Study of global ageing and adult health (SAGE): South Africa 2007-2008: executive summary

The phenomenon of population ageing has become more significant in South African society during recent decades, with the cohort aged 50 years or older increasing noticeably in both percentage and number. The social, economic and political consequences of population ageing have thus become a significant factor to be taken into account in all planning aspects of policies and programmes. This is particularly the case with regard to the care of older people, including sustainability of social assistance and services in light of the growing epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and no communicable chronic diseases, with the consequent additional social and economic pressures and responsibilities that have been placed on older people. In South Africa, Wave 1 of the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) collected data on South Africans aged 50 years or older over the period 2007-2008.