of the ICOPE aim to understand elderly health care by conducting various workshops.

The guiding principles propose that access to free health care for elderly people should be a right. These principles pose the relationship between human rights and elderly health care, thereby suggesting that elderly health care is a right as much as it is a necessity. The vision, mission and goal of this approach is to ensure that older people enjoy their rights alongside receiving proper integrated health care services.

Strategic Objectives

The strategic objectives are a set of goals that aim to improve elderly health care from the very base. From early screenings recognizing diseases in elderly people to integrated health care which involves the coming together of different social sectors to cater to all the needs of the elderly, the cover everything related to elderly health care. The objectives also focus on influencing legislation and policies to increase government funding for health care, according to WHO.

Poverty and health care are interrelated terms in the sense that good health leads to a better quality of life. Elderly poverty in Mauritius is being tackled through things like health care schemes for this very same reason. Organizations like the WHO are taking various steps to be able to ensure better standards of living for the country’s aging population.

– Adya Umesh

Adya is based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Elder Poverty in Czechia: What You Should Know 

Elder Poverty in CzechiaIn 2022, the estimates showed that half a million elderly people in Czechia were living on the verge of poverty. High inflation has influenced this figure, as it has been rising year on year and was at a staggering 17% in 2022. In addition to this, most Czech senior citizens are surviving on their old age pensions alone, which is not sufficient enough to live on in the face of increasing living costs.  This is because the basic government pension has shown little change to the average wage working-age citizens receive. While the pension amounted to 30% of the average working wage in 1991, it had decreased to be worth just 10% in 2019.

The age dependency ratio in the country, otherwise known as the number of children and elderly people to the number of people of working age, is 58%. This figure is higher than that of other countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States, which have an age dependency ratio of 50% and 54% respectively. Therefore it is clear that the elderly make up a significant amount of the population.

Behind Elder Poverty in Czechia

The age dependency ratio in the country, otherwise known as the number of children and elderly people to the number of people of working age, is 58%. This figure is higher than that of other countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States, which have an age dependency ratio of 50% and 54% respectively. Therefore it is clear that the elderly make up a significant amount of the population, and so the fact that so many people are experiencing poverty is concerning.

In 2016, nine out of 10 elderly Czech people living in poverty were female, placing Czechia on the higher end of the scale of the EU’s table of statistics on the number of elderly women living in or at risk of poverty by country. A possible cause of this is the fact that elderly Czech women tend to receive less pension money, with their average monthly pension in 2014 amounting to just 10,000 crowns, and men’s averaging at 12,200.

Organizations Helping

While these figures may make the situation seem bleak, organizations are helping reduce the rate of elderly poverty in Czechia. The Olga Havel Foundation has introduced a program that aims to support the ageing population of Czechia. It makes contributions towards the cost of nursing care that elderly people, provides crisis helplines, contributes a transport allowance for care services and much more.

Apart from the governmental funding, members of the public and non-profit organizations can also make contributions. The scheme improves the quality of life of elderly people by removing the pressure of having to pay to access nursing and allows them to maintain their independence by giving them the option to be cared for in their own homes instead of in a retirement facility.

The Caritas Czech Republic also aims to help elderly people and other vulnerable groups in Czechia. It provides health and social care to a total of nearly 150,000 people a year. One of its projects is the Brno Diocesan Charity Rescue Network, which aims to assist vulnerable populations by enabling them to access health care and fulfill other basic needs.

Closing Remarks

While elder poverty in Czechia is a significant problem, it is evident that efforts are being made to lessen the extent of the issue. The Olga Havel Foundation, for example, is especially instrumental in the effort to prevent elder poverty in Czechia, with its program to cover the costs of in-home nursing care and other allowances that reduce the financial burden the elderly have to shoulder to meet their daily needs. The Caritas Foundation also makes valuable contributions to help those affected by poverty of all ages access health care and other necessities that their own money may not sufficiently cover.

– Sue-Joyce Headon

Sue-Joyce is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project

Photo: Unsplash

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Being Poor in South Korea

Being Poor in South KoreaKorea throughout History has had its fair share of turmoil with colonization, slavery and war. Most recently, after a long struggle it has established a fully democratic government fighting through 40 years of turbulence preceding the end of the Korean War. But despite South Korea’s rapid growth and vast success, there are still big challenges it must face. With 15.1% of South Koreans living in relative poverty, soaring housing and rental costs and a tight and highly competitive job market, there are still some harsh realities South Korea’s poorest citizens must contend with.

