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人口老龄化是指总人口中年轻人口数量减少、年长人口数量增加而导致的老年人口比例相应增长的动态过程。人口老龄化作为人口统计学的一个概念，强调人群的老化，而不是个体的老化。个体的老化是单向的，不可逆转的，而人口老龄化则是老年人口在总人口中相对比例的变化，在一定条件下可以逆转。
老龄社会是指老年人口占总人口达到或超过一定比例的人口结构模型。按照联合国的传统标准，一个地区60岁以上老年人达到总人口的10%；新标准是65岁老人占总人口的7%，即该地区视为进入老龄化社会。
Aging society is the population structure model that the elderly population reaches or exceeds a certain percentage of the total population. According to the traditional standards of the United Nations, a region can be considered to enter in the aging society if its elderly population with their age beyond 60 account for 10% of the total population, or its elderly population with their age beyond 65 account for 7% of the total population in accordance with the new standard.
In industrialized countries, the number of people reaching retirement age is growing, while the number of working age people is declining. The number of people aged 80 and older is growing at a faster rate than any other age group worldwide. In 1950, there were 12 people of working age for every person age 65 or older. In 2010, there are only 9 contributing to old age support in their countries. That means that here in the U.S., fewer people are contributing to Social Security and Medicare in proportion to the number of people needing and using those programs. By the year 2050, there will be almost twice as many older non-working people than there are now, in contrast to the total number of workers.
Many countries will experience aging populations in the next century because of declining birth and mortality rates. China will soon join their ranks. According to the statistics, the aging of China's population will approach its peak by the middle of the next century, with the percentage of the people aged beyond 60 making up 27.4 percent of the total population, which means one out of every four people will be elderly.
As for the issue of aging, its situation has been growing increasingly severe in spite of the fact most people are still ignorant of the problems it brings about. Firstly, with families becoming smaller, it is even graver for families to care for aged members adequately. Secondly, aging causes a relative decline in working force in that fewer people are capable to support the increasing aged people. Consequently, the productivity of the whole society is affected to some extent. Last but not least, the aging of population in China resulted from the successful implementation of family planning has not been synchronized with national economic progress.
The coming aging society has made it more urgent for the adoption of countermeasures. It is no doubt that the most significant measure is to build a solid economic foundation. Meanwhile, more importance should be attached to the overall development of social security, welfare and service. What's more, family care and community services shall also be encouraged.
老龄化的速度(the aging rate)是指社会中60岁或65岁以上老年人口（the old population）的比重增长速度。它主要受出生率(the birth rate)与死亡率(the mortality rate)的制约，在经济发展较快的国家和地区，由于科学技术(science and technology)的进步，营养结构(nutrient structure)的改善和医疗事业(medical industry)的进步而使老年人的体质改善(physical improvement)，寿命(life expansion)延长，死亡率降低；同时，由于年轻一代生育意愿(fertility intention)减弱，或国家推行计划生育政策(Family Planning Policy)，使人口出生率降低，社会老龄化的速度大大提高。一些经济发展非常缓慢的国家，由于科技水平(technological level)低下、医疗卫生条件(health condition)恶劣，人们的寿命通常都极低，出生率却比较高，人口老龄化的速度也较缓慢。
aging society 老龄化社会
the elderly population 老年人（总称）
active labor force 劳动力
pension funds 养老金，退休金
social service 社会福利事业
senior citizens 老年公民
to respect and care for the elderly 尊老爱老
Our country has entered the aging society in the 2lst century, so it is urgent to improve inhabitation environmental quality of the old people.
21世纪我国已进入老龄化社会，改善老年人居住环境质量刻不容缓。
It also explores the impact of aging population upon health care system and health policies suitable to the aging society.
探讨了人口老龄化在医疗卫生领域产生的影响和适应老龄化社会的医疗保健对策。
It was felt that the aging of society was socially and economically undesirable.
老龄化对于社会和经济的不良影响呈现出来了。
Aging has become a social problem.
老龄化已成为一个社会问题。
With the speeding up of aging in China, the occurrence of 4-2-1 family mode makes endowment as a social problem.
随着我国老龄化速度的加快，4-2-1家庭结构模式的出现，养老已成为一个亟待解决的社会问题。
The old should share the achievements of the society development, and step into the well-to-do society together.
老年人应分享社会发展成果，同步进入小康社会。
Assuring medical welfare for the old is the key of promoting the quality of their life.
老有所医，是提高老年人生活质量的关键。
Establish a community-centered system of the welfare service for the old.
建立以社区为中心的老年福利服务体系。
Develop the consumption industry for the old, and promote the quality of the olds life
开发老年消费产业，改善老年人生活质量。
Take advantage of the old with ability sufficiently, and make the old talents participate in and devote to the development of the society.
充分利用老年人才，让老年人才参与发展做贡献。
Jack: There seem to be a lot of healthy, active elderly people in China. Every day, you can see them exercising in the public parks and caring for children on the playgrounds.
杰克：中国好像有很多健康且充满活力的老年人，我们每天都能看到他们在公园里锻炼身体或者在操场上照看孩子。
Tom: It is true, but the aging society that caused by the growth of the elderly population also has profound economic implications for Chinese society.
汤姆：没错。但是由于老年人口增多而形成的“老龄化社会”将为中国社会带来严重的经济问题。
Jack: What are the negative effects of this?
杰克：“老龄化社会”会造成什么样的不良后果？
Tom: One problem is that there are fewer people in the active labor force to support those who have retired. Often, pension funds are not enough for seniors to make ends meet and they have to rely on others for support.
汤姆：其中一个问题就是没有足够的劳动力来赡养那些退休的老人。养老金不足以保障老年人的生活，他们不得不依靠其他人来赡养。
Jack: I've heard that aging parents in China still typically live with their adult children. But, just as in other countries, economic and social changes might upset this traditional system of caring for the old.
杰克：我听说在中国，父母到了老年通常都和他们的成年子女在一起生活。但是，正如其他国家那样，随着经济与社会的不断发展变化，这种传统的照顾老人的方式也可能被改变。
Tom: Old people are not likely to become completely dependent on social services. But they may begin to increasingly rely on supplemental community-based services.
汤姆：老年人不可能完全依靠社会福利事业，但他们很可能要越来越多地依靠辅助性的社区服务。
Jack: Since senior citizens stop saving and instead begin to spend their savings, this has a serious effect on the macro economy, too.
杰克：由于老龄人群的储蓄不再增加，反而开始花费他们的积蓄，这对宏观经济来说也会产生重大影响。
Tom: Yes. In an aging society, capital accumulation tends to slow down or even reverse.
汤姆：是的。在老龄化社会中，资本积累会放慢甚至出现减少的情况。
Jack: How can societies bring their policies in line with the changing realities of their population structure?
杰克：社会应该如何制定切合结构变化的政策？
Tom: We need to take appropriate countermeasures now. We must strengthen the social attitude of respect and care for the elderly. People should remember that seniors can still make useful contribution to society.
汤姆：我们现在就要采取正确的防范措施。我们必须加强尊老爱老的社会意识，我们应该记住老年人还是可以为社会做出贡献的。
Jack: What about protecting their economic security?
杰克：我们应该怎样维护老年人的经济保障？
Tom: The pension system also needs to be protected against corruption and mismanagement. In addition, a growing economy in general will exert a positive and far-reaching impact on our ability to care for the old.
汤姆：养老金制度也应当受到保护，要防止出现腐败以及管理不善的现象。另外，经济的总体发展也对我们赡养老人的能力产生积极而深远的影响。