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Health Issues around the World
-Archive 2007-
Articles in Arabic
| Chinese
| French
| Russian
| Spanish
Also see our section on the UN Disability Rights
Convention, US Health
Issues and Older People
and HIV/AIDS
Africa
Kenya: Old But Not Cold: Older
People Also At Risk (November 8, 2007)
Older persons are as susceptible to HIV/AIDS and other
blood-transmitted diseases as any other age groups. Help
Age International and local Kenyan advocates are
challenging the government’s National AIDS Control Council
(NACC) to draw up a strategy for dealing with HIV/AIDS
among older people. A lack of HIV-positive role models
among the older generation is a possible reason the
pandemic is considered to be a ‘young people’s problem.’
Also, harmful cultural practices such as polygamy and wife
inheritance are responsible for placing older people at
increased risk of HIV. Initiatives such as training older
people in home-based care, peer education and counseling
would give the elderly easier access to HIV information.
Uganda: Ugandan Elderly are Not
Well Cared For (November 8, 2007)
Uganda’s Constitution recognizes the rights and value of
the elderly, and maintains that provisions be made for
their welfare. A seminar organized by the Uganda Network
of Aged and Retired Persons (UNARP) focused on determining
how well the state has been carrying out the
constitutional provisions. The seminar revealed issues
that need to be addressed: economic dependency aggravated
by small social security benefits, segregation and
isolation, chronic loneliness and seniors burdened with
caring for children of relatives dying from HIV/AIDS. The
Government as well as citizens should participate in
providing more resources to elderly persons.
Nigeria: Epidemiology of Major
Depressive Disorder in Elderly Nigerians in the Ibadan
Study of Ageing: a Community-Based Survey (September 15,
2007)
This report estimates the occurrence and effect of a major
depressive disorder found in elderly Africans living in
Nigeria who are exposed to urbanization and other social
change. Its results reveal that older people with major
depressive disorder “had poorer overall quality of life
and specifically lower quality of life in the physical and
psychological domains, which lends support to the
association between poor physical functioning and
depression in the elderly.” The level of impairments that
the elderly suffer from this form of depression speaks
directly to the need for scaling up effective treatment
for those who are affected.
Sudan-Uganda: Programs Disregard
HIV among the Elderly (July 27, 2007)
Worldwide around 2.8 million persons over 50 are living
with HIV. However, older persons continue to be excluded
from HIV/AIDS information sessions and medical check-up
that could detect the virus early. HelpAge International
takes the view that effectively tackling the pandemic
among the elderly means acknowledging their sexuality,
and recognizing their right to equal access to voluntary
counseling and testing, antiretroviral treatment and
targeted information.
Namibia: Elderly Couple Copes with HIV (March 30, 2007)
New Era, a Namibian newspaper, reports on an elderly
couple living with HIV/AIDS in Namibia. Since they learned
about the diagnosis of their disease, 63-year-old Vila
Amand and his wife, 61-year-old Martha Costa, go to the
Kavango Bridges of Hope in Rundu every week for HIV/Aids
counseling. This article alerts readers to the fact that
older persons suffer from HIV/AIDS more commonly than many
would guess. Undoubtedly the plague of HIV/AIDS makes
elderly even more vulnerable than they would be otherwise.
Senegal: Dr. Malik Badiane,
Chief of the Health District in Oussouye, High Blood
Pressure and Diabetes, First Causes of Mortality for the
Older Persons. (March 9, 2007)
(Article in French)
Oussouye lies is an enclave, 400 kilometers from the
Capital. The people in this region suffers from very bad
road conditions that makes it difficult to evacuate sick
persons to the hospitals. However, Oussouye benefits from
a low HIV/AIDS infection rate. High blood pressure and
diabetes are the main causes of mortality: both illnesses,
quite recent, are taking unexpected proportions. Dr M.
Badiane, a local doctor, complaines that “people refuse to
get treated and go too late to the hospital.”
Senegal: Elder Health and the
"Sesame Plan," for a Free and Qualitative Care
(January 5, 2007)
(Article in French)
This article draws a picture of the health situation
in Senegal in 2006. The main project remaining is the
Sesame Plan which would offer free health care to every
older person. In fact, since September 1, 2006, the
article claims that elderly people are getting free access
to health care which is quite revolutionary in the African
continent. Beyond this major initiative, the article
deals with diseases such as paludism, VIH, and cholera and
some prospects for medical remedies.
Return
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Americas & Caribbean
Canada: Dangerous Drugs
Continue to be Prescribed to Seniors (December 18, 2007)
Despite government warnings, dangerous atypical
antipsychotics drugs are still being prescribed to
seniors. Health Canada has requested drug manufacturers to
include a warning sheet attached with the drugs stating
the side effects and dangers. Health Canada also asked
providers to refrain from using these drugs as a treatment
for dementia. The risks associated with these therapies
outweigh the benefits and although Health Canada has
called for a reduction in prescriptions, the rate of sales
increased by 40% in most cases.
Canada: Long-Term-Care Insurance a
Flop (November 17, 2007)
As people inevitably grow older, they will require
assistance in performing daily activities, but the cost of
insurance to pay for an aide to help one bathe, eat,
dress, use the washroom or move from bed to chair is high.
One marketing research firm has estimated that insurers
have sold only about 60,000 individual long-term-care
policies to Canadians. It is predicted that by 2021, about
one-fifth of Canada’s population will require support from
the healthcare system. A need-based subsidy for seniors is
available for basic care needs and only about 4 per cent
of Ontario residents over the age of 65 are now personally
funding their own long-term care, which includes basic
accommodations and other services.
Canada: How Sustainable is Medicare?
(September 2007)
Contrary to popular belief, this paper finds that
population aging, in and of itself, contributes very
little to the rising cost pressures in the health care
system. Rather, inflation has been the biggest cost driver
over the past decade. This report suggests that the real
challenge for financing the health care system is the
advance in technological possibilities, broadly defined to
include pharmaceutical drugs, new surgical techniques, new
diagnostic and imaging technologies, and end-of-life
care.
Report: Canada: Health Care Use at
the End of Life in Western Canada (September 2007)
This report “describes some aspects of care provided in
the last year of life to residents who died in Canada’s
western provinces.” As end of life care is complex and
requires coordination of a variety of services to maintain
an optimal quality of life,” the report attempts to aid
the development of inexpensive and effective models.
Finding alternative models for end-of-life care is
critical in light of the aging baby boom cohort that will
increasingly need care over the next decade.
Report: Canada: Drug Claims
by Seniors: an Analysis Focusing on Potentially
Inappropriate Medication Use, 2000 to 2006 (September
2007)
Using the appropriate medicine is important for health
reasons. But it has also economic implecations
because of the costs of medicine. This report analyses the
prescriptions from the ‘beers list’, of drugs that are
identified as ‘potentially inappropriate’ for elderly
people. It focuses on seniors (people who are more than
65) in four provinces in Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba and New Brunswick, from 2000 to 2006. This report
highlights that more and more Canadians are using drug.
But the rate of drugs use considered to be high risk
remains relatively stable and the rate of chronic use of
these products is decreasing.
El Salvador: Patients at the Third
Age Take Care of Their Teeth (August 27, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Older persons in El Salvador make up 50% of those visiting
dentists. In 2006, the Ministry of Health reported that
more Third Age citizens are becoming concerned about their
dental health. Visiting the dentist is a priority since
older persons often lose some of their visual and motor
skills to clean their teeth effectively. At an advanced
age, problems with dental care can bring on difficulties
with the digestive tract.
Colombia: A
Country’s Road to Aging (June 25, 2007)
(Article in
Spanish)
The senior
citizen population in Colombia is growing due to a
change in priorities by the country’s younger
generation that is affecting the nation’s birthrate. While young
adults are having fewer children, preferring to spend
their resources on obtaining a better quality of life
or migrating to other parts of the world, medical
advances are extending the lifespan. As a result,
the Colombian government is finding an increase in
illnesses affecting the elderly population that a
shrinking adult population must now confront.
Chile:
Expenses for Health for the Elderly Could Quadruple by
2020 (June 12, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
According to a Health Department study, expenses for
health of older persons could quadruple by 2020.
Chile has an accelerating aging challenge. In 2020
around 17.3% of the population will be older than 60
years, up from 2002 when only 11.4% were older people.
In 2006 the Health Department found that 7.5% of
Chileans are old and poor. Although the Health
Supervisor said the government must create programs to
help older people, it is also necessary that the elderly
take care of themselves by changing some of their
unhealthy habits.