Social Stigma

In South Korea, entering the world of employment can be a stressful ordeal. As of 2009, South Korean university students take five years and four months on average to complete a four-year degree. One reason is the high societal expectations on individuals to find employment and achieve financial and material success, thus some students prolong their graduation to maintain the title of student.

For those living under the poverty line, these stigmas stretch further, working in low-paying jobs and struggling to provide the necessities for themselves and their families, this reality can be incredibly isolating as they are subject to prejudice. This further leads the poor in South Korea to become marginalized members of their communities.

Salary Disparity

In the 1960s, South Korea’s government wanted a rapid economic boost. So, it turned to Chaebols, business conglomerates that specific South Korean families run. The Chaebols are family-run businesses that were given a large amount of support from the government to boost business and exports. This worked wonders, even today these Chaebols are vital to South Korea’s Economy. Samsung for example, is responsible for 20% of Korea’s GDP. 

There is a lot of competition to work for companies like Samsung which can offer more incentives, job security, insurance, higher wages and better working spaces. Adversely, it leaves smaller companies scrambling for business and forced to pay far lower wages, fewer benefits and constant concerns regarding job security. 

Large companies offer only 13.9% of jobs in South Korea, creating a large disparity between these highly sought-after jobs and employment opportunities from smaller companies, or part-time/temporary positions. This makes it very difficult for the poor in South Korea to lift themselves out of relative poverty, because of a lack of stable opportunity and an incredibly competitive job market. 

Housing Crisis and Ageing Population

In 1997, South Korea suffered through the Asian financial crisis. During this time, South Korea’s most vulnerable turned to jjokbangs. These small, cramped, improvised dwellings became home to many poor in South Korea, who had nowhere else to go. These jjokbangs average around 35 square feet, however, they gave a living space to otherwise homeless individuals. This term is still in use today and is associated with poverty and a last option for the poor in South Korea.

According to the Los Angeles Times, in 2023 there were more than 3,000 jjokbangs in the Seoul greater metropolitan area alone and the prices for apartments have increased by 58% between 2017 and 2021. It has been at the forefront of political manifesto, with voters trying to find legitimate plans for new housing projects. 

Therefore, it is a difficult and frustrating time for young South Koreans, newlyweds, the elderly and the poor of South Korea who cannot afford to invest in property or pay rent because of the state of the housing market and the lack of affordable and sufficient accommodation.

Data from the OECD shows currently 48.6% of South Koreans, 65 and over are living under the poverty line and are among Korea’s poorest citizens. It is estimated that by 2025 Korea will have entered a ‘super-aged’ population, more than 20% of Korea will be over 65. There is a grave concern about the safety and security of Korea’s elderly.

South Korea’s Bright Future

In the fight against poverty, South Korea has taken these issues seriously and has implemented new policies to strengthen its welfare state. In recent years the government has raised the minimum wage, in an attempt to lessen the wage gap between the rich and the poor. 

It has implemented a safety net basic pension scheme which provides to 70% of those 65 and older. Therefore, the amount spent on Pension spending has increased from 1.9% of the GDP in 2000 to 4% in 2020, as more people are becoming eligible. This will likely increase in the coming years with South Korea’s ageing population and could prove vital, especially to elderly South Koreans living in Poverty.

The government also pledged to supply 830,000 housing units by 2025 to create more affordable housing for the younger generation, according to The Korean Herald. It hopes to build smaller, higher-quality apartments but offers them as low-cost public rental housing. In hopes of alleviating the market and giving Koreans better options for housing. 

South Korea has proven that it can take big ideas and make them a reality, as a previous receiver of assistance from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a collection of countries that hold each other accountable by sharing skills and suggesting new policies for the betterment of its citizens. South Korea is now a proud member and has offered insight into education, technology, and sustainability, all areas it has performed well within its own country.

– Phil Mundy

Phil is based in Bristol, UK and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Elderly Poverty in Grenada

Elderly Poverty in GrenadaIn many Caribbean countries, including Grenada, aging can mean a loss of income, disability and increased vulnerability to ill health. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development, approximately 25% of Grenadian citizens live below the poverty line and older adults (65 and above) make up nearly 11% of Grenada’s population.

Elderly poverty in Grenada can be attributed to the difficulty elderly individuals often face in finding employment due to ageism within the workforce, health concerns and varying levels of ability that may prevent them from working. In addition to the risks of unemployment and health concerns, many elderly people in the Caribbean can not afford adequate retirement plans and must rely on support services as income.

