Mala Kapur Shankardass, Ph.D., is a sociologist, gerontologist, health social scientist, academician, researcher, author, activist, and an independent consultant. As a Sociologist she retired from the University of Delhi, India in March 2021 but is still delivering lectures in her fields of specialization as an Invited Speaker/Guest at different universities and other institutions in India and abroad. She is also involved with various national and international organizations as an Expert/Resource person. She is a Founding Member and Managing Trustee of the Development, Welfare and Research Foundation (DWRF). She is Asia Representative of the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) and Executive Board Member of Ageing Consortium Asia Pacific (ACAP). She is Editor and Author of 15 books published with renowned publishers, such Routledge and Springer and has 2 forthcoming in 2025 and 2 in 2026. She has many articles in reputed journals, books, newspapers and magazines to her credit She is the recipient of various prestigious Fellowships and professional awards. She is a Panelist on radio and TV channels. She has been actively involved with Rotary International and is Paul Harris Fellow.

• I. INTRODUCTION 1. A Discourse on Contemporary Ageing Issues and Synopsis of the Narratives II. EMERGING ISSUES: GLOBAL NARRATIVES 2. Older women: the confluence between gender and age 3. Resident-to-resident Aggression Analysed Through a Rights-Based Approach 4. Coping with Elder Abuse & Neglect: Can we increase detection and identification? 5. Sustainable development and quality of life of older adults from an European Perspective 6. “Emotional Frailty” in Older Adults 7. Cognitive Frailty in Older Adults 8. Effective interventions in age-related disease 9. Older People and Assistive Technology 10. Navigating an End -of- Life Journey – From a Terminal Diagnosis Through the Last Hours 11. Grief, the Emotional Impact of Aging 12. Addressing Aging Grief 13. Hidden Carers: The Invisibility of a Family Carer 14. Geriatric Substance Use/Abuse – Global Concerns III. CONTEMPORARY REGIONAL & COUNTRY NARRATIVES A) AFRICA 15. Urban Renewal Initiatives and Vulnerability of Older Persons in a Nigerian City 16. Measuring the value of old age in low-income settings in Africa: Contributions of older persons, a hidden treasure 17. Ageing, Health Care, Social Protection and Inter-Generational Solidarity in South Africa: Concerns and Responses 18. Household structure and Health at older ages in sub-Saharan Africa 19. Interventions for Incomes and Livelihoods among Older Persons in Kenya: An Analysis of Milestones and Gaps in Social Protection Policies B) AMERICAS 20. Geriatric Education in U.S. at a Turning Point: Moving ahead Requires Looking Back 21. Older Adults with Severe Mental Illness in United States 22. American Values and the Intersection of Ageism & Sexism in the Workplace 23. Training Boomers to Transition into Retirement: Best Practices in the Offing? 24. Ozarks Rural Health 25. The Future of Eldercare in America is No Caregivers. Now What? 26. Aging In Uruguay 27. Comprehensive analysis of subnational disparities in population ageing in Mexico: overview and challenges for a healthy ageing 28. Ageing and living conditions of older persons in Argentina: An analysis from a rights perspective 29. Violence against older women, an emerging issue in Latin America 30. Solitude and Sociability among Older People in Brazil 31. LGBTIQ Older Adults in Brazil and the Birth of South American Gray Pride C) ASIA PACIFIC 32. Gender Difference in Evaluating Global Age-Friendly Cities Indicators in Iran 33. Healthy Ageing at very old ages – perspectives from women in the oldest cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health 34. Technology-enhanced dementia education programs in the Japanese community 35. Population Aging, Depopulation and the Workforce Shortage Crisis in Japan: An Overview Of 9 Reversal Strategies and a Paradigm for a Policy and Research Agenda 36. Senior Learner as Part of the Lifelong Learning Policy in Singapore 37. The Role of University to Promote Healthy and Active Ageing in Indonesia 38. Emerging Ageing Issues in China 39. Growth of Education in Gerontology and Use of Technology to Improve Quality of Life of Older People 40. Filial piety and the law: A comparative study of Indian and Chinese laws on care for parents 41. Intergenerational Support for Older Persons in India: A Demographic Perspective 42. Law catching up with dignified death: Legal battle for "Living Will" or Advance Medical Directive in India 43. Rights of Older People: Global Perspective & Nepali Response 44. Trends and emerging issues of older Persons: A case of South Asian country Nepal D) EUROPE 45. Ireland- ‘… the best country in which to grow old with dignity and respect' 46. Intimacy and sexuality in Residential Aged Care Facilities in Belgium 47. The German approach to participation by older people and how HelpAge promotes this approach worldwide by way of Older People Associations (OPAs) 48. Old Husbands Caring for Their Wives in Malta: Enduring Gendered Stereotypes and Cultural Masculinities 49. System of support of seniors in Poland - from institutional care to community-based services 50. Polish seniors in rural areas – experiences and challenges 51. Ageing Issues, Concerns and Responses in the Netherlands 52. How to feel at home in nursing homes? From scandal to a new concept in France 53. Postmodern Condition and Tradition in Greece: Approaching Visions about “Ageing” Reflected by Television 54. Spanish older adults: Political participation and active citizenship 55. The Spanish paradigm shift: from a dependency-based approach to a right based on personal autonomy? 56. Ageing, disability, and the adoption of technology among Italian older adults

“This volume is a valuable compendium of observations and conclusions, supported by regional and national research. The material in this book can form the ground for evidence-based and targeted policies on ageing and longevity.”Alexandre Sidorenko, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria“Authors from around the globe have been brought together in this volume to discuss crucial aging issues from their perspectives and situations. A fascinating collection of narratives from all continents that informs and inspires reflection about the diversities and similarities of aging’s challenges and potentials.”Jan Baars, Professor Emeritus of Humanistic Gerontology at the University for Humanistic Studies in Utrecht, the Netherlands“For anyone invested in the future of ageing, whether from an academic, policy-making, or advocacy perspective, Handbook of Contemporary Ageing Issues stands out as a crucial contribution to the field, fostering a more informed and compassionate approach to supporting our global ageing population.The Handbook brings together global perspectives and country-specific narratives, providing a rich tapestry of knowledge that is both deeply informative and practically relevant. It offers critical insights into how ageing is perceived, managed, and supported worldwide, making it an invaluable reference for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.The handbook's balanced approach, blending theory with real-world applications, ensures that it serves as a guide for both understanding and addressing the complexities of ageing in our contemporary society.”Jane Barratt, Global Advisor and Consultant in Ageing, Past Secretary: International Federation of Ageing (IFA)