Hussein Shereen, Ismail Mohamed
Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS UK.
Analytical Research Ltd, Station House, Connaught Road, Surrey, GU24 0ER UK.
Ageing Int. 2017;42(3):274-289. doi: 10.1007/s12126-016-9244-8. Epub 2016 Apr 6.
Populations are expected to age rapidly in the Arab countries during the coming few decades. However, the current evidence base indicates that many countries in the region are not paying attention to this demographic phenomenon. This is a particular concern as longevity is often accompanied by many years of ill health and disability and most of the countries in the region continue to rely on the family as the primary source of elder care. While the family, and particularly women, are expected to provide increasing support for longer, they are faced by a set of socio-demographic changes that may hinder their ability to provide such care. This paper focuses on the ageing demographics in the Arab region and reflects on the multiple-roles for women by utilising quantitative analysis of international population and socio-economic indicators as well as reviewing the background literature and current ageing policies in the region. The paper then discusses possible strategies to address increasing long-term care needs through a social capital lens, where support to informal carers particularly women is emphasised.
预计在未来几十年里，阿拉伯国家的人口将迅速老龄化。然而，目前的证据表明，该地区许多国家并未关注这一人口现象。这尤其令人担忧，因为长寿往往伴随着多年的健康不佳和残疾，而且该地区大多数国家仍然依赖家庭作为老年人护理的主要来源。虽然预计家庭，尤其是女性，将在更长时间内提供更多支持，但她们面临着一系列社会人口变化，这可能会阻碍她们提供此类护理的能力。本文聚焦于阿拉伯地区的人口老龄化情况，并通过对国际人口和社会经济指标进行定量分析，以及回顾该地区的背景文献和当前的老龄化政策，来思考女性的多重角色。然后，本文通过社会资本视角讨论应对日益增长的长期护理需求的可能策略，其中强调了对非正式护理人员尤其是女性的支持。
