With an increase in oldest-old population and rapid changes in socioeconomic and cultural contexts,

concerns over society’s ability to provide care for older adults have grown significantly among policy makers

and the general public in most countries. Asia will have the largest share of the global increase in the aged

population but is in many ways ill prepared for its challenges. The boundaries between family, community,

state, and the private sectors in their roles in elderly care provision have been shifting in all societies though

in many different manners. Situations range from demographically advanced Japan which has implemented

the first long-term care insurance in 2000, countries with an emerging system to meet the enormous needs

such as China, to Myanmar that has a young but rapidly aging population but lacks formal support systems.

In this talk, I will share my research on trends, challenges, and policies in Asia focusing on long-term care (LTC)

needs and provision, the concept of “productive aging”, related public policies, and consequences on older

adults’ health and well-being.