Issues and Challenges of Population Aging: Studying from Japan Super-Aging Nation and Malaysia Perspectives

Abstract

The process of aging in population has become a global phenomenon that occurs all over the world including Malaysia. Improvements in medicine, nutrition, and health care awareness, as well as more effective treatment options paired with technological advancements, cause the elderly population to grow and life's expectancy to rise. In addition, the increasing in elderly population at Malaysia has raised various issues and problems that are getting more worrying. Information delivery mediums such as newspapers, television, radio broadcasts and internet websites are continuously displaying critical cases of elderly neglect. Elderly parents are ignored and discarded like kittens, causing concern to all parties. This article discusses some of the measures and preparations by the Malaysian government in facing the global issue’s phenomenon of aging among the population by studying from Japan super-aging nation perspectives. Among issues to focus are the health issues, housing issues, social support and lifestyle issues. This study uses a qualitative approach by using documentation method in analyzing the literature and documentation to have the best understanding of the problems and difficulties associated with population aging in the perspectives of Japan’s super-aging nation and Malaysia towards Old Country by 2030. The discussion of the article found that Malaysia should be ready to take a step further due to this increasing and gradually aging nation.