ABSTRACT
Transcultural geriatrics is the branch of old-age medicine that explores the boundaries of sociocultural differences and their impact on human health. The trends are predicted for many South East Asian countries which will result in the emergence of new disease patterns, increasing chronic disability and changing social norms. The trends in international migration and mass ageing in developing countries, especially the Indian subcontinent, will affect the healthcare systems of Western countries including the UK. The ageing population in developed countries has increased gradually over the last 100 years, mostly as a result of improved socio-economic conditions. The challenge for the developed world is to adopt a community-oriented approach and provide the highest attainable quality of health for older people. The challenge for developing countries is to adopt a cohesive strategy for dealing with the problems of the changing demographic process, increasing burden of chronic disease and limited resources.
