Ageing

Process of deformation in the functional capacity of a person occurring after maturity.

Average age

Ageing is a natural process and should be welcomed because alternatives would be pre-mature death.

Average age in Japan

 • Men. 78 years
 • Women 84years
 • More than 17000 persons above 100 years.

Number of aged persons are increasing

 • A global phenomenon
 • Reason - advanced medical technology
 • Decreasing fertility
 • Over 65 years population
 • Developed world 13%
 • Developing world 5%
 • Japan 15%
 • Hong Kong 9%
 • Singapore 7%
 • China 7%
 • India 5%
 • percentage of OLD v/s YOUNG children
       > 1950.       5.        27
       > 2025.     14.      14

Population ageing

Declining fertility rate( number of children a woman is expected to have)
                    India.   China
1970.            5.1.     5.5
2025.            3.1.     1.8 (replacement level 2.1

Increase in average age

This trend - more people reach old age
               - less children are born

Hence there is need for the care of the old.

Paediatrics- as important as- geriatrics.