Provident funds, in which compulsory deductions from wages go into publicly managed investments, are a key component of retirement programmes in a number of Asian and Latin American countries. Community care institutions and outreach programmes for the elderly will also become more critical. In most developed countries, private, volunteer organizations supplement public support for the elderly, operating day-centres and clinics and assisting with meals, transportation, shopping, household chores and simple medical services. In some developing countries, local organizations supported by international NGOs like HelpAge International and the American Association of Retired Persons are helping to develop similar community services. Ageing and gender Women live longer than men on average, and they are a majority of older populations in most countries.
Older women bear the burden of negative perceptions, and face social and economic discrimination.
They are more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. Women widowed at any age tend to stay single longer than men. The report points out the need for more research, for example, on menopause and its consequences, and for improved data collection and analysis using indicators that will accurately measure gender differences in health status. More generally with regard to health, the report notes that as populations age, the burden of disease will shift from infectious to non-communicable and chronic diseases. But according to the report, this does not justify extensive reorientation of publicly funded health services in developing countries.