Online Poster Session
Asynchronous Session
Intergenerational Solidarity and Political Challenge in Japan: Pursuing Principles of Fairness View Digital Media
Poster Session Yukio Sakurai
Japan's social security system, once a cornerstone of intergenerational solidarity, now faces growing disparities between generations. Older citizens enjoy extensive public pensions, healthcare, and long-term care services, while younger generations are burdened with rising financial responsibilities and insufficient childcare and public support. This imbalance not only deepens societal divisions but also undermines public trust in the system’s fairness and sustainability. The political consequences are equally significant. With older voters now comprising over 40% of the electorate, the political landscape has increasingly shifted toward senior-friendly policies. This demographic reality has stalled necessary reforms, such as raising elderly co-payments for medical expenses. While such policies may secure electoral support, they exacerbate generational inequalities, leaving younger populations increasingly disenfranchised. Urgent reforms are required to rebuild trust and foster equity. Transitioning from an age-based to an income-based contributions system, akin to Germany’s healthcare model, could mitigate disparities in financial burdens. Additionally, reallocating resources to prioritize childcare and education, as demonstrated in Nordic countries, would not only support younger generations but also promote long-term societal resilience. True intergenerational solidarity depends on balancing the needs of aging populations with those of younger generations, creating a foundation for a sustainable and cohesive society. Achieving this balance will require inclusive policymaking and active dialogue to avoid divisive rhetoric that threatens social cohesion. Strong, visionary leadership is essential in steering Japan toward equitable reforms, ensuring a future that upholds the principles of solidarity and fairness for all generations.
The Construction of Elder Self-Nelgect: Laws and Policies in the U.S.
Poster Session Kelly Melekis
In the U.S., self-neglect is the most commonly reported form of elder abuse and neglect and typically falls under the purview of a state’s adult protective service (APS) system. This study examines the state of existing laws, policies and programs that address elder self-neglect in the U.S. in an effort to better understand how self-neglect reporting and response is handled, particularly in states where APS does not have oversight. In order to examine existing policies, we researched state statutes regarding elder abuse and conducted interviews with key stakeholders in states that did not have a clear definition of self-neglect, or states that did not respond to elder self-neglect with APS. While the inclusion of self-neglect into the broad category of elder abuse and neglect is often perceived as vital for service provision, findings indicate it may exacerbate the challenges inherent in defining and conceptualizing both the term and its response.
Exploring Strategies to Foster an Age-Inclusive Workplace in Korea View Digital Media
Poster Session Mi Sun Choi
As South Korea transitions into a super-aged society, ensuring the continued employment of older workers has become increasingly critical. However, the country’s seniority-based hierarchical structure often exacerbates intergenerational conflicts in the workplace, underscoring the need for age-inclusive work environments. Despite its growing significance, research on this issue remains limited in the Korean context. This study examines age-inclusive workplaces through the lens of ERG motivation theory, focusing on which organizational policies, systems, and cultural factors can support employees’ needs for existence, relatedness, and growth, irrespective of age. A three-round Delphi study was conducted with nine scholars specializing in aging workforce research and seven HR experts. In the first round, open-ended questions identified key concepts and relevant policies, systems, and cultural aspects, yielding 25 existence-, 20 relatedness-, and 22 growth-related items. In the second round, participants rated each item’s importance and relevance on a five-point scale, refining the list to 12, 14, and 11 items, respectively, based on mean scores, consensus levels, convergence, and content validity. The third round further evaluated the importance and effectiveness of these items, finalizing six existence-, 12 relatedness-, and eight growth-related items. The highest-rated items included age- and health-sensitive job reassignment (existence), knowledge transfer programs (relatedness), and opportunities for older workers to share expertise (growth). This study contributes to the literature by applying ERG theory to age-inclusive workplaces and provides practical insights for organizations striving to foster inclusive and sustainable work environments.