Digital Equity For All Ages

“Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”- Betty Freidan. There have been countless discussions regarding growing old and the desperate search for the fountain of youth. Millions of dollars are spent annually on numerous products and surgical interventions which are touted as having the properties and powers to make us look youthful and forever young. The United Nations (UN) defines older persons as those aged 60 years or over. On many occasions old age is defined as 65+. Isaac Rubinow, states age 65 is generally set as the threshold of old age since it is at this period of life that the rates for sickness and death begin to show a marked increase over those of the earlier years. Population aging is the process by which older individuals become a proportionally larger share of the total population”. It is important to examine other closely related issues surrounding ageing and population aging. The UN states that since the study of population aging is often driven by a concern over its burdening of retirement systems, old age dependency ratio (the number of individuals of retirement ages compared to the number of those of working ages) usually is used as a related measure of population aging. Unfortunately, in some circles ageing is not an issue spoken about readily since it is believed to have any intervention to remain youthful is almost sinful. There is gendered approach to ageing in that men view growing old differently from women. Popular culture also plays into this gendered and diverse approach between the sexes. In Hollywood men can get well paying roles well into their sixties; on the other hand it appears that there is a time cap regarding the roles for older women. In the world of advertisement this gendered and sexist principle is again replicated. The gray haired man is seen as distinguished while the gray haired female is viewed as old and past her prime. The social currency the society attaches on ageing for a male is much higher than what is attached to an older woman. In the field of medical sciences many women over age forty have had or have considered having a hysterectomy; which is a surgical procedure that removes your uterus through an incision in the lower abdomen. United Nations Designation On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly. In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons (resolution 46/91). In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages. The composition of the world population has changed dramatically in recent decades. Between 1950 and 2010, life expectancy worldwide rose from 46 to 68 years. Globally, there were 703 million persons aged 65 or over in 2019. The region of Eastern and South-Eastern Asia was home to the largest number of older persons (261 million), followed by Europe and Northern America (over 200 million). Over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion persons in 2050. All regions will see an increase in the size of the older population between 2019 and 2050. The largest increase (312 million) is projected to occur in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, growing from 261 million in 2019 to 573 million in 2050. According to the UN the fastest increase in the number of older persons is expected in Northern Africa and Western Asia, rising from 29 million in 2019 to 96 million in 2050 (an increase of 226 per cent). The second fastest increase is projected for sub-Saharan Africa, where the population aged 65 or over could grow from 32 million in 2019 to 101 million in 2050 (218 per cent). By contrast, the increase is expected to be relatively small in Australia and New Zealand (84 per cent) and in Europe and Northern America (48%), regions where the population is already significantly older than in other parts of the world. The National Policy for Senior Citizens (2018) Jamaica’s National Policy for Senior Citizens (2018) reflects the commitment of the Government of Jamaica to pursue social development for all its citizens and to put in place the dynamic enabling environment to achieve such development. This is in keeping with Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan. The guiding principles behind the policy provide a foundation that underpins the conceptualization, context and philosophy of the policy. They include respect for human rights and dignity; inclusive and participatory development; gender equity; equitable access and reasonable accommodation and evidence-based monitoring and evaluation. In support of the global thrust for credible engagement of older persons in economic and social life, the policy is founded on three pillars that support inclusion, well-being and development. These are: Active and Productive Ageing for National Development; Advancing Health and Well-being; and Enabling and Supportive Environments. It should be noted that the government has stated that a revised National Policy for Senior Citizens has been approved by Cabinet and will be tabled in Parliament shortly. Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, made the disclosure in a message read by State Minister, Hon. Zavia Mayne, during a virtual church service on Sunday (September 26), to commence commemorative activities for Senior Citizens Week 2021. The policy will be implemented over a period of 10 years and the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) will be responsible for monitoring its execution and associated programmes. Among these are: social pension for persons age 75 and older; the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH); the National Insurance Scheme (NIS); as well as various social assistance grants, emergency relief and provisions for those most affected by the Coronavirus (COVID – 19) pandemic. The 2011 Population and Housing Census for Jamaica confirms an estimated population of those aged sixty years and above at some 323,500 persons, constituting 11.9 per cent of the total population, compared with 10.1 per cent in the 2001 Census. In 2015, the cohort was 341,200 persons, which is 12.6 per cent of the population (ESSJ 2015). This is the fastest growing segment of the population. While the percentage increase in the total population between 2001 and 2011 was 3.5 per cent, the elderly grew by approximately 15.3 per cent over that period. According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the cohort is expected to grow to about 