Despite the celebrations that take place on October 1st, the  United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP), an annual event that commemorates the contributions made by older people to society, it is hard not to also recognize the challenges that ageing populations globally still face.  Two billion people will be 60 years or older by 2050, making up over 20% of the world's population.  A global rise in life expectancy combined with falling fertility rates has contributed "to the rapid ageing of populations around the world" (WHO Report on Ageing, 2015).  It is now imperative that we start addressing the needs and challenges faced by older people, and the ageism and age discrimination that many experience on a daily basis.

For this reason, one of the major  themes of the  14th Global Conference on Ageing is  Addressing Inequalities .  In preparation for the Conference the IFA is encouraging thoughtful conversations with and about several sub populations which are rarely headliners - older migrants, older refugees, older prisoners, older women, older homeless people, older indigenous persons and older LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex).

The IFA blog post series entitled  Unequal Ageing  aims to explore the unique challenges experienced by these older adults.  Join with IFA and its conference partners to give voice to those experiencing these inequities and be a part of creating opportunities to partner and collaborate toward positive change.

Hannah recently completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, earning a BSc in Global Health and Bioethics. Hannah was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship, which allowed her to travel to Nairobi, Kenya to complete her yearlong research project at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto. For this project, she researched and conducted a social network analysis on the One Retinoblastoma World Map, which will help ensure that regardless of where in the world a child with retinoblastoma lives, they will have access to the best possible treatment, care and support.

Hannah was a Co-Director of the University of Toronto International Health Program (UTIHP); one of Toronto's largest student run charities whose initiatives reflect a commitment to global health. In 2016, Hannah was chosen to be one of 250 international student representatives at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). 

Hannah's diverse experiences have reinforced her appreciation of an interdisciplinary approach to support human rights and accessibility to health care; moreover, they have developed her skills in research, teamwork, and a respect for human dignities and confidentiality. Hannah is thrilled to be part of the IFA team and excited to continue to learn from a divergent group of passionate human rights advocates.

The international adoption of policies that support the functional ability of older people is in need of more attention than currently given as the global population of people aged 60 years and older increases. The recent population shift has resulted in an acknowledged need to raise awareness of the rights and contributions of older people, in order to guarantee human rights to individuals of all ages.  In response to the growing older population and the need for further acknowledgement of older people's contributions, this year's United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP), celebrated since 1990 on 1 October, focused on embracing conditions and measures that support the participation of older people and on recognizing the challenges, opportunities, and lived realities of older people worldwide.  

Today, there are more than 900 million older people in the world, and that number is expected to reach 2 billion by 2050.  Facing these future demographic changes, and aiming to eliminate discrimination, the theme of this year's UNIDOP places value on the opportunities brought about by global ageing.

The UNIDOP theme of " Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons" falls in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as both have the goal of facilitating social, economic and political inclusion for all, paying particular attention to underserved groups.

The purpose of this year's UNIDOP theme was to show that many older people are in fact contributors to society, and to encourage people to broaden their view on what it means to contribute.  It also aimed to demonstrate that the fight against age-based discrimination, and the inclusion of older people in all facets of society, requires advocacy to inform policies and legal frameworks to better protect the rights of older people who are especially vulnerable.

The IFA shares the vision and aims promoted by the UNIDOP to raise awareness of the consequences of ageism.  This dedication is particularly reflected through the IFA 14th Conference on Ageing theme 'Combating Ageism,' a theme dedicated to exposing age-based discrimination in health and social policy, and to shifting gears toward empowering older people to do what they value. 

To read a full summary of the UNIDOP event, which took place in New York on October 5, click here.

To learn more about the 'Combating Ageism' theme at the 14th Global Conference on Ageing, click  here. 

The  International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is pleased to announce the launch of the Age-friendly Innovation Exchange (AFIX) newsletter! 

 

It is the IFA's hope that this newsletter will be a forum for age-friendly experts and enthusiasts to share their work on all age-friendly topics, and for the IFA to share our collaborative work with the World Health Organization (WHO) on age-friendly environments (AFE) - including at the IFA 14th Global Conference on Ageing.

 

The 14th Global Conference will have a dedicated age-friendly track to showcase significant AFE work and enable conversations about AFE among various stakeholders.  The IFA encourages the submission of abstracts on the AFE theme.  For more information on abstract submission guidelines, see below.

 

The IFA believes in supporting the age-friendly community to strengthen positive and reciprocal working relationships between those in the field.  As such, the IFA is delighted to present the AFIX newsletter as a knowledge exchange platform available to highlight work being done in age-friendly.

 

The IFA welcomes all who are interested in age-friendly to join AFIX to be kept up-to-date about upcoming initiatives, including webinars on age-friendly environments.  If you are not already part of AFIX and would like to be, click here to join.

 

If you would like to contribute to the next AFIX newsletter, or should you have any questions on the age-friendly work being done at the IFA, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected]. 

Angela Burns joined the IFA team as a project officer in October 2017. Angela first developed an interest in ageing while working towards her Bachelor of Health Sciences at Western University, where she gained theoretical and practical knowledge of health issues pertaining to older persons, including cognitive reserve, physical activity, and health system navigation.

Following her undergraduate degree, Angela obtained a Master's of Public Health from Queen's University to enhance her ability to develop and evaluate evidence-informed solutions for population health issues.  Throughout her studies, Angela worked to improve quality of life of older persons in community, hospital, long-term care, and research settings.  As a part of her Master's, Angela completed a practicum placement at the Ontario Age-Friendly Communities Outreach Initiative, where she built capacity and promoted knowledge sharing among municipalities on age-friendly policies.

Most recently, Angela advocated for the rights of persons with disabilities as a consultant for United Nations ESCAP in Bangkok. Her work focused on reviewing the progress of program and policy development for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. Angela hopes to use her passion for inclusive development and knowledge of evidence-informed decision-making to improve the lives of older persons globally through the IFA.