Chile: Chile’s Aging Population Facing
Healthcare Crisis (May 23, 2007)
While the number of senior citizens on the rise in
Chile, few doctors are prepared to meet the needs of an
aging population. One of the main problems the
healthcare industry will face is the current lack of
gerontologists. It is estimated that there is only one
gerontologist for every 250,000 residents (the European
Union standards currently recommend that there be one
gerontologist for every 5,000 residents). Though some
have called for the training of more doctors
specializing in gerontology, other say the real solution
lies in changing the perception of elder citizens in
society.
Cuba: Despite
Hardships, Cubans Live Long Lives (April 23, 2007)
Cubans extol their free medical care, mild climate, and
subsidized food, water, and transportation, despite the
“hardships and shortages they suffer." Cubans
credit their average life expectancy of 77.08 years to
their easily accessible services and resources, which
have vastly improved the quality of life of the elderly.
When prescription drugs and visits to the doctor are
free for instance, the elderly can relish a stress-free
lifestyle. The government is older people-friendly and
runs community groups and residence halls that provide
support for the elderly.
Chile: Air Pollution and
Mortality in Chile: Susceptibility among the Elderly
(April 2007)
This study examines the influence of relatively high
concentrations of air pollution on mortality in a general
population sample and in the very elderly. The results
suggest that the elderly are particularly prone to dying
from air pollution; concentrations deemed acceptable for
the general population may undermine the health of the
elderly.
Colombia: University of
Antioquia Will Continue Services for Retirees (March 29,
2007)
(Article in Spanish)
At the eleventh hour, the University of Antioquia’s
president decided that the University’s healthcare center
will not abandon retirees who were former employees.
Retirees originally were forced to give up their health
coverage with the University and receive State services
which are inadequate and more costly than the services
from the University. The retirees protested, stating that
it is their right as former University employees to
continue their health service from the University. They
won back their University coverage.
Chile: Neighborhoods that Encourage Elderly Persons to
Walk (March 5, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Are neighborhoods with lots of squares and parks ideal for
elderly persons? According to a study, an ideal
neighborhood for elderly persons is one that has shops,
banks, and restaurants. The study reveals that elderly
persons who live close to these kinds of destinations are
more likely to be physically active and walk around. Older
persons need a good environment to maintain a healthy
lifestyle.
Chile: Pets Can Be a Healthy Companionship for Elderly
People (February 16, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Pets can help the people in their “golden age” remain
mentally and physically active. Selecting the right kind
of pet is key for the elderly owners. Studies show that
having pets has many advantages – from reducing the chance
of developing depression and other diseases to keeping
better track of medicinal intake. It also allows the
elderly owner to have a more positive attitude towards
life. For example, 76-year-old Jeannette Asfura used to
only complain about her physical pain whenever her
children called. This stopped completely when she adopted
Lulu, a small dog. Now all she talks about her little Lulu
when her children call. This article offers other positive
testimonies, more details about the different benefits of
having a pet, and a guide on how to select an appropriate
pet to meet your needs.
Venezuela: The Municipals Will Pay Debt on Health
Insurance for Elderly Persons (February 14, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
A new Venezuelan law requires municipals to be
responsible for the debt on health insurance for elderly
persons. A spokesperson explained that services and access
to healthcare should not be affected; the only difference
during the transition process is who will be in charge of
funding the healthcare program.
Chile: Elderly People Deal Better with Crisis (February
5, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Contrary to popular belief, elderly people are more likely
to deal with crisis better than their younger
counterparts. The US National Institute of Aging funded
research that indicated elderly persons’ reactions to bad
news are usually better and calmer than their children or
grandchildren. The study shows that elderly persons
process information in their brains in a different way and
are less sensitive to disagreeable details. This article
explains the cerebral processing of information and how
that influences elderly persons’ thinking and response.
Canada: Report: Resident
Safety: Characteristics Associated With Falling in
Ontario Complex Continuing Care (February 2007)
The analysis focused on 6,000 longer-stay patients in
hospitals (representing 25% of all patients in Ontario
complex continuing care facilities) in 2005–2006. Falls
were documented for 8% of the study population. The risk
of falling was higher for patients who required help in
moving around, who used certain prescription medications
(sedatives, for example) or who had fallen previously—and
the probability of falling increased dramatically for
patients with more than one of these risk factors.
Argentina: More than
Half a Million Pensioners Cannot get Tested (January 29,
2007)
(Article in Spanish)
According to an official notice of the “Federación
Bioquímica de la Provincia de Buenos Aires” (FABA),
the Biochemical Federation of Buenos Aires, more than
500,000 retired and pensioned people can’t be tested. This
is because PAMI, the health insurance of retired and
pensioned people, has no agreement with laboratories
located outside the city of Buenos Aires. In the few
places available to be tested, people wait for long hours.
Sometimes they can’t even make an appointment. FABA showed
the results to PAMI, asking them to add more laboratories
closer to the pensioners' neighborhoods. Old people should
have easy access for medical tests.
Colombia: Science Advances against Alzheimer’s Disease
with New Treatments (January 28, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Alzheimer’s, a disease without a cure, affects many
elderly persons and has no known cause. Although the cause
remains unknown, scientists know that genes are involved
in the development of the disease, specifically with a
protein deposit named apoliprotein. Scientists made a
notable breakthrough with the development of a
vaccination, in the form of a patch, that triggers the
immune system to attack and destroy the protein deposit.
As promising as this vaccination is, scientists must carry
out tests on mice before doing clinical tests on humans.
This article explains in detail how this vaccination
functions, along with information on the disease itself
and strategies to slow down the disease progress in the
meantime.
Bolivia: Health Ministry and FAM Profile the Health
Insurance Plan of Older Adults that Will Take Effect in
March (January 23, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Bolivians only have to wait until March for the new Health
Insurance Plan for Older Adults to kick into effect. All
327 Bolivian municipalities have agreed to provide
coverage with high standards and optimum quality to its
elderly. To assure that all older adults in Bolivia are
covered, the government proposed an annual coverage of $50
for each geriatric patient. Despite the high hopes to
begin distribution in March, municipalities have no set
date because they have yet to reach an agreement on census
figures. Consequently, the Health Ministry cannot approve
disbursements until the municipalities decide how many
individuals will need coverage under the plan, as well as
the specifics of how medical personnel and hospitals will
be reorganized to guarantee the targeted results.
Colombia: I
Will Not Die for Lack of Attention (January 18, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In Colombia, a well-known radio icon, Iván Zapata
Isaza, suffered thrombosis in 1997, leaving him
paralyzed. He was eligible for pension and healthcare
from the government. During the first two years, he
received all the care he needed from the government.
Thereafter, he did not receive anything from the
government, leaving him with poor, if any, medical
service, no medication, and inconsistent treatment. The
situation forced Mr. Zapata’s wife to become his nurse
for almost ten years.
Chile: A Study Reveals
That Aspirin Reduces Asthma Risk (January 17, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Aspirin is an analgesic that reduces the chance of
getting a cardiovascular disease. But a recent study,
published in the “American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine,” reveals that aspirin also reduces
the risk of developing asthma by 22%. A parallel study
indicates that eating broccoli and tomatoes together will
reduce the chance of getting tumors in the prostate area.
Chile: Teeth Also Need Special Care (January 15, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
When people get older, there are two main oral problems,
in addition to some less severe problems, that are common:
1. An increase in the chance of getting cavities. 2. The
reduction of saliva excretion. This article explains why
those problems, the aforementioned main ones and other
lesser problems, happen, what should be done to prevent
them from arising and how to treat them if these problems
arise.
Chile: A New Tool: Blood Test Measures Heart Attack Risk
(January 11, 2007)
(Article in
Spanish)
A cost-effective blood test will identify which
patients with heart disease are at greater risk of having
a stroke or a heart attack. This will allow the doctors to
take preventive measures to reduce the affected patients’
risk. The blood test will save a lot of lives and money.
Colombia: A Test to Establish How Young You Are (January
10, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Throughout history, people have dreamed of being young
forever—from searching for the Fountain of Youth to
creating stories like Peter Pan—but we know we cannot stay
young forever. Or can we? We will definitely age over
time, but there are ways to remain young physically and
spiritually. This article talks about a test that
establishes one’s biological age and offers advice on how
to stay “younger.”
Dominican Republic: Elderly Pregnancy (January 8, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In today’s era, the lifespan is not 40 years old.
Thanks to science and technology, new and impressive
changes are taking place in society. Now older women can
give birth to babies when they are at the age of
grandparents. Artificial insemination, for one thing,
makes it possible for women over the age 40 years old to
have a successful pregnancy.
Argentina: Alzheimer’s:
An Active Mind Reduces Risks (January 4, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Studies have shown that there are ways to reduce the
impact of Alzheimer’s at least by half. Educational,
intellectual and working activities, which are called
reserved cognitive activities, are considered to be
preventative ways to reduce the progressive rate of the
disease. This article explains in detail the study itself,
its findings and what people can do to reduce the chance
of getting Alzheimer’s or slow down its development.
