Further, the social protection system remains fragmented with few efforts effectively addressing the specific vulnerabilities and needs of older people. Public healthcare expenditure remains limited to cope with increasing number of older people, particularly to provide sufficient detection, screening, and treatment of non-communicable diseases as well as to deliver palliative care.

What does Climate Change mean in an Aging society?

The two phenomena may interact in interesting and unexpected ways.

• Workers respond to climate uncertainties and shocks by working more, translating into a longer working life to maintain consumption spending and retirement needs. It could, however, lead to a fall in real wages. Other macro-economic effects arising from such changes in the labour market can include higher real interest rates, inflation, and debt-to-GDP ratios as consumption and capital needs continue to rise against the backdrop of stagnant nominal wages. Higher prices in turn magnify the impact of climate change [1].
• Over 78% of Malaysia’s population will be living in urban environments. Future cities will therefore host a higher number of older people, living in poor climate-resilient infrastructures and vulnerable to the heat sink effects associated with large urban conglomerations. The increase in both the number and intensity of disasters, such as heat waves and hurricanes/typhoons, could disproportionately affect the elderly’s mobility and safety.
• Climate change continues to strain the global food system through its direct impact on agricultural yields and on wider systemic disruptions, such as market volatility and supply chain disruptions. The elderly is particularly vulnerable in most aspects of food security – affordability, access to stable food supply, and nutritional quality [2].
• Switching to remote work may make it easier for certain groups of workers to manage caregiving responsibilities. Digital services such as remote monitoring that reduce the need for travel and transport are being increasingly integrated into care services—but they may also reduce human interaction in care.
• Technological advances, which help alleviate many of the negative aspects of age-related changes, by improving access and mobility (e.g., cars and elevators) and overcoming disabilities (e.g., advanced lighting and audio systems) and delaying mortality are in fact highly energy dependent. Many have now become part of the socio-economic and technical lock-ins of infrastructure and modern living.