Yesterday, a conversation with friends about our parents took a sobering turn.
Most of us are in the same boat: our parents are getting older, and they need 24/7 care. In my family, we are fortunate—my sister is available to provide that care. But like millions of others in the “Care Economy,” her labor is unpaid, and the emotional and financial weight is heavy.
We often think of “ageing societies” as a problem for wealthy nations like Japan or South Korea. But the reality is that this demographic shift is spreading rapidly to developing countries like Myanmar.
As a Least Developed Country (#LDC), Myanmar faces a unique and alarming challenge. Unlike industrialized nations that built their wealth before their populations aged, we are “getting old before getting rich.”
We currently lack:
> Infrastructure: A shortage of specialized geriatric healthcare.
> Institutions: Limited social safety nets or pension schemes.
> Capacity: Policy gaps that leave the burden of care entirely on the family unit.
A Roadmap for Change
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) provides a framework for inclusive societies, but “aspirational” policies aren’t enough. To protect our elders and our economy, we need:
> Actionable Implementation: Moving beyond paper policies to real-world monitoring and funding.
> Support for the Care Economy: Recognizing and supporting unpaid caregivers (like my sister) so they aren’t left behind economically.
> Regional Learning: Asia-Pacific is a library of “good practices.” We can replicate successful community-based care models from our neighbors to suit our local context.
> Forward-Looking Design: Using upcoming milestones, like the 2026 MIPAA Regional Review, to hold ourselves accountable.
The number of older persons in our region is projected to double by 2050. We have very little time to build the capacity we need. We owe it to our parents—and to the next generation—to start building these safety nets today.
#AgeingSociety #CareEconomyy #Myanmarr #AsiaPacific #SocialPolicy #DemographicShift #madridinternationalplanofactiononageing #MIPAA
Image: AI-generated