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Asia Pacific
Reports
| Articles
Reports
Australia: The Financial Impact of Entering Aged Care
(September 2007)
This report illustrates the likely aged care costs –
dubbed ‘aged care shock’ –
that Australians can expect to face in their retirement.
The figures “indicate that retiring Australians (and
especially women) face a considerable risk that they will
require aged care services during their remaining lifetime
and that the private cost of those services will
substantially impact on their finances if they have not
planned for those costs.”
China:
Health and Health Care of the Older Population in Urban
and Rural China: 2000 (September 2007)
This analysis describes the health status and health care
of China’s older population in 2000. It examines older
people’s activity limitation, chronic disease status,
self-assessed health, and lifestyle behaviors. Some major
findings in this report include nearly half of the older
population in China reported some activity limitation;
women, the unmarried, the less educated, and the poor more
commonly reported activity limitations; urban/rural
residence was associated with older people’s health care
utilization; and about half of older Chinese worried about
financial resources for daily living and health
care.
Australia:
Residential Aged Care in Australia 2005-06 (June 2007)
Residential aged care facilities cover a variety of elder
services. This report provides comprehensive welfare
statistics about the residents in these facilities in
Australia. Overall, the statistics indicate that the
number of residential aged care institutions is
increasing, that women outnumber men, and that indigenous
populations have a high use rate.
Australia:
Current and Future Demand for Specialist Disability
Services (June 2007)
A recent Australian report by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare highlights the needs of the country’s
disabled population for accommodation and respite
services, community access services, and employment
services. The aging of the general population, and of the
population with a disability, is likely to increase demand
for services to support both disability and ageing needs
in the future. People may need complementary combinations
of support from both the disability and aged care service
sectors.
Australia: Australian Bureau of Statistics: Older
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (May 29,
2007)
The document provides an overview of the health and social
circumstances of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Australians. Older indigenous Australians tend to
be more involved in the community life than non-indigenous
older people. Among Australians aged 55 years and over,
indigenous people were more than 1.5 times as likely as
non-indigenous people to report their health as fair or
poor. About 70% of older indigenous people reported a
disability or long-term health condition. Life expectancy
at birth was estimated at 59 years for Indigenous males
and 65 years for Indigenous females - 17 years below the
life expectancies for all Australian males and for all
Australian females.
Report:
Cambodia; Older Persons’ AIDS Knowledge and Willingness
to Provide Care in an Impoverished Nation: Evidence from
Cambodia (April 2007)
This study examines what persons aged 60 and over in
Cambodia know about HIV/AIDS in their country which has
the highest HIV prevalence in Asia. It is clear that older
aged parents commonly play a key role in the care of their
adult sons and daughters living with AIDS. Their
willingness to provide care to a family member increases
with the level of correct knowledge about the infection.
But how can older persons learn about AIDS? The study
suggests that helping older persons own radios and
televisions may help, especially if a media campaign
follows that describes AIDS, its causes, and what can be
done.
Articles
China: 800
Elderly People Enjoy Home-based Care (December 24, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
One year ago, the city of Shude started a home-based care
service for older persons. based on four major principles.
These principles include step-by-step development,
public-private shared cost, government-society shared
efforts, and home-based care. The institutional structure
consists of district, town and village, with a monitoring
mechanism to ensure service quality. So far, 818 elderly
people in the city have joined this service.
China:
Reaching Out to The Elderly (December 21, 2007)
China is now facing huge demands on health care for the
elderly. Almost all nursing homes take in only healthy
seniors. Meanwhile, the majority of elderly persons need
professional care in terms of medical, physical therapy
and psychological services. This is not the responsibility
of hospitals but also of the patients’ families. Perhaps
lessons from Western countries’ professional clinical
models will be useful for China as it faces these demands.
China: Fatal Injuries Among
Elderly Plummet After Safety Course (December 20, 2007)
Statistics show that the injury mortality of over-60
elderly people in Jing'an District, Shanghai, has
plummeted from 140.69 per 100,000 seniors in 2003 to
102.48 per 100,000 seniors last year. Why? The district
started a long-term injury prevention program for all
elderly residents, focusing on fall prevention training
and other supports for seniors. Because of this
achievement, Jing'an District became the first district in
Mainland China to be certified as an International Safety
Community.
China: Aging
City Leads Way (December 20, 2007)
As one of China’s fastest aging cities, Dalian has been
exploring new policies and systems to satisfy the demand
for elderly care. These efforts, combined with lessons
learned from Japan, helped increase the proportion of
elders enjoying government living subsidies. Dalian is
first in China to promote foreign investment in the
elderly care sector. Read also about its new “housekeeper
service” which provides elderly care from unemployed or
laid-off workers at affordable price for seniors.
China: Medical
Card System in Shang Hai to Benefit 180,000 Elderly
People (December 10, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In 2001, the Charity Fund of Shang Hai City initiated a
medical card campaign that entitled uninsured poor persons
over-60 years old to free medical treatment up to RMB
500/person/year. Until now, 180,000 medical cards have
been granted; the medical subsidy has reached RMB 91
million. This year, the City improved two key elements of
the campaign: comprehensive coverage and a magnetic card
system. Comprehensive coverage will include all uninsured
elderly in the city. Medical treatment fees will be
discounted by 60%. And the new magnetic card system helps
clinics work more efficiently and saves time for older
people.
China:
Beijing To Enter A Fast Aging Period – 7 Communities To
Implement Home-based Care for Elderly (December 10,
2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to Beijing Elderly Committee’s Deputy-Director
Chen Yi, the city’s elderly population will reach 2.5
million by 2010 and 6.5 million by 2050, meaning that for
every three people there will be one elderly person over
60. At present, Beijing has a total of 332 elderly care
institutions, with 36,000 beds. These numbers are far
below the demand. Therefore, Beijing’s elderly care
planning has integrated institution-based and home-based
care as the foundation for attending to the growing needs
of the elderly. After a four-year planning period, the
total number of beds at institutions will increase to
55,000, and each community will have one institution with
200-500 beds, along with additional attention given to
home-based care.
China: Private Firms Encouraged
to Invest in Senior Care Sector (December 7, 2007)
China now has more than 40,000 elderly care institutions
with 1.7 million beds, serving 145 million elderly over
60. At present, 13 million elderly over 80 are in need of
care and 67% of elderly people now live in rural areas. On
the other hand, China’s underdeveloped economy is falling
short of financial resources from the public sector. Under
these circumstances, the Chinese government is now
encouraging the private sector to invest in elderly care
activities. The government provides incentives through
favorable investment, land and taxation, as well as
resource allocation policies. It also promises to allocate
more funds for purchasing elderly care services.
Australia: Middle-aged 'More
Anxious Than Elderly' (December 7, 2007)
Older Australians today are healthier than the baby boomer
population of 45 and over, reports show. A study published
in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
indicated that a significant number of people from 45-65
years were diagnosed with mental health problems compared
to a lower number in the 65+ age group. Researchers
hypothesize that living through the hardships of life
already allowed the elderly to cope better and become more
resilient with age. A bright picture of growing old!
China:
Mental Illness To Hit The Elderly (December 5, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China can no longer ignore the problem of an aging
society. By the end of 2005, the population of Chinese
over sixty years of age reached 144 million. Thirty-six
per cent of total suicides are by people over 55. In rural
areas, the suicide rate among the elderly is 4 to 5 times
higher than the world’s average rate. In all of China, 85%
of elderly people are suffering from mental problems of
various types. Most of them are retired seniors. Many
cannot cope with the loss of power and prestige, some
cannot adapt themselves to the new life style, while
others cannot bear the feelings of isolation. For
government agencies, perfecting the elderly care system is
fundamental to solving the problem, which also involves
work with families and hospitals to assume some of the
responsibilities.
Singapore:
S'poreans Live Longer but Suffer 8 Years of Poor Health
(December 3, 2007)
Singaporeans living longer are apt to suffer more from
health problems than those in other countries. Elders
suffer chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke,
cancer, diabetes and mental illness. Studies show that
although life expectancy is high, the last 8 years of a
Singaporean’s life will be spent in ill health. The
Ministry of Health has recognized that many elder diseases
are completely preventable and that it must take action to
promote health and prevent illness.
Australia: Vulnerable Elderly
Deserve Better Care (November 19, 2007)
Lynda Saltarelli is fighting for the human rights of older
Australians in nursing homes. Her account, backed up by
studies, shows that most families are ill-equipped when it
comes to aged-care issues and mistreatment can easily
occur—and regrettably often happens. Saltarelli outlines
specific reforms that should be embraced in Australia. She
argues that vulnerable older persons often lack capacity
to act in their own best interest. Therefore, she says
governments must erect “solid perimeters” around the
nursing care system.
