As the percentage of the world’s elderly population increases, the importance of understanding the concerns and needs of this group of people becomes that much more important. Appropriate policies and planning for the elderly is needed and this can only be accomplished holistically by having access to appropriate information.

The use of indicators is becoming a common practice in focusing the attention of policy and decision makers on distinct issues associated with the elderly. There is a wealth of information in South Africa but it is not always in a format that makes it easy to use or suitable for populating indicators. This research report, compiled for the National Department of Health by the Surveys, Analyses, Modelling and Mapping (SAMM) Research Programme of the HSRC, looks at the sustainability of a set of indicators on the aged and makes recommendations on the development of a Minimum Data Set (MDS) for South Africa.

• List of Figures (45 in total) and Tables (54 in total)
• List of Abbreviations
• Introduction to international and national policy frameworks, as well as methodological approach to the study
  
  
• Assessment of Indicators, Data Sources and Data Gaps
• Analysis of MDS Indicators
• Dimensions, Structures and Management of the MDS
• Conclusion and Recommendations
  
  
• Addenda
• References