1、中文 2660 字 本科毕业设计（论文） 外 文 翻 译 原文： Aging in Asia Perennial Concerns on Support and Caring for the Old Abstract This introductory article provides background to an understanding of Aging in Asia, focusing on the demographics of population aging in Asia. It discusses the differences in the magnitude of
2、the aged population in different parts of Asia and highlights the perennial concerns of care and support facing the aged and their families as Asian societies grapple with the graying population. Globalization is one important factor presenting new challenges as well as opportunities to aging Asia.
3、Keywords Asia .Aging .Globalization .Old age support East and Southeast Asia Aging the Fastest In only one-quarter centuryfrom 1970 to 1996the percent of the population aged 65 and over in Japan increased from seven to fourteen percent. Similarly swift increases are expected in China, beginning arou
4、nd the turn of the century, and elsewhere in East and Southeast Asia fueled by dramatic drops in fertility levels. Introduction Asia, home to some of the most populous nations in the world, has aged rapidly over the second half of the 20th century. Beginning with Japan, the most developed Asian nati
5、on, the graying of Asias population has proceeded apace among the less developed countries as well, such that the latter are likely to outstrip the former in the speed of population aging. These developments have taken place within a region of great diversity, not only in terms of their social and e
6、conomic development but also in terms of their culture, language and religion. Thus, while the East Asian countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea share a common Confucian heritage, they are also at differing stages of economic and social development. On the other hand, while Singapore is phy
7、sically located in Southeast Asia, the majority of its population is ethnic Chinese, and so it is commonly located within the East Asian cultural sphere. It is also the most developed of the Southeast Asian countries, second in Asia only to Japan in terms of per capita income. Within Singapore, ther
8、e is a substantial Malay minority that is more akin culturally to the rest of Southeast Asia. There is also an Indian ethnic minority, who are migrants and descendants of migrants from South Asia. Other ethnic minorities, including tribal communities, can be found in most of the other Asian countrie
9、s. While not all are aging at the same rate(due to differences in the level and timing of their demographic transitions), the shift towards ever older populations is quite clear. Regardless of where they stand in terms of their cultural or socioeconomic development, the peoples of East and Southeast
10、 Asia are also everywhere subject to the forces of globalization and change. While globalization is not a new phenomenon, it accelerated in the 1990s with rapid developments in information and communication technology (ICT). In this regard, not only can basic medical technology be brought to even th
11、e most remote villages to bring about swift fertility and mortality declines, but the ICT revolution has also shrunk the distance between cultures and societies, not to mention integrating their economies. Changing values regarding marriage, family sizes, and roles and relationships within the famil
12、y are some likely consequences of this development. Greater mobility and new modes of economic production under the new global division of labor represent other factors that affect the way of life of individuals, families, and communities. While some may readily embrace these new realities, others h
13、ave had these changes imposed on them. The elderly are not exempt from these developments. Globalization presents new challenges for the aged, their families, and communities, as well as new opportunities. Caregiver issues are major concerns in Asian societies. Chronological aging brings certain lif
14、e cycle changes, some of which are physically imposed, while others are culturally defined or set by statutes. Among these life cycle changes are declining health status, retirement, and declining roles and status in family and society. Thus, old age often brings with it dependency and disengagement
15、, and everywhere, including in Asia, people and governments are concerned about the provision of care for the growing number and proportion of the aged. A major emphasis in the following papers is the role of the family in the care for elderly. Family members have often been identified as the care p
16、roviders of choice by individuals and governments, but one is forced to ask whether family care is a sustainable option given various demands on the family and declining family sizes in Asia. The fluid and complex nature of intergenerational relationships diversifies family relations and affects fam
17、ily support and care of aged relatives. Given the developments in health care, the elderly are also likely to live an increasing number of years post-retirement in a relatively healthy state. They may also have fewer traditional roles such as grand parenting, either by choice or by default. The grow
18、ing number of healthy old will contribute to rising demand for leisure activities and programs to keep their bodies and minds occupied. As Mason has noted, the elderly have been the fastest growing demographic group in Asia, and the development of institutions and programs that will meet the needs o
19、f the elderly in a sustainable way requires time. Commentators have also noted that whereas the more advanced countries were developed before they aged, countries in Asia are aging before they develop. Thus, questions have been raised as to whether they will be able to provide for the growing elderl
20、y population. On the other hand, Asia has also been characterized as a region where culture and tradition promote veneration and strong support for the old by family and community. However, the influence of these cultural props is also being eroded by internal and external forces, such as globalizat
21、ion. Issues and Challenges It would be fair to say that few of the Asian countries have, to date, developed the necessary infrastructure and institutions to provide for their elderly. In fact, not all countries even have a clear policy on aging. Where formal systems exist, the coverage may be limited to selected groups such as civil servants, workers of state enterprises,