India: Senior Citizens to Have
Access to Health Insurance (November 6, 2007)
The Indian Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
(IRDA) intends to give access to health insurance to all
senior citizens. However, the proposal would exclude those
diagnosed with a terminal illness who would be ineligible
to receive medical care under the policy. The panel
recommended portability of health insurance policies, a
progression of tax concessions for health insurance, and
universal coverage for senior citizens. Will there be
provision of health care for the vast numbers of poor
elders who cannot pay for premiums? Will the terminally
ill get any assistance?
Japan:
End-of-Life Care Patchy for Nation’s Elderly (October
28, 2007)
A Yomiuri Shimbun survey showed that in home care clinics
with the largest number of deaths in elderly patients,
home care attendants were not present when the individuals
died. Last year, medical clinics specializing in home care
services became available to provide end-of-life care for
the elderly. The survey found that many of the deaths
reported occurred in facilities located in urban areas.
This information may lead to developing national standards
of care within medical clinics to handle end-of-life care
for the elderly.
Singapore: Senior Citizen Week
Re-branded as Active Ageing Festival (October 10, 2007)
In order to promote healthy and active ageing, the Council
for Third Age has renamed Senior Citizen Week to Active
Ageing Festival. Through the different activities that
will be available for older persons, the Council hopes to
create an atmosphere and sense that ageing should not
restrict anyone’s daily life. The Council “wants to help
avoid or minimise any feelings of helplessness among older
people by having year-long activities to build up their
social networks.”
Australia:
Better Health Services for Older Australians (October 5,
2007)
The Commonwealth Government announced it will offer
Medicare-funded comprehensive health checks for older
Australians in an effort to improve healthcare services
for the elderly. Starting November 1, 2007, geriatric
assessments and elderly care management will be made more
comprehensive with the addition of new Medicare-funded
services available to patients over 65 who have been
referred by their General Practitioner (GP) to a
geriatrician. The health checks plan will also serve as a
preventive measure focusing on polypharmacy, cognition,
falls, and incontinence to avoid hospitalizations and
premature institutionalized care.
Japan:
Robots Cater to Japan’s Elderly (October 4, 2007)
Changes in the structure of the nuclear family in Japan
are forcing elders to seek care from outside resources,
and thus many are turning to technology. Air pressured
rubber and nylon ‘muscle suits’ that help keep the elderly
active, intelligent wheelchairs, and robots that feed
individuals with a spoon and fork on a swiveling arm are
just a few of the products currently displayed on the care
technology market. Noting the strain placed on those who
care for the elderly and disabled, innovators have also
designed and produced technology for caregivers.
Manufacturers of these products claim these technological
devices empower the elderly by encouraging independent
living and autonomy.
Japan: Aging
Japan Struggles to Rein in Health Costs (September 19,
2007)
On the surface, Japan’s health care system, funded by
individual premiums, taxes and treatment fees and covering
more or less the entire population, looks highly
efficient. However, experts say that the government needs
to step up efforts to meet the health needs of an
increasingly aging population. The government aims at
saving on medical costs while increasing the number of
lively, healthy older persons. Also, Tokyo has put in a
tax to help fund care-givers for private home care or to
get necessary equipment such as wheelchairs.
China: Mental
Illness Among the Elderly Should Not Be Neglected
(September 17, 2007)
A survey of 3000 elderly aged 55 or over indicates that
the prevalence rate of mental or psychiatric illness among
the elderly has increased, seriously endangering the
health of the older persons. Dr. Zhiying Feng, an expert
in psychological medicine, warned that mental illness
among the elderly should not be neglected.
Singapore:
“Health and Happiness Plan” to Provide the Elderly with
Quality Services (September 5, 2007)
Several Singapore government agencies will cooperate in
adopting a new plan named the “Health and Happiness Plan”
for the elderly, aimed at providing quality services to
older persons to help them enjoy a healthy and happy life
in old age. The plan will start its pilot phase in 6
locations next year; the pilot programs are expected to
last for 2 years. Six “Health and Happiness Centers” will
be established to provide the elderly with four main
services including health checks, information sharing and
consulting, daily care and organized social events for
older people.
Australia: Rising Elderly
Suicide Rates Raising Alarm (September 6, 2007)
On average, one in five Australian men over the age of
75 is committing suicide daily. In order to reduce this
rate, suicide prevention services need to focus on key
risks that lead to suicide in most age groups such as
feelings of loss of purpose in life, sense of
hopelessness and helplessness, poor health, isolation,
and depression.
Australia: Calls
for Government to Pay for Elderly Health (August 27,
2007)
The Australian Catholic health lobby has called on the
government to provide free medical care to everyone over
the age of 75, saying that rises in health costs are
causing older Australians economic hardship. The health
ministry, however, said the “government needs to look at
problems within the existing health system” before taking
on new initiatives.
China:
“Golden Insurance Project” Allows the Elderly Get
Reimbursement for Medical Treatment Outside their Region
(August 20, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China currently has 144 million elderly, among which 3.7
million participate in the medical insurance for retirees.
Since many of them spend their retirement life in places
where their children work, they are facing the problem of
not getting reimbursement for the medical treatment
provided outside their original region. The Ministry of
Labor and Social Security of China has started the “Golden
Insurance Project,” a management information system that
would help solve the problem. However, due to the huge
difference in the level of medical consumption and funding
capabilities among different regions, it is difficult to
give the same level of reimbursement across regions.
China:
Older Persons’ Mental Health (August 13, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Many older persons tend to have difficulties adjusting to
retirement life, children leaving homes, spouses’ death,
and illnesses. As a result, they may feel depressed and
lonely and experience memory loss which could lead to
various mental illnesses. Statistics show that in China
about 70% of the elderly aged 60 years and older have
mental problems and 27% suffer from mental illnesses.
China:
Doctors Warning: Insomnia or Sudden Anger in Older
Persons Can Signal Alzheimer’s (August 9, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Do not disregard insomnia as simply a sign of old age as
it could be a sign of dementia. In households with older
persons, family members should pay close attention to
psychological changes. Since such symptoms are not typical
and easily overlooked, older persons might miss the
opportunity for early treatment. The rate of Alzheimer’s
in the over-60 population is about 10%.
Australia: Seniors
warned about sleeping pills (August 2, 2007)
Australian reporters say that the risks of taking sleeping
pills appear to outweigh the benefits. Additionally,
researchers have found that “popping pills” is linked to
an increased risk of car crashes and falls. Therefore,
doctors advise older patients who suffer from insomnia to
be judicious and wary when considering sleeping pills.
China:
Frequent Insomnia Affects Older Persons’ Health (July
30, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Older persons can often suffer insomnia during the
summer’s hot, muggy weather. Insomnia in the elderly can
lead to high blood pressure, insufficient energy and
fatigue, in addition to causing or worsening
cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions. If the
insomnia is due to pressure or psychological problems, the
family should help lift those burdens. Maintaining a
normal lifestyle and improving eating habits could also
help. Older persons should also avoid overeating or eating
too late, eating food that is too spicy, or drinking
concentrated tea, coffee, and alcohol.
New Zealand: Doctor
Faces Action Over Death of Elderly Patient (July 22,
2007)
The Director of Proceedings has accused a rural general
practitioner of elder neglect after a former patient died
from septic arthritis. When the patient complained of
extreme ankle pain that prevented him from walking and
made him vomit, the doctor, who single-handedly cares for
2,400 patients in a poor, rural community, did not
immediately send him to the hospital. The patient had
injured his shin in the hospital and an infection set in,
putting him into toxic shock. The doctor claims that time
was a major, but not the only, issue that prevented him
from examining the patient more closely.
China:
70% of Beijing’s Elderly Have Chronic Diseases (July 16,
2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to the latest epidemiological survey, the
incidence of chronic diseases in Beijing’s older
population has increased from 62% to 71.4% since 1992.
Among older females, 80-90% suffer from osteoporosis, and
the rates of dementia and diabetes are rising as well. In
the city, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of
death, while cerebrovascular disease leads in rural areas.
China:
Shanghai Survey: 90% of Falls in Hospitals Involve Older
Persons (July 13, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Last year, there were 71 falls at Huadong Hospital, 90% of
which involved an older person, typically in their 80s.
Among elder persons who fell, there were twice as many men
as women, and 43.8% fell out of bed while 23.4% fell in
the bathroom. Therefore, hospitals, especially the
sections that have a large number of elderly persons,
should establish incident-reporting systems and 24-hour
continuous nurse monitoring programs. According to
Gerontological Society of Shanghai secretary-general Sun
Pengbiao, “we should prevent older people from falling
like we prevent babies from falling.”
