The Glue Talk Blog

Global Aging Population

Increasing Global Aging Population: Impacts and Challenges

Posted 08/09/2022 by Laura Suarez, Hygiene Marketing Analyst

World population statistics are shifting. Medical advancements, improvements in living standards and decreasing birth rates are contributing factors, and this is particularly evident in the sharp increase in the global aging population. In 2021, 10% of the population was 65 years old and above. It is expected that by 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over, and by 2050, the world’s population of people in that age group will reach 22%.

For active adults in this demographic, this trend creates opportunities to experience activities tailored to their needs and lifestyle. The silver economy, which started in Japan, now has a global reach, and offers products, services and technological innovations that aim to improve the lives of people over 50.

These adults may experience urinary incontinence, which often comes with age, childbirth, or debilitated or overactive pelvic muscles. However, advancements in disposable hygiene products can enable more discreet and better fitting products. Adhesive products with lower application amounts, like Full-Care® 5256, allow the use thinner substrates, while high-performance adhesives, such as Full-Care® 8220, aim to improve the article’s fit to help avoid leaks and allow for full range of movement.

Others in this demographic may live in long-term care facilities, which offer a wide range of services and access to clinical care professionals. Availability of such services varies significantly by geography, financial well-being, staffing labor, and government social security. Those who are bedridden may experience health complications, such as lung congestion and inflammation, back pain, depression, sleep disorders, muscle cramps, pression ulcers and urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are the second most common infection, preceded only by respiratory infection, with incidence between 0.3 and 0.8 cases per 1,000 resident care days. They also are among the leading causes of death in older adults.

Recommendations for the prevention and treatment of UTIs include keeping the perineal area clean and dry. While there are many ways to accomplish this, one solution is the regular use and frequent changing of disposable incontinence products. Functional features, such as wetness indicator technology, can help caregivers assess diaper insult. This technology provides a change in color upon insult, indicating when the disposable brief needs to be replaced on the patient. With long-term facilities staffing shortages, any assistance in identifying when a patient needs immediate care may benefit the residents. H.B. Fuller offers a one-of-a-kind wetness indicating technology, the Full-Care® 9500 Series that offers a fast, distinctive, long-lasting, and bright blue color change, thus ensuring a proper identification.

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573848/
  2. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JUCMS/article/view/10488
  3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003976.htm
  4. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/europe-has-largest-aging-population-in-world/2542438#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20UN%2C%20life,and%20above%2C%20according%20to%20Statista.
  5. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
  6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349915457_Bedridden_Elderly_Factors_and_Risks

 



Blog Categories

Blog Categories

Archive