B2U7_Golden+Years.docVIP

UNIT 7 Golden Years Lesson 1 Audio Script The world is getting older and older. Not the planet, but the people who live on it. A new report reveals that the global population of older people is growing at its fastest rate ever. By 2040 around 14 percent of the world’s population will be of retirement age. Researchers say the number of elderly will soon outnumber the young for the first time in human history. This will have a big impact on our societies, economy and the way we live. America’s National Institute of Aging reports: “Aging is affecting every country in every part of the world ... Global aging is changing the social and economic nature of the planet and presenting difficult challenges.” Japan is already dealing with these problems, and they are expected to get worse. By 2040, experts predict one percent of the Japanese population will be over 100 years old. There is a booming industry in Japan to cater for the aged. Engineers are developing robots to feed and clean up after the elderly. There are now robot companions on sale to keep old people company. One positive effect of our aging population is that we need to consider how we define middle age and old age. We now often view a 60-year-old as being young. Lesson 1 Video Script According to the China Research Center on Aging, more than 8.3% of the population are above 65. In most cities more than 50% of the elderly live apart from their children. Taking caring of them is a major social concern. Some choose to go to nursing homes. 83-year-old Mrs. Zhou lives in the Sijiqing nursing home in Haidian District. When she first came, leg problems prevented her from walking. Therapy has now allowed her to enjoy the fresh air by herself, but it wasn’t easy for her to get into Sijiqing. “My daughter and son looked for several nursing homes for me, but they were all full. We waited for several years to have a place.” The waiting list of Sijiqing is long. “We have 500 beds, and they are alwa