China: China Has Over 40,000 Old Age Care Institutions
(July 8, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China has made progress in social old age care with the
development of institutional old age care, in-home old age
care, and community old age care. So far China has over
40,000 old age care institutions with capabilities of
hosting over 1.7 million elderly. However, such a capacity
is still insufficient in meeting the current elderly’s
needs.
China: Elderly Should
Guard Against Depression (June 29, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
After retirement, the elderly often have fewer social
activities, more leisure time, and decreased income
which can lead to bad moods or even depression. To
prevent depression, the elderly should try to get
involved in social activities, develop some hobbies, and
make travel plans. Their families should provide care
and support to the elderly as well.
China:
Older Persons Have Poorer Mental Health (June 22, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
The rate of older persons affected by psychological
illness in Shanghai has risen from 8% to 19.9% in only
three years. This increase is attributed in part to the
tendency for older persons to become idle after
retirement, and therefore sometimes becoming excessively
stressed when something unpleasant occurs to them.
According to the article, this phenomenon should serve as
a wake-up call to families and society at large for
improved services for older persons with psychological
issues.
China:
98.4% of Older Chinese Persons Suffer from Tooth Decay
(June 14, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
The Chinese Ministry of Health’s third survey on oral
health showed that among persons 65 to 74 years old, 98.4%
have tooth decay. The survey also demonstrated that older
persons’ oral health is getting progressively worse. The
average elderly person is missing eleven teeth, and 6.8%
of older persons with tooth loss have no teeth at all.
Australia: Staff crisis
put aged at risk (May 28, 2007)
According to Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency,
nursing home residents are subjected to substandard care
because of staffing cuts and a lack of skilled nurses.
Authorities in the field say lack of funding by the
Federal Government is to blame.
Thailand Takes on Drug Giants
(April 26, 2007)
The Thai government has decided to ignore patents on
two AIDs drugs and one heart drug so it can offer them to
all Thai citizens at an affordable price. Pharmaceutical
companies are howling about “intellectual property rights”
and their threatened profits. While the pharmaceutical
industry strongly criticizes this action, non-governmental
organizations who have campaigned for wider access to
affordable medicines applaud this courageous move.
Thailand’s actions are completely legal under
international trade regulations.
Japan:
The Secret of Long Life in Japan (April 13, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Scientists consider rice as the main reason accounting
for the famous Japanese longevity. Brown rice (not white)
contains all necessary to human organism ingredients:
proteins, calcium, magnum, iron, vitamins, and
cellulose.
China: Chatting Nurses,
Friends of the Elderly (February 22, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Baoshan community in Shanghai has over 90,000 people,
with over 40% being elderly. Many have chronic diseases,
often feeling lonely and depressed. The community service
center hires “chatting nurses” to provide company and
support. Some of these chatting nurses are volunteers from
Shanghai Medicine University, who are also able to provide
the elderly with some professional advice. This service
will be expanded to other communities soon.
China: China in Alzheimer's Double Bind (February 6,
2007)
China currently has a third of the world’s Alzheimer cases
due to the rapid aging and large number of older persons
in the nation. Expensive healthcare along with poor
treatment facilities makes Alzheimer’s hard to detect and
treat in China. Also, the loneliness and marginalization
older persons experience in cities increases the risk of
Alzheimer’s.
Japan: A
Japanese Woman is the Eldest Woman in the World
(January 30, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Ms. Yoneko Minagawa is 114 years old and became the
oldest person in the world when Ms. Emma Faust passed
away. Even though Ms. Minagawa relies on a wheelchair to
get around, her overall health is good. She is also able
to communicate without a problem and likes to sleep a
lot. According to statistics, 85.4% of the centenarians
are women, further supporting the fact that women
generally live longer than men. In Japan, there are
approximately 30,000 centenarians.
Return to Top of Page
Europe and Central Asia
Reports | Articles
Reports
France: Good Care Practices in
Nursing Homes, for Dependant Older People (October 2007)
Older people’s quality of life undeniably depends on their
surroundings. That is why the environment of nursing homes
is crucial. This report delineates the good practices that
caregivers should use with elderly people in nursing
homes, both in daily life situations and in case of
emergency problems. Respecting and listening are the key
tools for caregivers.
France: Why
is the Reform of Social Pensions So Important?
(September 2007)
(Graphic
in French)
There
are several kinds of ‘special’ pensions in France that
have come under fire in the new government. This study focuses
on five of them. In the gas and electricity industries, in
2003, there was 1,14 times more contributors than
pensioners. But
in 2020, according to this graphic, there will be more
pensioners than contributors. Contributors will be 0,81
times less than pensioners in this field. In some sectors
like mines; in 2020, there will be only 3000 contributors
for 199,000 pensioners. Some
claim that this situation is unsustainable. But are they
looking at other possibilities for keeping the State’s
funding promises, such as slightly higher social taxes or
other forms of payments? How
does a country review fairly all pensions, private and
public?
UK: Improving
Services and Support for Older People with Mental Health
Problems (August 2007)
This report follows a 2003 report Promoting Mental
Health and Well-Being in Later Life. Five key
priority directions are identified: ending discrimination,
prioritizing prevention, enabling older persons, improving
current services and facilitating change. It highlights
the plight of many people who experience multiple
disadvantages because they are older, have mental health
problems and also have to cope with other difficulties
such as sensory loss or homelessness. These people are
currently invisible in UK society.
UK: The
Human Rights of Older People in Healthcare (August 14,
2007)
Appointed by the British parliament, the Joint Committee
on Human Rights studied “how human rights principles can
be applied to ensure that older people in hospitals and
care homes are treated with greater dignity and respect.”
The Committee sees a significant distinction between a
“duty to provide” under care standards legislation and a
“right to receive” under human rights legislation and
recommends that “the Government and other public bodies
should champion understanding of how human rights
principles can help transform health and social care
services.”
France: Feedback on the Law
about Disability (August 2007)
(Report in French, PDF Format, 95 p.)
The French Parliament enacted a law in February 2005 to
promote social participation and equal rights and
opportunities for people with disabilities. The law covers
nearly every form of disability and includes conditions of
old age, making it applicable to older persons. Many
organizations engaged in the struggle for elder rights
attended the legislative talks. They discussed their loss
of independence that is, now, considered as a disability.
The law includes plans to make all public buildings and
transportation accessible by 2015.
Europe: Long-term Care for Older
People: The Future of Social Services of General
Interest in the European Union (May 29, 2007)
This report suggests that there are many challenges to
better integrate care for older persons between health and
social services. Elderly who are sick have complex needs
that often combine acute heath care, rehabilitation,
nursing care and other social services. “Provision across
this range of services is typically fragmented. Services
of prevention and rehabilitation that could contribute to
preventing or postponing dependency and functional
limitations that lead to the need for long-term care are
still underdeveloped.”
France: Local Action in Favor of
the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities in some French
Regions (February 2007)
(Report in French, PDF Format, 145 p.)
In France, local institutions manage social matters in
entities called “departments.” Those departments are in
charge of defining and implementing public policies and
they coordinate the social and health sectors. Departments
organize their work depending on other institutions: the
State, the Social Security funds and workers. This report
focuses on local work to assist older persons in some
regions. It shows the difficulty of coordinating such work
at the national and local level. Indeed some issues would
better be considered on a national basis, for example,
helping to keep older persons at home. However, local
action is particularly good at getting appropriate and
fast assistance to the needy.
Europe: Report: Baby
Boomers: Towards the End of an Era (February 2007)
In Europe, the next fifty years will be marked by the
retirement and death of the baby boom generations. But the
socioeconomic implications are not necessarily what one
might expect. For instance, unemployment will not
automatically be reduced since there is no guarantee that
all persons who retire will be replaced or that the
employment opportunities match the profiles of job
seekers. Likewise, residential care capacity for old
people will not inevitably be insufficient. Though more
numerous, old people are in better health and can delay
their entry into a retirement home. On the other hand, the
20% to 40% increase in the number of deaths will certainly
have major consequences for health systems and for the
funerary services sector.
Europe: Report: Healthy
Ageing: A Challenge for Europe
(January 2007)
This report examines the health implications of an older
Europe . By 2025, the
elderly will comprise approximately one third of the
European population.
Thus, a healthy older population is essential to
a healthy work force that stays longer in the workforce
rather than take early retirement. The report
defines healthy ageing as “the process of optimizing
opportunities for physical, social and mental health to
enable older people to take an active part in society
without discrimination and to enjoy an independent and
good quality of life.”
UK: Report:
Dementia UK (2007)
As UK’s population ages, the number of people with
dementia will grow substantially. Two thirds of people
with dementia are women. There are over 11,500 people with
dementia from black and minority ethnic groups in the UK.
