WUNRN
1 October 2015 – International Day of Older Persons
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/older-persons-day/en/
PERSONS OVER 60 YEARS TO DOUBLE BY 2050 – MAJOR SOCIETAL CHANGES REQUIRED – AGEING WOMEN
“This
will be particularly important for women, who comprise the majority of older
people and who provide much of the family care for those who can no longer care
for themselves.”
30 September 2015 -- By 2050, the number of people over the age of 60 is set to double. The "World report on ageing and health" highlights the need for major societal change, to ensure that people are not just living longer, but also healthier, lives. The report outlines key areas for action, in the organization of health systems, in our wider physical and social environments, and in the way society as a whole views older people
WORLD REPORT ON AGEING – Direct Link to Full WHO 260-Page 2015 Report:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/186463/1/9789240694811_eng.pdf?ua=1
Grantmakers in Aging
30 SEPTEMBER 2015
¦ GENEVA -
With advances in medicine helping more people to live longer lives, the number
of people over the age of 60 is expected to double by 2050 and will require
radical societal change, according to a new report released by the WHO for the
International Day of Older Persons (1 October).
“Today, most
people, even in the poorest countries, are living longer lives,” says Dr
Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. “But this is not enough. We need to
ensure these extra years are healthy, meaningful and dignified. Achieving this
will not just be good for older people, it will be good for society as a
whole.”
Longer lives not
necessarily healthier lives
Contrary to
widespread assumptions, the "World report on ageing and health 2015"
finds that there is very little evidence that the added years of life are being
experienced in better health than was the case for previous generations at the
same age. “Unfortunately, 70 does not yet appear to be the new 60,” says Dr
John Beard, Director of the Department of Ageing and Life Course at WHO. “But
it could be. And it should be”.
While some older
people may indeed be experiencing both longer and healthier lives, these people
are likely to have come from more advantaged segments of society. “People from
disadvantaged backgrounds, those in poorer countries, those with the fewest
opportunities and the fewest resources to call on in older age, are also likely
to have the poorest health and the greatest need,” says Dr Beard.
The Report
stresses that governments must ensure policies that enable older people to
continue participating in society and that avoid reinforcing the inequities
that often underpin poor health in older age.
Ageing - a missed
opportunity for society
The Report rejects
the stereotype of older people as frail and dependent and says the many
contributions that older people make are often overlooked, while the demands
that population ageing will place on society are frequently overemphasised or
exaggerated.
The Report
emphasises that while some older people will require care and support, older
populations in general are very diverse and make multiple contributions to
families, communities and society more broadly. It cites research that suggests
these contributions far outweigh any investments that might be needed to
provide the health services, long- term care and social security that older
populations require. And it says policy needs to shift from an emphasis on
controlling costs, to a greater focus on enabling older people to do the things
that matter to them.
This will be
particularly important for women, who comprise the majority of older people and
who provide much of the family care for those who can no longer care for
themselves. "As we look to the future, we need to appreciate the
importance of ageing in the lives of women, particularly in poorer
countries," says Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General for
Family, Women’s and Children's Health. "And we need to think much more
about how we can ensure the health of women right across the life course".
But one factor
will play a key role in whether the opportunity for ageing societies to
reinvent themselves can be realised - the health of these older people.
A bright future
awaits
The Report
highlights 3 key areas for action which will require a fundamental shift in the
way society thinks about ageing and older people. These actions can give the
older people of today and tomorrow the ability to invent new ways of living.
The first is to
make the places we live in much more friendly to older people. Good examples
can be found in WHO’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities
that currently comprises over 280 members in 33 countries. These range from a
project improving the security of older people in the slums of New Delhi to
“Men’s Sheds” in Australia and Ireland that tackle social isolation and
loneliness.
Realigning health
systems to the needs of older people will also be crucial. This will require a
shift from systems that are designed around curing acute disease, to systems
that can provide ongoing care for the chronic conditions that are more
prevalent in older age. Initiatives that have already proved successful can be
expanded and introduced in other countries. Examples include the establishment
of teams composed of different specialists such as physiotherapists,
psychologists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, doctors and nurses in
Brazil, and the sharing of computerized clinical charts among care institutions
in Canada.
Governments also need to develop long-term care systems that can reduce inappropriate use of acute health services and ensure people live their last years with dignity. Families will need support to provide care, freeing up women, who are often the main caregivers for older family members, to play broader roles in society. Even simple strategies like internet-based support for family caregivers in the Netherlands or support to older peoples’ associations that provide peer support in Viet Nam hold great promise.