GERIATRICS
LECTURE / NCM 114
DEMOGRAPHY OF AGING AND ITS
IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND
NURSING CARE
GLOBAL AGING
• Every country in the world is experiencing
growth in both the size and the proportion
of older persons in the population.
• The number of people aged 65 years or
older worldwide is projected to more than
double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6
billion in 2050. The number of people aged
80 years or older is growing even faster.
• In 2021, 1 in 10 people worldwide were aged
65 or above.
• In 2050, this age group is projected to
account for 1 in 6 people globally.
• The greatest increases will be seen in
developing countries, many of which do
not have healthcare systems geared to the
health needs of older people.
• During the first half of the current century,
the global population age 60 or over is
projected to expand by more than three
times to reach nearly 2 billion in 2050.
• Most of the more developed countries
have experienced population ageing over
several decades and are already in
advanced stages of this process. By
contrast, many developing countries face
rapid transitions towards ageing societies.
• As fertility levels fall, the share of younger
people declines, while the shares of
working-age adults and, eventually, older
people go up.
• Women tend to live longer than men and
thus comprise the majority of older
persons, especially at advanced ages. Since
the average survival of males is projected
to gradually move closer to that of females,
small but noticeable reductions in the sex
gap in life expectancy and in the female
share of the population at older ages are
likely in coming decades.
• By 2050, the United Nations estimated that
the proportion of the world’s population
ages 65 and older will more than double
from 7.6% today to 16.2%.
AGING IN THE PHILIPPINES
• The Philippines has a young population
with a small (6.8%) proportion of the
population in the older ages (60+).
• According to the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA), the number of Filipinos
aged 60 years and above increased to 9.22
million in 2020 from 7.53 million in 2015.
• The current figure is already double the 4.6
million senior citizens in the year 2000.
• Data from the Philippine Population
Commission (POPCOM) shows that out of
40 percent of the Philippine population will
be senior citizens by the year 2035. With a
little over a decade to go, all signs point to
the Philippines joining other aging
countries around the world.
• While older people still face challenges in
achieving income security and health
status, the government is taking positive
action, such as the Expanded Senior
Citizens Act of 2010
EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010 OR
RA 9994
• 20% discount in exception to VAT
• 5% discount for utility bills (electricity
and water
• Exception from training fees (seminars
conducted by the government)  Free
medical and dental services in all DOH
hospitals
• Pensions from SSS, GSIS or PAG-IBIG
• Given death benefits of a minimum
2,000.00 from the DSWD
• Priority lanes in government agencies
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GERIATRICS
LECTURE / NCM 114

IMPLICATIONS OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS D. CELLULAR MECHANISMS

OF AGING
A. ECONOMIC IMPACT
• As the population ages, there is a
potential for a shrinking workforce and
a larger retired population.
B. PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS
• More retirees and fewer working-age
individuals = challenges in maintaining
financial sustainability.
C. HEALTHCARE DEMAND
• Older individuals tend to have higher
healthcare needs and costs due to age-
related illnesses and conditions.
D. LONG-TERM CARE
• Increased demand for long-term care
services, including nursing homes,
assisted living facilities, and home care.
E. INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
• The burden of caregiving for older
family members may fall on the
younger generation, impacting their
career choices and personal lives
F. SOCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT
• Increased social services and support,
including mental health services, social
engagement programs, and elder
abuse prevention initiatives
• Cellular senescence, mitochondrial
dysfunction, and oxidative stress
contribute to cellular decline.
E. EPIGENETIC CHANGES
• Alterations in gene expression
regulation influence aging at the
molecular level.
F. HORMONAL SHIFTS
• Changes in hormone levels affect
metabolic processes and tissue
maintenance.
G. LIFESTYLE FACTORS
• Diet, physical activity, sleep quality,
and stress management directly
impact aging trajectories.
H. CALORIC INTAKE
• Caloric restriction may extend lifespan
and delay age-related diseases in some
oganisms.

CAUSES OF AGING
A. GENETIC FACTORS
• DNA damage, telomere shortening,
and genetic mutations accumulate
with age, affecting cellular integrity
and function.
B. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
• Exposure to pollutants, toxins, and
radiation can contribute to cellular
damage and accelerate aging.
C. IMMUNE DECLINE
• Immunosenescence weakens the
immune system's ability to respond to
challenges.

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