However, Grenada’s growing population of older people impacts support services like pensions by limiting its ability to provide aid due to the large number of individuals who must rely on them. Because Grenada is a developing country, social protection systems can only offer minimal assistance to older people, which is not enough to maintain a good standard of living. The amount of financial support that Grenada’s National Insurance Scheme (NIS) can provide is currently struggling to keep up with the number of older adults who qualify for aid.

Limited Access to Health Care

In addition to limited support from pensions and retirement benefits, the elderly in Grenada have limited access to affordable health care services. Because of the lack of access to health care and healthy lifestyle options, some of the leading causes of death among the elderly in the Caribbean are ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and diabetes. While primary health care is available to individuals in Grenada, access to specialized care for specific health concerns is disproportionately accessible to those with higher incomes. Medications are subsidized for individuals more than 60 years old in Grenada to address this issue. However, when specific medications are unavailable in the public health system, individuals must pay out of pocket for them in the private sector and those who can not afford them usually go without.

Potential Solutions

With that being said, the NIS proposed solutions to address elderly poverty in Grenada and the challenges they have faced in continuing to provide financial support to elderly citizens. These solutions include gradually increasing the pension age to 65 by 2029 and increasing the contribution rate from 500 to 750 by 2028. While these reforms being made to the pension scheme seem exclusive, the NIS still plans to take care of the Grenadian elderly who do not qualify by offering a government grant. By making these changes, the NIS could continue to support the elderly in Grenada rather than ultimately diminish due to the economic issues associated with a rapidly growing population.

Furthermore, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean suggests addressing health care financing, increasing accessibility to specialized health services and limiting out-of-pocket spending would increase accessibility to health care in Grenada. Expanding social health insurance to all workers could also limit out-of-pocket expenses and reduce government expenditures on social welfare by allowing workers’ contributions to fund their own health insurance. Additionally, it would be highly beneficial for non-governmental organizations to advocate for health protection for all citizens of Grenada, especially the elderly.

One nongovernmental organization working to reduce elderly poverty in Grenada is the Grenada Association of Retired Persons (GARP), established in 2010 to offer learning opportunities, social activities and support to elderly individuals in Grenada. In recent years, with the help of other organizations, it has provided food and financial assistance to the elderly.

Final Remark

Since Grenada is a developing country, elderly poverty is caused by various risk factors associated with aging and the government’s limited ability to provide social support services. Individuals aged more than 60 in the nation are among the most vulnerable to poverty, as they must navigate issues associated with aging, such as unemployment, disability, ill health and isolation.

– Elaina Irving

Elaina is based in Raleigh, NC, USA and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Understanding Elderly Poverty in South Africa 

Elderly Poverty in South Africa South Africa, a nation grappling with various tribulations confronts yet another growing challenge: elderly poverty.

The Ageing Index

The rise in the proportion of elderly individuals within the population, referred to as population ageing has become one of the most pertinent issues of the 21st century, affecting nations globally.

The Ageing Index denotes the ratio of individuals aged 60 years and above per 100 individuals less than the age of 15 within a given population. Thus, a higher index signifies a larger proportion of elderly people within a population.

The ageing index in South Africa increased from 30 in 2017, to 33 in 2022, a clear signal of the problem, according to Statistics South Africa. It also reported that in 2022, more than 5 million people were 60 or older. This means that around 9.2% of South Africa’s population comprises the elderly.

Financial Vulnerability

Statistically, one-quarter of all older people could be chronically poor. In addition to this, the University of Natal found that Africans make up almost 90% of chronically poor elderly. This poses a huge threat to the safety and well-being of the elderly population in South Africa. This vulnerability stems from various factors, including inadequate pensions, limited employment opportunities and the burden of supporting extended families.

Root Causes

The elderly in South Africa face a wide range of challenges. Having spent the majority of their lives under an apartheid system, South Africans older than 50 spent their working years under employment restrictions. Thus, one of the main causes of elderly poverty is unemployment. Highly competitive labor markets, without work opportunities for those with poor training and education, serve as a huge hindrance to older workers. Further, limited social protection is another factor that exacerbates elderly poverty in South Africa. The state old age pension system is the only policy in place, however, it is not completely effective due to extended families exploiting the pension, and bureaucratic hurdles. Thus, this policy is unable to help the elderly meet their basic needs, especially in light of rising inflation.

Efforts Towards Alleviation

Efforts to alleviate elderly poverty in South Africa involve various government policies, social programs and initiatives from non-governmental organizations.

The South African government provides social grants to vulnerable groups, including the elderly. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) administered The Old Age Pension in 1928, providing financial assistance to elderly citizens who meet certain criteria. By 1958, the percentage of old age people receiving the grant had risen to 60%.

