EDITORIAL COMMENT Social Engagement in the Elderly

Populations worldwide are aging; the number of people aged ≥65 years is predicted to reach 2 billion by 2050.1 In Taiwan, the percentage of the population aged ≥65 years increased from 7.09 % in 1993 to 10.4% in 2008, and is expected to comprise 36.97 % of the total population by 2051.2 The rapid increase in the elderly population has engendered public concern about issues associated with aging, such as successful aging and long-term care strategies. Recent research has consistently demonstrated the importance of lifestyle factors, such as active involve-ment in social activities and social networks, in a variety of health outcomes, including physical illness, mental health and mortality.3–5 In the September 2009 issue of the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association,6 Tsa