Читать книгу Pathy's Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine - Группа авторов - Страница 99

As both the absolute number and relative proportion of the population over the age of 65 increase, this will impact the old‐age dependency ratio: an economic index defined as the number of people age 65 or older per 100 people of working age (15–64 years old).

The socioeconomic implications of this rising ratio are an area of active research and debate. Implications include increased spending on healthcare, Social Security, disability, pensions, and infrastructure to support an ageing population, with fewer wage‐earners contributing taxes. An increased proportion of older adults also calls for a greater need for healthcare spending and long‐term care employees who can provide care for those who are disabled from advanced age and/or chronic illness. However, this ratio is an imperfect measure. It does not account for adults who work past the age of 65 or improvements in care and advances in technology that reduce the societal burden of ageing and disability. Although the old‐age dependency ratio will certainly increase globally, the economic and societal implications remain uncertain.