Government and non-profit organizations run elderly care facilities that provide housing, health care and social support to seniors in need. These facilities aim to improve the quality of life for elderly individuals who may be experiencing poverty. These are in the form of – Retirement villages, Residential Care facilities, Communal living and Abbeyfield homes.

Many community organizations run meal delivery programs that provide nutritious meals to elderly individuals who may have difficulty preparing food themselves due to physical limitations or financial constraints. For example, the Meals on Wheels Association of South Africa (MOWASA) delivers meals to the homes of elderly citizens across the country. Doctor Denis Baird founded it in 1964, and its national program currently comprises more than 700 service points.

Financial Literacy and Empowerment Programs

Some community organizations offer financial literacy workshops and empowerment programs specifically focusing on elderly individuals to help them manage their finances, access available benefits and resources and plan for their future. These programs aim to enhance the economic security and independence of elderly citizens. The Ageing with Dignity (AWD) initiative started in 2009 and provides financial literacy training and resources to elderly individuals in underserved communities.  The primary aim is to prevent loss of dignity due to health issues in old age, mainly stemming from the feeling that one is a burden to the family. Under AWD, anybody above the age of 60 years in the Dakulguda cluster of 15 villages can choose to join the club meant for them, by paying an annual subscription of Rs 10. In the AWD program, there are currently 636 members, which is almost the entire elderly population of the program villages.

– Naysa Seth
Photo: Flickr

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Seniors Face Poverty in Slovakia

Poverty in SlovakiaSlovakia’s population has been aging rapidly and the working-age population is expected to shrink in the next 30 years. Many senior adult pensioners in Slovakia and Eastern European countries anticipate retirement. Unfortunately, these “younger old” (aged 65 to 74) Senior Slovakian residents will face financial discrepancies that may affect their future “quality of life.” As the aged population in Slovakia grows, poverty and social exclusion are issues that could sway how seniors utilize their anticipated pension package. Some “older young” seniors extend their retirement by working longer or becoming self-employed (own-account workers) to increase their income. Human health and social work industries are popular areas of employment. At the same time, other pensioners draw from investments to increase their income. Unfortunately, this is not an option for many seniors.

Socioeconomic Situation of Slovakia

Poverty in Slovakia “is not only a matter of lack of money.” The number of persons at risk of poverty rate (AROP), severe material deprivation and the number of people living in households with very low work intensity are indicators Slovakia uses when forming policy measures to increase employment, reduce long-term jobs and reduce poverty and social exclusion.

However, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD), about 74% of all pensions are below the monthly minimum wage. This leaves 500,000 (2021 estimate) Slovakian pensioners living below the poverty line. This number increased by 200,000 in 2022. Social, employment, health and education reforms are crucial to offset the pressures poverty places on pensioners. A large number of pensions were established during the mid-20th century.

At that time, life expectancy was shorter: 66 for men and 71 for women. Today, the government needs to support pensioners living in their 80s and 90s. So, considering a rising life expectancy and a declining fertility rate, the old-age dependency ratio is anticipated to increase.

Elderly persons’ poverty and social exclusion degree depend on their cohort (i.e., single adult, married with one child and so on) and the region in which they reside. One-third of older people in Central, Western, Eastern and Bratislava regions experience severe poverty. These areas are poorer because of weak business development, poorly developed infrastructure and lower levels of education.

Social Exclusion vs Dignity

According to the OECD, the Slovak Republic’s poverty rate for people aged more than 65 is between 3% and 4%. The retirement income is less than half the national median household disposable income. Hence, a retirement pension assures the elderly population of Slovakia that they “lack the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living,” in short, “poverty.”

The percentage of people with AROP and social exclusion in December 2023 was 3.8%. The Slovak population’s social exclusion can be observed through health and access to health care, poverty and material deprivation, housing, local environment and interpersonal relations. Some senior adults who are unemployed, have limited education and live in single-parent and multi-child households are at the greatest risk of experiencing social exclusion in Slovakia.

Social exclusion unveils the multidimensional nature of poverty. However, being severely materially deprived, living in a jobless household and having a limited education do not qualify as being socially excluded from the dignity of an individual’s position within society.

