SINGAPORE - Very few countries in the world are well placed to seize the opportunities that come from longer lifespans of their population.
This was the consensus among several speakers at the first summit based on the United States' National Academy of Medicine's Global Roadmap to Healthy Longevity, which was published in June following almost three years of work by an international committee of experts. The report essentially said it is good for people who live longer to stay in the workforce longer. In order to do this, they should not just live longer lives, but they need to remain healthy for more years. And for that to happen, there needs to be social, environmental and infrastructural changes that support this.
Prof Wong said studies have shown that"providing housing and support reduces emergency department visits and hospital stays, and can generate a return on investment of US$1.57 in savings for every US$1 spent." She also said it is a fallacy that having more older people in the workforce takes opportunities away from younger adults.