500,000 by 2030. There is a change in the male:female ratio of the elderly, which if continued could reverse the trend of “feminization” of the elderly population. Females still account for a higher percentage of the 60+ years old population, but, according to STATIN, between 2001 and 2011 the male population grew by 18 per cent compared with 13 per cent for the female, and the male female ratio increased from 96.9:100 to 97.9:100 in 2011. Older males have unique needs and so policy makers must take this into consideration as much as the needs of older females are considered. Many senior citizens at some point will require assisted care facility; commonly called nursing homes in Jamaica. Unfortunately, the nursing home industry is largely unregulated and as a result just about anyone can operate a nursing home. The Nursing Home Registration Act and Regulations of 1934 is eighty seven years (87) old and very much outdated. This is unacceptable and requires urgent attention in order to address the needs and care of today seniors. In a newspaper article dated May 4, 2020, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton revealed that only 35 of the 185 nursing homes operating in Jamaica meet the requirements for registration. This revelation is alarming and should be a cause for concern. Some of questions needing answers are; are employees in nursing homes required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19? What is basic standard of care in nursing homes? What are the basic requirements for practical nurses? Given that there are numerous practical nursing schools operating, some registered and some unregistered; is it time to standardize the training of such institutions and make it mandatory for them to be registered? To what extent are COVID-19 protocols being adhered to in nursing homes? Physical Activity and Dementia Physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, contributing to general fitness, muscle control and coordination. Several studies have found that physical activity in early, mid and late life is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Although dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging. For older adults, a lack of exercise may put their risk of developing dementia on par with that of adults who are genetically predisposed to the disease. This is the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. The World Health Organization states that there are around 47.5 million people living with dementia. By 2030, this number is expected to rise to approximately 75.6 million. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for about 60-80 percent of all cases. In the United States alone, an estimated 5.4 million people have Alzheimer’s. One of the biggest risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease is the apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 gene. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, adults who possess one copy of the APOE e4 gene are three times more likely to develop the disease than those without the gene, while those with two copies are 8-12 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Digital Equity for All Ages The 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” affirms the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons. The digital divide still persists between more and less connected countries, communities, and people. In Jamaica, many older members of the society were unable to access the social media platforms in order to schedule appointments for their COVID-19 vaccinations. There are many seniors who live alone whether by choice or circumstance. In order to usher in a culture of digital equity there needs to be a collaborative effort between youth and seniors. Enabling access and use of digital technologies and closing digital divides remains a challenge that needs to be addressed if the international community is to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Interestingly, the fourth industrial revolution characterized by rapid digital innovation and by exponential growth has transformed all sectors of society, including how we live, work and relate to one another. Technological advances offer great expectation for accelerating movement towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, one-half of the global population is off-line, with the starkest contrast between the most developed countries (87%) and the least developed countries (19%). Additionally, recent reports by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) indicate that women and older persons experience digital inequity to a greater extent than other groups in society; they either lack access to technologies, or are often not benefitting fully from the opportunities provided by technological progress. Perception of the Aged Regrettably, too many senior citizens are still experiencing digital inequity despite some progress to close the digital divide among seniors; this is problematic and must be addressed. International Day of the Older Persons should be used to dismantle the discrimination many older folks experience. The day is set aside to raise awareness of the varied issues the elderly face. These societal issues range from affordable healthcare; health insurance; social security; care giving, elder abuse, social fellowship, ageism and affordable housing. Ageism refers to prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping against someone based on his or her age. Thankfully, the negative perception of the aged has changed and continues to change for the better. Societies have benefitted from retired individuals taking on employment to the overall development of societies. It is imperative that those tasked with the responsibility for shaping public policy regarding seniors must be mindful that the needs of older men are different from those of older women and as such we must ensure that such policies are gender sensitive in terms of their implementation and scope. Perhaps it’s time to have a Ministry of Elder Affairs to focus solely on the varied issues of older persons. Happy International Day of Older Persons! In the words of Cindy McDonald, ageing is not an option, not for anyone. It is how gracefully we handle the process and how lucky we are, as the process handles us. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationalDayofOlderPersons #DigitalEquityforAllAges #SDGs #ageism