This article discusses trends in aging in contemporary society with review of statistics and current situation in relation to health and nursing care, attitudes of society towards aging, the present pattern of care and the unmet needs and suggestions for future improvement.
The followings are the summary of the contents;
1. Aging process of the population noticed since 1975 census survey of the population: the proportion of the aged over 65 years old became 3.6% (1,229 thousand person) of the 34, 681, 000 total population from 3.3% (961 thousand person) of the 29,160,000 total population in 1966. Also,. the composition of the aged over 60 will become 7.8% Of the total by 1991 in long-term projection of the KDI Report.
2. plain problems emerged from the aging of the population indicated as the social dependency of the aged and the health care needs of the elderly people.
3. But the society has not prepared to face the problems yet, therefore, the following suggestions made; There is a necessity of strengthening of the primary health care activities within the existing health center network, establishment of health insurance system for the aged, especially for the older aged (75 years and over) as a secondary health are coverage and facilitation of extended care services for the tertiary care services.
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