Assisting Organizations and Programs

  1. Slovakian Social Services supports pensioners and people with severe disabilities. It “designs legislation concerning social insurance and pensions” to ensure a just redistribution of pensions in the National Economy.
  2. The Social Security Act of 2014 aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion among senior citizens by providing them with social protection. The act includes the following provisions: health care benefits, social insurance, state social support and social assistance. These rights and obligations ensure that seniors have access to the necessary resources to lead a dignified life.
  3. The European Union (EU) is planning to allocate a significant portion of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) resources to mitigate the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on Slovakia and to achieve the EU’s social targets by 2030. These targets include reducing poverty and social exclusion by 70,000 individuals by 2030.

Conclusion

Slovakia is a relatively prosperous country but faces challenges in fighting poverty and social exclusion. One of the main challenges is the aging population, which cannot be addressed quickly. As the proportion of older people increases, Slovakian society will need to adapt to the economic, social and political consequences that come with it. This will require essential reforms in social welfare, employment, health and education.

– Pamela Fenton

Pamela is based in Wall Township, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Elderly Poverty in the United Arab Emirates 

Elderly Poverty in the United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced an increase in life expectancy which means the mortality rate has reduced. This is a positive development with the growth of the elderly population reaching 32,433 in 2005 from 24,520 in 1995. However, this has meant an increase in the old-age dependency rate as the elderly population has grown faster than the working-age population after 2015. The rise of elderly poverty in the United Arab Emirates has become an issue. This could further increase between 2020 to 2050 from 311,000 – 3% of the population to 2 million – 19.7%. Unfortunately, there is no data on elderly poverty in the United Arab Emirates, according to the UNFPA report. But the literacy data can help with predictions. The illiterate population of men and women aged 60+ stands at 3.9% and 16.1% respectively, according to the same report, which puts them in a vulnerable state as during their working years they could earn less.

Lower Social Subsidy

Consequently, having a below pensionable income with lower social subsidy is financially constraining. These individuals are entitled to a subsidy of AED 1,095 which is less than their counterparts of average individuals who have a subsidy of AED 2,190, according to the Dubai School of Government 2013 policy brief. The recent governmental initiatives include the 2019 federal law. It grants the Emirati senior citizens rights such as the right to protection from violence and abuse, the right to social and medical care, the right to an enabling environment, housing, education and work, etc.

Additionally, the law covers penalties and fines for the mistreatment of the elderly and the social subsidy has been revised to AED 4,400. However, this excludes financially constrained individuals, according to the Dubai School of Government. To make matters worse, recently the pensionable salary has been increased, which further limits the benefits the elderly can access.

Under Family Care

Nevertheless, none of this prevents financial abuse. This abuse is more common than any other type of abuse and has resulted in elderly poverty in the United Arab Emirates. The older population lives a poorer quality of life than the normal standard, according to the Dubai School of Government. Inheritance issues prevail widely with children disputing over their parents’ wealth especially when the parents are illiterate or suffer from health conditions like dementia. Courts grant custody of the parents to the children which allows the children full access to their parents’ funds. Unfortunately, this occurs while the parents end up with no financial autonomy, the Dubai School of Government reports.

Furthermore, elderly abuse is common in poor families who cannot afford to take care of the elderly family members. They may also lack proper education in doing so. Moreover, due to work circumstances, the elderly members are home alone which leads to further negligence.

Reforms

Regarding financial abuse, more laws and procedures are necessary to protect the financial security of the elderly, says the Dubai School of Government. This could include improvements in the legal framework that limits guardians from accessing certain information about their wards. The Dubai School of Government states that enrolling in educational programs should be mandatory for the elderly to learn about self-reliance, vigilance and medical precautions that they need to adhere to.

With this in mind, a social startup Senior First has taken the initiative to cater to the elderly. It provides access to health and safety services that are cheap and offer discounts through a phone application. Many of these are government services that many elderly people do not know about. Among them is the TAMM Van. This is a transport service available at all locations with a 50% reduction in taxi fares.

Massarah Card offers discounts in the fields of medicine, banking and other services. In addition to the government entity, private enterprises like the telecommunication services of Du and Etisalat in collaboration with the government provide 50% and 60% discounts on phone plans.

Improving the Public Nursing Homes

The government can increase the number of public nursing homes by allocating one to every emirate instead of one for the whole country. On the other hand, it could subsidize private nursing homes, according to the Dubai School of Government. The government attempted to solve this in the form of the Thukher Card which provides discounts at private clinics, nursing homes and testing laboratories, according to Senior First.

Notably, elderly poverty in the United Arab Emirates is a concern despite the lack of coverage of the issue. A deficiency of coverage has led to a lack of public awareness which results in the persistence of this issue. Hence, prioritizing this age group is a must to not only eradicate their poverty but also prevent it from happening again.

  – Hafsa Dijoo 
Photo: Flickr