Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2023
By: Jaylin Garcia
Populations around the world are aging at a rate never seen before. There are more than 1 billion people aged 60 years or older, with the majority of them living in low and middle-income nations. The Decade of Healthy Ageing, a UN global collaborative project that brings together governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector, seeks to improve the lives of older people by addressing these four areas: age-friendly environment, combatting ageism, integrated care, and long-term care. Globally, there is very little evidence that shows that older people, especially older women, today are healthier than the generations before them. Older women are poorer and have fewer savings and assets than older men. Because of a lifetime of disparity and discrimination that hinders equal pay opportunities and workplace promotions, accessing pension benefits is more difficult for older women. Additionally, older women are also poorer than men because of laws about property and land inheritance.
Healthy-ageing is relevant to everyone. The resources available to people, across the different stages of life, make a big impact on their ability to make sound and healthy choices, as well as receive support when they need it. People who enjoy these extra years of good health continue to engage with their communities which strengthens the fiber of society. However, if these years are plagued by poor health, isolation, or lack of support, a vital part of society is negatively affected. Older people require fair access to good-quality essential health services that include end-of-life care, safe & affordable medicines and vaccines, as well as dental care. End-of-life care will ensure that their families won’t endure hardships trying to pay for funeral expenses. Many health systems are set up to deal with individual health conditions rather than conditions of aging.
Despite the importance and contributions of older people to society, negative feelings and attitudes towards age persist. Ageism creates barriers in policies and programs in education, work, health, and social care. Take the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, for example. 75% of those who died were 60 and older. Some stayed put because they had nowhere to go and no one to help them. Others didn’t want to abandon the few belongings they had. For lonely elders, their main source of companionship and love is a pet, and evacuating might mean separating from their faithful friend.
Older people are important members of society, like you and me, and therefore have the right to live in dignity. Your elders raised you and made sacrifices for you. Despite your mistakes, they have loved you unconditionally. A society that abandons its older people, is a society that endangers its future.
