Policies for Aging Populations:
An International Perspective

Susan Lilley

Prepared for
Population and Public Health Branch
Atlantic Regional Office
Health Canada

November 2002

PDF Format (1472 KB)

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Health Canada.

Également disponible en français sous le titre Politiques ajustées aux populations vieillissantes : une perspective internationale

Contents may not be reproduced for commercial purposes, but any other reproduction, with acknowledgements, is encouraged. Please credit the source as follows:
Policies for Aging Populations: An International Perspective. 2002.
Produced by Susan Lilley for the Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Regional Office, Health Canada.

For more information, contact:
Atlantic Regional Office
Population and Public Health Branch
Health Canada
1525 - 1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6
Tel: (902) 426-2700
Fax: (902) 426-9689
E-mail: pphatlantic-spspatlantique@hc-sc.gc.ca
Web site: www.pph-atlantic.ca

© HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA (2002) as represented by the Minister of Health.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report was written by Susan Lilley and produced under the direction and guidance of the Atlantic Seniors Liaison Committee (ASLC), a regional body with representation from Health Canada and each of the four provincial governments in the Atlantic Region. ASLC members include:

Linda Doody	Manager of Seniors Programs, Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Health and Community Services
Bonnie MacNeil	Seniors’ Issues Consultant, New Brunswick Department of Health and Community Services
Betty McNab	Seniors’ Liaison, Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Social Services
Jane Oram	Manager, Population Health, Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Regional Office, Health Canada
Irene Rose	Program Consultant, Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Regional Office, Health Canada
Valerie White	Executive Director, Nova Scotia Senior Citizens’ Secretariat

ASLC members contributed to conceptual discussions, reviewed an earlier draft, and provided many suggestions for making this document more readable and useful. Vicki MacGarvie, a graduate student at Dalhousie University, helped with the research.

The Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Region, would like to thank everyone who contributed to the preparation of this report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

SECTION ONE: THREE NATIONS, THREE PERSPECTIVES
Finland
Japan
Australia

SECTION TWO: REFORMS FOR ACTIVE AGING
Economic Factors: Income and Employment
Lifelong Learning
The Physical Environment: Housing and Transportation
Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
Caregiver Support
Health and Social Services

CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

ENDNOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1	A comparison of population aging in four countries
Table 2	National targets for developing services for older people in Japan

LIST OF STORY BOXES

Inamino Gakuen– A University for the Elderly
Universal Housing – Design Guidelines for an Ageing Society
Best Practices in Community Housing for Older People – The Abbeyfield Model
The Marjala Model – A City for All
Transportation – On Demand
Staying on Your Feet Down Under
Coordinated Care at Home – Australian Style
Rapport Fujisawa: A Japanese Co-operative Approach to Eldercare

Please note that this document was published by Health Canada prior to the announcement of the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada on September 24, 2004. Any reference to Health Canada should be assumed to be to the Public Health Agency of Canada.