Currently dementia costs the UK £17 billion a year.
The Alzheimer’s Society wants dementia to be made a
national priority both in terms of education and funded
research. They recommend that dementia care training be
part of the curriculum for caregivers and that home and
community based care models be supported.
Russia: Crisis and
Reform of the Health Care System in Russia (September
2006)
(Report in French)
In the early 90’s, Russian authorities changed the
existing health care plan. More than a decade later,
health indicators are still really poor: Men’s life
expectancy is below 60 years old; tuberculosis continues
to kill people. Cardiovascular problems go untreated. At
least two reasons can explain these bad results. The
Russian government has turned away from the Soviet
government’s economic and social standards for health. And
the current government has over-evaluated what an
un-regulated market system could achieve.
Articles
United
Kingdom: Lack of Sleep Raises the Risk of Diabetes
in the Elderly (December 31, 2007)
Recent research shows that
disrupted sleep dramatically affects the body’s
metabolism and may be the main cause of type-2
diabetes among the elderly. Alarming results of the
study show that blood sugar levels among volunteers
participating in the research rose 23 per cent after
just three nights of interrupted sleep.
United
Kingdom: Longest Living Artificial Heart Recipient
(December 7, 2007)
Peter Houghton, the world's longest-surviving recipient of
an artificial heart, died last month at a hospital in
Birmingham, England. He was 68. After suffering a massive
heart attack Mr. Houghton became a participant of an
experimental procedure and received an artificial heart in
2000. He dedicated the remaining years of his life to
charity, from hiking the Alps to raising millions for
other victims of heart attacks.
United
Kingdom: An Elderly Person Dies Every Five Hours From
a Fall (December
4, 2007)
Every five hours, an old person dies from a fall in
the United Kingdom. Falls
are responsible for 4 out of 10 admissions to nursing
homes. Organizations serving older persons say that the
government should help support caregivers in the homes of
older persons. Currently, the government “means tests”
elders forcing them to sell their homes to pay for
caregiving. Gordon
Brown promised to look at how to deal with the growing
population of elderly people. While waiting
for Brown to act, about 25 older persons will die every
day due to falls in the home.
France : The Need for Dental
Care for Older Persons is Huge (December 3, 2007)
(Article in French)
In Montpellier, during a November French scholars’
gathering on public health, Dr. Fabien Cohen presented
evidence on the need to set up a seniors’ dental care
plan. He revealed that in many nursing homes, between 20
and 50% of the senior residents have untreated problems
with their teeth. Apparently dental care is too expensive
for the nursing homes to cover.
Ireland:
Hospital Superbugs Now in Nursing Homes and the
Community (November 27, 2007)
Doctors in Europe fear hospital superbug strains have
spread to nursing homes and into the community in
Ireland, raising concerns about wider antibiotic
resistance. Twenty-two Irish hospitals over the last ten
years have tested positive for bacteria that can produce
an enzyme that destroys a whole family of common
antibiotics. Doctors in Ireland have suggested tracking
widespread antibiotic bacteria strains to determine
which antibiotic to prescribe to patients early in the
infection.
Ireland: Nursing Home 'Deal' Looms
(November 19, 2007)
The Department of Health in Ireland is supporting pending
legislation mandating pensioners who are receiving
subsidized nursing home care to allow the State to regain
the cost of care from their estates after they die. This
legislation could cause serious problems for the
pensioners’ children who, if mentioned in wills, would
have to pay back money to the State.
United Kingdom: Dementia Care is 'Expensive and Not Done
Terribly Well' (November 16, 2007)
A professor at Stirling University in Scotland suggested
to the Scottish Care Conference this past week that early
accurate diagnosis of dementia is essential and that care
should thereafter be tailored to meet different needs of
people with varying forms of dementia. The number of
dementia sufferers in Scotland is expected to nearly
double by 2013. It was also suggested that care workers
should be taught how to identify signs of dementia in
people they see regularly. Health Minister of Scotland
believes that more progress is needed on improving
dementia services.
United Kingdom: Aging Process May
Be Slowed by Vitamin D (November 8, 2007)
Findings from a British study on Vitamins D in women
suggest that a healthy amount of Vitamin D may slow the
aging process. In the study, women with lower levels of
Vitamin D exhibited more signs of biological aging than
those with higher levels. Vitamin D can be acquired
through cod liver oil, mackerel or exposure to sun, though
the downside of such exposure is premature aging of the
skin. The recommended daily intake of Vitamin D varies for
children, adults and older adults. It is vital to adhere
to the health guidelines of recommended daily intakes of
Vitamin D, which can be toxic in large doses.
United Kingdom: ‘Gaps’ in
Elderly Falls Services (November 7, 2007)
The Royal College of Physicians of London has documented
serious neglect of older persons in England who have
fractured bones from falls. Hospital records showed
doctors failed to assess or treat them in a timely manner.
The report called for improvements in hospital
coordination and standards. Isn’t this a human rights
issue?
United Kingdom: Obesity
‘Fuels Cancer in Women’ (November 7, 2007)
A UK study showed that about 5% of middle-aged and older
women who develop cancer are obese or overweight. Figures
indicate that approximately 1 out of 5 women in England
are obese and about 1 in 3 are overweight. Excess weight
is clearly linked to cancer. The connection is mostly
dependent on the woman’s stage of life, with breast cancer
being a more prominent risk after menopause.
Cost of drugs: France Sets a
Record (November 5, 2007)
French people are the biggest consumers of drugs in
Europe. They use the most expensive and the most recent
products. Annual medicine costs are rising: 284 euros per
habitant, 40 to 80% more than the average in Germany or in
the United Kingdom. All in all, social security
reimbursed, in 2006, more than 20 billion euros in
medicine, a third of the total sum of drug costs.
Moreover, these costs have increased by 15% since 2002.
Faced with this situation and the deficit of social
security, scholars advise setting rules so that doctors
must prescribe for general and cheaper medicines. It would
be wise to study this solution instead of arguing for
private insurance.
Ireland: Lives of Elderly
Hospital Patients At Risk (October 26, 2007)
The Irish Nursing Homes Organization reported that the
actions of acute hospitals have endangered the lives of
elderly patients in nursing homes. Hospitalized elderly
are especially susceptible to Clostridium Difficile
(C-Diff), a hospital-acquired infection spread through
direct contact with individuals in an infected
environment. The article highlights a case in which a
hospital treating a very ill elderly woman with a broken
ankle transported her to a nursing home where she
contracted C-Diff and died.
UK : Centenarians Reach a
Record High (September 28, 2007)
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are
9,000 people who are 100 years old or older living in England and Wales
, and this figure will rise to 40,000 by 2031. The over-90s are
the fastest growing age group. “Experts say
this is likely to place a far greater burden on the health
service, as the costs of catering for diseases of the
elderly such as cancer and dementia rise too.”
France:
French Social Security Deficit to Reach 11.7 Bln euros
This Year (September 23, 2007)
The French Sunday newspaper ‘Le journal du Dimanche’
reported that on Monday, September 24, 2007, the French
government was expecting to report the social security
deficit would reach 11.7 billion euros in 2007. It was 8.7
in 2006. According to the newspaper, the worsening deficit
is due to the health insurance system. In order to face
this situation, Nicolas Sarkozy announced pension reforms
last week, to be followed by an announcement this week of
the 2008 social security budget.
France:
Nicolas Sarkozy Wants to Create a Research Center for
Alzheimer's (September 21, 2007)
(Article in French)
On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s
Day, September 21, 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy announced
his intention to create a research center for this
disease. The center will coordinate with other
international efforts and should be underway by January
2008.
Italy: The Chikungunya
Virus, so Far Away, so Near By… (September 15, 2007)
(Article in French)
The chikungunya virus found its first victims among older
persons. In Romagne, located in the Northeast of Italy,
the epidemic affected more than 200 people during the 2007
summer. Most were more than 50 years old. They must now
protect themselves with spray, cream and mosquito net.
Citizens believe that travelers from the Global South,
warmer climates and lax border controls against pests and
viruses, have brought back diseases that had disappeared
years ago from this small Italian town.
France: Older Adults also Suffer
from Food Imbalance (September 7, 2007)
(Article in French)
Food imbalance touches many elderly people. A poor oral
condition deprives older persons of the capacity to chew,
which is necessary for eating meat, bread, vegetables or
fruits. When this happens, they go hungry and eventually
suffer a serious nutritional deficiency. The loss of taste
can also trigger a response of eating only food with a lot
of sugar.
France: Etienne-Emile Baulieu:
Mister Long Life (August 18, 2007)
(Article in French)
Professor Baulieu is the researcher who developed the
abortive pill RU486. He’s also behind the research on
DHEA, a hormone that intervenes during the aging process.
