20% of the world population to be elderly by 2050

By Hatice Senses Kurukiz

ISTANBUL (AA) - By 2050, 20% of the total world population will be over 65 years old, the amount of young and elderly population will be balanced, according to a geriatrics expert from the Turkish Respiratory Society.

Dr. Serap Duru said aging healthily and keeping the elderly population in active social life is of vital importance.

Developments in health care, easier access to treatments, rising level of education, dropping fertility rates are all reasons for the increase in the elderly population around the world, according to a written statement by Duru.

The Turkish population is aging slowly, Duru said, adding: "According to data from the Turkish Statistical Society, 7.2 million people out of the total 82.4 million population is over 65 years old.

"In 2013, the rate of elderly was 7.7%, and in 2018 it rose to 8.8%. While Turkey's life expectancy was 78 years, it is now 75.3 in men and 80.7 in women."

Referring to the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, Duru said: "Unfortunately, the new coronavirus affects the elderly population the most. We should bear in mind that the elderly and people with chronic diseases are at high risk. So we invite our elderly to follow suggestions of the Health Ministry, take extra caution for hygiene, remain home as much as possible, and eat healthily."

COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has spread to at least 152 countries and territories. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Turkey late Monday confirmed a total of 47 cases of COVID-19.

Duru noted that they aim for the elderly people to remain part of the society, and said: "We intend to help the elderly live better lives with the help of advanced diagnosis and treatment systems. We suggest all elderly, healthy or otherwise, to apply for geriatrics clinics. While getting old is a part of life, everyone should in advance consider possible health problems."

"We need new systems which will cure respiratory diseases in the elderly. Families of the elderly should be trained about living with a geriatrics patient. We also need to raise awareness in the society about geriatrics for which the Turkish Health Ministry offers good services, such as home-care."

Out of 187,000 confirmed cases, the global death toll from COVID-19 now exceeds 7,400, while over 80,500 patients have recovered, according to Worldometer, a website that compiles new case numbers.

The current number of active cases is more than 99,000 -- 93% mild and 7% in critical condition.

* Writing by Firdevs Bulut in Ankara