Ageing With Dignity

On this International Day of Older Persons, let’s commit to strengthen care and support systems that honour the dignity of older persons and caregivers. - UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Recently, we called in a stove technician to do some checks for a suspected gas leak. While the gentlemen were in the kitchen, the younger one who is the apprentice uttered a comment that was discriminatory against older persons. He opined that President Joe Biden should have stepped aside long ago and allow a much younger person to take the reins. Of course, I could not allow this opportunity to pass and I asked what he had against older persons. I reminded him that aging is not an option and well all will get there. Discrimination oftentimes is clothed in a humorous manner. Without a doubt discrimination is pervasive in the society and indeed the international community. Older persons are usually voiceless and invisible. Once you get to retirement age the message that society sends is that your usefulness has expired and you are now a bother to the society. In fact in some families, the elderly are taken to nursing homes or retirement villages away from the younger members of the family. The currency of the elderly is not the same as that of younger members of the society. No one is saying it should be. However, at the same time we should not undervalue the worth of seniors. Notwithstanding, most societies are not that progressive. When was the last time you saw an older person anchoring the evening news? Almost never, news presenters are usually youthful. We must allow the seniors around us to be involved once they are capable. My dad is 90 years old and he is in charge of some of his medication. Yes, I have oversight but I allow him that sense of autonomy and independence to be in charge. This goes a far way in balancing their mental and physical health. In fact, both my parents are functioning relatively well in spite of their health challenges. We must ensure that our seniors age with dignity. The United Nations (UN) states that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050. The number of people aged 80 years or older is growing even faster. Today, life expectancy at birth exceeds 75 years in half of the world's countries or areas, 25 years longer than those born in 1950. Individuals reaching the age of 65 are now expected to live an additional 16.8 years on average. Population ageing is a major global trend reshaping societies worldwide. The UN adds that life expectancy at birth now exceeds 75 years in half of the world's countries, 25 years longer than in 1950. By 2030, older persons are projected to outnumber youth globally, with this increase most rapid in developing countries. This demographic shift has significantly transformed the caregiving landscape, encompassing a wide range of needs for both paid and unpaid support in formal and informal settings. As populations age, the demand for comprehensive healthcare, care, and social support services has grown substantially, particularly for older persons with conditions such as dementia. In recognition of these challenges and opportunities, the 34th commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons will focus on the theme of "Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide". Ageing with Dignity Ageing with dignity means that we recognize the human rights of older people. As a society we have an obligation to guarantee them a dignified and autonomous old age with access to social security. Unfortunately, most States inadvertently supports discrimination against the elderly. We must also be cognizant of the fact that there is also a gendered element regarding how society treats older men versus older women. Older men are given more dignity with terms used such as distinguished, debonair and wise while their female counterparts are just viewed as being ‘old’. The Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) is an opportunity to bring together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector for ten years of concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live. Population ageing is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty-first century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society, including labour and financial markets, the demand for goods and services, such as housing, transportation and social protection, as well as family structures and intergenerational ties. A longer life brings with it opportunities, not only for older people and their families, but also for societies as a whole. Additional years provide the chance to pursue new activities such as further education, a new career or pursuing a long neglected passion. In fact, many churches have outreach programmes for the seniors where they are allowed to socialize and learn new skills. Ageing with dignity also has an economic cost. In many instances older persons are pushed into poverty upon retirement. The costs for medical care including prescription drugs are astronomical. Health insurance for all seniors is one practical solution to this growing problem. Governments can and should do more for older persons so that they can retain their dignity as they age. As populations age, the demand for healthcare and social support has surged, especially for those with conditions like dementia, a major cause of dependency and disability in older adults. We cannot discuss older persons without mentioning their caregivers. Oftentimes the caregivers are not recognized and themselves are invisible. As a result, the government should do more to affirm and give practical support to caregivers. The Jamaican government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has done some work in the area of elder social security but more can be done. In some jurisdictions, for example in Canada the State pays for a caregiver/nurse to come into the home and give a specific number of hours to the elderly so the primary caregiver can get a break. This support is necessary given that caregiving is all encompassing and consuming. Undoubtedly, there needs to be a wider conversation regarding ageing and elder care. In fact, the conversation should be much wider and seek to address the pervasive levels of intolerance in a culture permissible to discrimination. The time is now for an interrogation of the prejudiced narrative against older persons with the distinct aim to remedy this divisive subculture. The plight of the older person globally is a cause for concern. On this the International Day of Older Persons observed on October 1st, let us use this platform to encourage governments, policy makers and social services across the world for a concerted and sustained action, to address the physical, social, psychological and health needs of older persons. In the words of Betty Friedan, aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength. 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 © #InternationalDayofOlderPerson