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One of the pressing issues facing many nations today and tomorrow is that concerning the aging population. For government and those in the health sector it rates high on the national priority list. For students trying to pass English language tests it is a useful topic to have a good grounding in as it often appears in reading, writing, speaking and/or listening sections. So let's not 'rest on our laurels' let's get into action... Late last week came the news from Shanghai that demand for retirement homes in the city was outpacing supply. Shanghai, one of the first places in China that is seeing negative population growth, is aging fast and trying to address the problems that go with the worrying trend. By the end of last year, more than 20 percent of Shanghai's permanent residents were aged above 60, official figures showed. By 2030, it is expected to increase to more than 33 percent. Senior citizens in the city have an average life span of 81. Now this phenomenon is increasingly common in more developed nations though for China the situation is more complex. Particularly, the number of people of working age - 15 to 59 - is in decline, as a result of the one-child policy. In addition, many young people seek more independence and tend to live with their own family, instead of staying with their parents or grandparents. The problem today in Shanghai is that there are not enough beds in retirement homes for the growing numbers of elderly who appear to be marginalized in today's society. | 
