Spring is waiting around the corner, but March is already here!
There is a lot going on in the world and the International Federation on Ageing is no exception. Scroll down to read about all the important updates and upcoming events.
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Ageism in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Health:
New Policy Brief
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The UN Global report on ageism has a simple but powerful message: ageism is everywhere and harmful, but can be combatted.
A new policy brief published by the World Health Organization (WHO) now highlights how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in public health and medicine can benefit older people, but only by avoiding ageism in their design, implementation, and use.
Download and read the new policy brief.
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While most people recover fully from about of shingles, up to 25% may experience long-term complications.
Shingles Awareness Week highlighted the fact that if you are 50 years or older, the inactive virus that causes shingles is most likely already inside you. This means that you may be at risk of shingles, no matter how healthy you may feel.
The goal of Shingles Awareness Week was to address misconceptions around shingles and to encourage individuals to speak to a healthcare professional about shingles.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is an illness caused by the varicella zoster virus.
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IFA Celebrates World Hearing Day |
Hearing loss affects approximately 65% of the global population aged 60 years and older. Untreated hearing loss results in diminished functional ability, cognitive decline, and social isolation and stigma.
Last year the IFA and the ICRA convened Hearing in Later Life: A convergence of stigma and ageism, which aimed to improve access to screening and hearing care among older adults by tackling stigma. Amid the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, there is a need for people-centered hearing care across the life course to ensure healthy ageing.
This World Hearing Day, taking place 3 March 2022, IFA joined WHO in a call to action to hear for life and listen with care.
If you are interested in hearing in later life and its connection to healthy ageing, or doing work on this topic, please reach out to IFA at kbouzanis@ifa.ngo.
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Civil Society Organizations Call for Action for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing |
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Time To Take Action: Join A Movement By And For Civil Society Organisations In Mobilizing Action For The Un Decade Of Healthy Ageing
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With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), a civil society mapping and engagement initiative has been launched to identify and unite the powerful and unique voices of organizations across a wide range of sectors and disciplines toward a common agenda.
Join this initiative along with other civil society organisations beyond the sectors of ageing in mobilizing action for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing by completing the brief questionnaire and share the information package to demonstrate the power of our voices.
We appreciate your time and hope that you and your organization can be involved in building engagement toward a colloquium early in 2022 to share areas of interest towards the development of a Decade of Healthy Ageing CSO Alliance.
The questionnaire is available in English, French, and Spanish.
Deadline for applications is 15th of March.
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Bringing the Voices of Canadian Seniors Together in the Fight Against Influenza |
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The IFA’s study entitled Bringing the Voices of Canadian Seniors Together in the Fight Against Influenza collected real-world evidence of barriers to influenza vaccination faced by seniors across Canada. The project aims to help build the capacity of the patient and senior organizations to improve influenza vaccination coverage.
The study recommends:
- Prioritization and implementation of a life-course approach to immunization as a key pillar of expanded prevention strategies will save the lives of all Canadians, especially those ‘at-risk’.
- Influenza immunization campaigns (message content, format, and distribution channels) must consider the varying social determinants of the at-risk populations in their development, monitoring and evaluation.
- Reliable up-to-date evidence-based information on influenza and influenza vaccination must be consistent and accessible through various professional groups and channels including specialists.
To further understand the barriers to adult influenza vaccination access the full report.
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“Older Women and Environmental Justice” |
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A panel of experts on environmental justice and women will specifically address the impact of climate change on the lives of older persons. This parallel event will examine the role of structural inequities and disparities as uniquely experienced by older women, and the actualization of human rights in health, safety, housing, water and sanitation. |
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60th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development
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On 15th February 2022 IFA had the honour of participating in the 60th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development by means of an oral statement on the preliminary assessment of the fourth review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, calling for concerted action to accelerate progress towards establishing an international legal instrument to protect the rights of older people.
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In these unprecedented pandemic times, ageism in a variety of forms has become a matter of life and death.
The #AgeEquality initiative aims to break down stereotypes and highlight the glimmer of hope in the dreary world by representing positive stories from around the world to help you reinstate your faith in humanity. The platform also aims to break down stereotypes of older people by showing their resilience, strength and tenacity throughout COVID-19 and beyond.
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For your monthly dose of age-positive stories, click here.
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