Health and wellbeing of older people in LMICs: a call for research-informed decision making
Dina Goodman, Eduardo Ferriolli, Adam Gordon, Carolyn Greig, Lisa R. Hirschhorn, Adedoyin Ogunyemi, Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Tsion Yohannes, Justine Davies
Abstract
An estimated 80% of the world's older people (defined as those aged ≥60 years) will live in low-income or middle-income countries (LMICs) by 2030.1 Ageing well requires addressing the complex financial, health, and social care needs of older people. But, despite economic growth and investment in health, LMICs continue to struggle with fragile and under-resourced health and social care systems to support older people.2 Such issues can be particularly problematic in rural areas, from which younger people often leave to find economic opportunities, leading to a loss of labour and depletion of carers for older people, and worsening unmet needs for social care.