At 80 years old, he’s now in the US pursuing his studies
on memory loss; he also created a start-up, Mapreg, to
develop medicines used for traumas in the spinal cord and
in the brain. To him, living longer is “THE humanity
phenomenon,” aging should not be limited to nursing homes
and treatments but to good health and happiness.
Ireland: A Technological Revolution
in Elderly Health (August 17-24, 2007)
Intel scientists are designing technology-based responses
to the health problems of the aging population in
developed countries. They stress that technology would
intervene in older people’s chronic illnesses, decreasing
health care budgets. The research focused on tracking
basic biomedicine signals leading to earlier disease
detection. With this new technology, Intel aims at quickly
detecting such illnesses as Parkinson’s disease or
Alzheimer’s, reducing the risk of falls at home or
preventing useless trips to the doctor.
Scotland:
Why This Man May Hold Key to Curing Alzheimer’s (August
13, 2007)
Kenneth Smith is among a group of eleven Scottish
octogenarians who are of interest to scientists for their
robust bodies and minds. The group’s IQ has actually been
increasing with age, and they have avoided serious medical
conditions through loyal adherence to medical advice and a
healthy diet. Researchers hope that these men will provide
clues on how to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease.
UK: Second Class
Treatment for UK’s
Senior Citizens (August 14, 2007)
According
to experts from the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and
Well-Being in Later Life, age is an obstacle for senior
citizens seeking treatment for conditions of mental
health such as severe depression. In 2006, a
panel investigating these allegations “found that people
over the age of 65 often received different, lower cost
and inferior services to younger people- even if they
had the same condition.”
UK:
Prevention 'May Not Help Elderly' (August 9, 2007)
Some medical doctors are warning against prescribing
medicines to combat heart disease (e.g. statins) for the
elderly. They stress that "when treating older people,
quality of life may be more important than quantity.”
Indeed, these preventive medicines may change the cause of
death. Older
persons would be more likely to die from dementia or
cancer, which is more frightening. Instead of prescribing
such costly pills to people over 70 years, some MD s argue that “money
should be spent on interventions which genuinely relieve
suffering such as cataract operations, joint replacement
surgery and personal care for people with dementia.”
UK: Alzheimer's Drugs 'Help
Glaucoma' (August 6, 2007)
A University College London research team may have found a
link between the cause of Alzheimer's and glaucoma. If so,
this discovery could lead to treatments. Glaucoma is an
increase of pressure in the eye, which can harm eyesight.
The UCL found that, “the protein beta-amyloid - which
causes the so-called damaging "plaques" in the brains of
Alzheimer's patients - is also responsible for damage to
the optic nerve.” However suffering from glaucoma does not
mean being at higher risks get Alzheimer’s. Scientists are
developing a new “neuroprotective” medicine to protect the
brain for Alzheimer's patients, and this will indirectly
benefit their eyes.
France: Lonely
Regional Hospitals (August 2, 2007)
(Article
in French )
The fight to save
Sainte-Affrique’s hospital has started again after a
medical “error.” Sainte-Affrique is a small town
accessible only through winding mountain roads. This
hospital is a model because 120 other such
establishments in small towns are threatened with
closure. Shutting down the hospitals would stop the
medical service for older residents; they would have
to move to other places in bigger cities, and
difficult to access from Saint-Affrique, making most
of them distant from their family.
France:
President Nicolas Sarkozy Announces an “Alzheimer’s
Plan” (August 2, 2007)
(Article in French)
Newly elected French President, Nicolas Sarkozy,
introduced his program to fight against Alzheimer’s and
against dependency of the elderly. Research and
caregiving will depend on a new “branch” of the Social
Security (so far the French system only assists issues
regarding illness, aging, unemployment and family). To
support this new program, French people who use the
services will have to pay 50 euros each year. Then the
State will reimburse additional costs through social
security. Many citizens wonder if this system is
workable.
Russia: Pensioners from
Volzhskiy Improve Health in Sanatoriums (July 25, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
This week thirteen retirees from Volzhsky town headed
to Akhtuba sanatorium. This is the eighth group of town
residents since the beginning of this year able to travel
to the sanatorium to improve health and rest there for
free. The town officials finance the 21-day stay at the
sanatorium for low-income retirees as part of a larger
social protection program.
Russia: On Medicine,
Social Benefits and Other Concerns of Elderly People in
Chuvashia (July 24, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Two officials working on elderly issues in Cheboksary,
the capital of the Russian Republic of Chuvashia,
organized a hotline for the local pensioners. They took
calls on July 24, answering a wide range of questions,
from social benefits to the state of city parks. The Chief
of Cheboksary Health and Social Policy Department
clarified the callers’ confusion regarding free medicine
they can claim in local pharmacies. The Chief of the local
Social Security office explained what benefits go together
with the recently introduced honor, “The Labor Veteran of
Chuvashia.”
United Kingdom: Charity
Attacks ‘Care Lottery’ for Elderly (July 15, 2007)
Older people living in Harrow are 160 times more likely
than those in Derby City to have their long-term care paid
for by the National Health Service. This discrepancy
affects the sickest people, such as those in nursing
homes. The NHS has recognized the imbalance and has
released a new policy to correct the problem, but others
outside the government claim that the new guidelines will
still leave 60,000 people uncovered.
Ukraine: Who Turns
Free Healthcare into a Shady Business? (June 19, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Health service in Ukraine is often described as
malfunctioning. While the Constitution guarantees free
healthcare, the state allocates a meager 2.5 grivny a day
per person. For this money, a doctor can only offer the
patient a cup of coffee. A daily dose of antibiotics costs
10 times that amount. The article looks at corruption in
Ukraine’s healthcare system.
UK: Older Patients
to Get Care Rights (June 3, 2007)
New legislation in England
will set standards for elderly
healthcare as well outlaw discrimination based on age.
Current National Health Service laws have been soft on age
discrimination in healthcare, stating that it shouldn’t
happen but not outlawing it. By passing such laws, senior
citizens will now have access to treatment they have not
had before. Further details about the law are expected to
be released later on this month.
UK: MLAs Back Free Care for
Elderly (May 29, 2007)
The Northern Ireland Assembly voted in favor of providing
free personal care for the elderly in the 2008-2009 budget
and onward. According to Health Minister Michael
McGimpsey, some people are forced to sell their homes to
pay for their care. “There is an injustice in our society
which sees the frailest members of our society being
forced to give up their family home to pay for care in a
nursing home,” McGimpsey said.
Italy:
A Country of Long-Livers (May 25, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
According to the National Statistics Bureau, Italy
ranks first in Europe and second in the world in terms of
the number of elderly people compared to that of children.
Italy has 141 elder citizens (aged 65 and over) per every
100 younger Italians (aged 15 and below). World’s Number 1
Japan has a ratio of 154 to 100.
Germany: Playground for
Pensioners Opens in Berlin (May 17, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Pensioners in Berlin, Germany, now have a playground
tailored to their needs. The city spent about $30,000 to
install special facilities to help the elderly exercise.
Russia: More than 800
Veterans are in Line for Medicine (May 17, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Almost 870 elderly and war veterans of the Altai region of
Russia (Siberia) are still in line for medications. A
pharmaceutical company, ROSTA, is expected to supply the
necessary drugs in the near future. In April 2007, the
Altai governor Alexander Karlin has promised to prevent
the “looming catastrophe.”
Russia: World War II
Veteran Dies, Locked Up in a Basement (May 14, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Eighty-three-year-old Nina Guseva died after spending four
days in a hospital basement in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Guseva suffered from amnesia, and appears to have lost her
way in the hospital building after being treated there.
Relatives blame her death on the doctor’s neglect; he
signed Guseva out before anyone could pick her up.
Russia: Osteoporosis:
Disease of the Elderly (May 10, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Osteoporosis is the fourth most common disease in Saint
Petersburg, Russia. According to the city’s chief
rheumatologist, Vadim Mazurov, a diet of cheese, spinach
and apricots, as well as physical exercise, can reduce the
risk of developing the disease.
Russia: What to Eat After 60?
(May 2, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Older people need to select products based on their
nutritional properties to keep healthy after 60. The slow
tempo of metabolism at this age should be considered. The
article recommends the six most optimal food products:
flax seeds, almond, oatmeal, mango, prunes, and tomato.
UK: Health Gap 'Widest in
Retirement' (April 26, 2007)
According to a British Medical Journal study, the
health gap between the lowest and highest paid
occupational groups widens in retirement. Researchers
followed more than 10,000 British civil servants aged 35
to 55, over a period of 20 years. Physical health declined
with age in all groups but most rapidly among those in the
lowest occupational grades. A lifetime of living on a low
wage physically ages a person eight years earlier than
high earners.
Eastern Europe: Eastern
Europeans Happier and Healthier Under Capitalism (April
23, 2007)
Life expectancy in Slovakia has increased to just over 70
years for men -- up from 67 in the 1980s -- according to
new statistics from the country's Public Health Bureau,
while the average life expectancy for Slovak women is now
77.9 years, up from a 1980s lifespan of some 75 years.
Poles, too, are living longer, to the ripe old age of
almost 71 for men and 79 for women on average -- both
about four years more than under Communism -- according to
figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD). One explanation for their longer
lives could be that they are also smoking less. Czechs too
are happier than ever and are living longer, with life
expectancy figures similar to Poland, partly as a result
of a healthier diet containing less fat and more vitamins.
France: Financial Prospective
of Older Persons and Dependency by 2025: Forecasts and
Margins of Maneuver (March 20, 2007)
(Report in French)
More people who belong to the “4th age” are becoming
dependent. As a result the French State must take public
measures to support the elderly without calling into
question the universal social system. The current
assistance called “allowance for autonomy” (APA)
represents only one quarter of the public effort to pay
for the dependency expenses, hence, the rising strength of
private insurance contracts. France is planning to create
a new department, focusing on the “risk to be dependent,”
that Social Security will finance (alongside pensions,
health, and unemployment). It appears to be the best
option over the long term.
France: the French Secretary
of Social Security Wants to Push French People to Insure
against the Risk of Dependency (March 20, 2007)
(Article in French)
While a report on the risk of dependency for older
persons has just been published, the French Secretary of
Social Security claimed that the French should become more
responsible concerning future expenses for health and
nursing homes. (The State intends to make families pay at
least one quarter of the total cost.) Meanwhile, the
report envisages that the “allowance for autonomy” (APA)
should target the most dependent and the less wealthy;
thus the rest will require private insurance. This
scenario forgets, once again, the middle classes who have
never the priority to benefit from taxes exemptions or
social aids –as the secretary reminded it-.
Ukraine: The National
Longevity Record is Registered in Ukraine. (15 March
2007)
(Article in Russian)
Grygoryi Nestor, who lives in Staryi Yarychiv village,
just celebrated his 116 birthday and became the national
longevity record holder for Ukraine. His documents have
been sent for world record registration with the Guinness
Book of World Records. So far, Ionne Minagava from Japan
is officially considered as the oldest person in the
world. Grygoryi Nestor shared his secret of longevity: “ I
have never been married and therefore my nervous system is
not ruined on the family battle fields.”
UK: Doctors 'Deny Elderly
Treatments' (February 14, 2007)
A UK research study shows that many doctors are still
guilty of ageism. Some 46% of GPs and gerontologists, and
48% of cardiologists do not offer the same treatment
options to older persons as they do to younger patients.
Even after taking into account the risk treatment presents
elderly people, which may persuade doctors against
treatment, doctors were still found to practice ageism.
UK: Most Support Voluntary
Euthanasia (January 2007)
The British Social Attitudes report surveyed 3,000 people,
of which, eight out of ten supported a change in the law
that would allow doctors to actively terminate the lives
of patients who are terminally ill. However, the study
does not explore how a law supporting euthanasia could
endanger vulnerable people.
UK: Warning of Future
Crisis in Care for Elderly (January 9, 2007)
In North
Yorkshire, approximately 50 percent more people over
the age of 65 will be living in the county by 2020,
representing a quarter of the county's total
population. Sue Galloway, York Council executive
member for adult social services asserts, "If the
level of care services continued as they are at the
moment, we simply would not be able to cope with the
number of elderly people predicted to be living in
2020.” The country's ageing population prompted the
Department of Health to commission a report calling on
local authorities to develop an inclusive long–term
vision for the commissioning of care services. Still,
many residents are not aware of how critical the
situation is and need to start planning for how they
can pay for care in later life.
UK: Scientists Find Ways to Slash Cost of Drugs
(January 2, 2007)
“Ethical pharmaceuticals," a new revolutionary model,
can provide drugs to poor countries at a fraction of
the cost now charged by big drug companies. Two
UK-based academics have devised a way to invent new
medicines that could cure millions in poor countries
of infectious diseases and potentially slash the NHS
drugs bill. The process has the potential to undermine
the monopoly of the big drug companies and bring
cheaper drugs not only to poor countries but back to
the UK.
UK: Anti-acids
Can Elevate the Risk of Fractures (December 28,
2006)
(Article in Spanish)
A British study found that when people over 50 years
old take anti-acids, they can elevate their risk of
hip fractures. Anti-acids reduce the acid in the
stomach but make the absorption of calcium more
difficult. Bones become thinner and the risk of
fracture increases. As a result of the study,
researchers tested people that took antacids for one
year and discovered that they have 44% more of risk of
fractures. At present people take anti-acids thinking
that they are innocuous. Doctors say that acidity can
signal a serious problem, such as an ulcer in the
esophagus that can develop into cancer of
esophagus.
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Page
Middle East & North Africa
Israel: New Plan Aimed at
Helping Infirm Elderly Regain Independence (November 13,
2007)
In Israel, the health and pensioners’ affairs ministries
unveiled a joint plan that “calls for rehabilitation
programs for the elderly in hospitals, private homes and
the community at large. Its intention is to help older
people with medical problems regain their independence.”
This relationship between maintaining independence while
growing old and its potential for preventing mental
diseases such as depression and Alzheimer’s is beginning
to influence aging policy. Global Action on Aging hopes
that as other countries create services for the elderly
they will also recognize the significance of independence
for maintaining good health.
United Arab Emirates: Epidemiology
of Geriatric Trauma in United Arab Emirates (October
2007)
This study took place over a three year period and
examined the cause and extent of injuries to persons over
60 years of age who were admitted to a hospital. Some 121
cases were investigated (70 males and 51 females with an
average age of 69 years). Over 41% of the accidents
occurred at home and 55% involved falls. Females more
frequently suffered injuries in falls than males and the
injuries from falls were more costly to females because of
fractures sustained in osteoporotic women.
Morocco: The
Graduation of the First Batch of Geriatric Nurses in
Morocco (June 20, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
The first group of Moroccan nurses trained in
geriatric care graduated last week in Fez. They will
be working in nursing homes and hospitals; they will
also be making house-to-house visits. Officials point
out that elderly care has been widespread in Morocco,
but what is special about this group of graduates is
that the institute from which they graduated is under
international management.
Bahrain:
Elderly Persons and a Center for Mental Health (June
19, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Bahrain’s Minister of Health, Dr. Nada Hifath, has
said that life expectancy for the average Bahraini has
increased, and that such an increase would have
far-reaching effects beyond the health sector. For its
part, the Ministry of Health is prepared to care for
more elder citizens, as a committee on the health of
elder persons was just formed recently. According to
Dr. Hifath, this committee will enable the ministry to
revamp its services. Dr. Hifath also called for
restructuring the Ministry and creation of a mental
health unit.
World: Study: Gaining Weight in
Your Elder Years Does not Increase Your Chance of
Death (June 29, 2007)
(Article in
Arabic)
A new study has shown that gaining weight in your
old age does not increase your chance of death. In fact,
researchers found that overweight seniors had the same
death rate as non-overweight seniors. The study
highlighted groups of elder persons suffering from lung
infections, heart disease, and cancer.
Oman: Parliamentary Report
Warns of Decrease in Government Spending on Healthcare
(June 29, 2007)
(Article in
Arabic)
A parliamentary report warns that the government of
Oman is spending a decreasing amount healthcare.
Furthermore, it states that there is no specific health
strategy to accommodate older men and women in Oman,
leaving them particularly vulnerable.
Fear of
Falling Prevents Senior Citizens From Performing
Physical Activities (June 17, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Researchers in Holland have found fear of falling
among the elderly has prevented them from performing
physical activities, and that, in turn, has led to a
decrease in their health. The study surveyed 4,031
people, all over the age of 70. Researchers found that
performing exercises that increase balance and
strengthen muscles can be beneficial.
Bahrain:
A Committee for the Health of Older Persons (June
13, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Maryam Al-Jalhameh, Deputy Director for Health and
Primary Care, has ordered the formation of a health
committee that will directly oversee the needs of
elder persons. It is expected that the new committee
will carry out several duties, such as developing a
strategy for improving healthcare, specifically
primary care, as well as creating a database of
services available for the elderly.
UAE: The Red
Crescent Organizes a Class on Elderly Care in
Al-Shariqa (June 8, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
The Red Crescent in Al-Shariqa in the United
Arab Emirates
organized a 3-day workshop on how to care for elder
persons. Thirty volunteers as well as a large number
of specialists attended the workshop and addressed a
large range of issues. One of the main goals of the
workshop was to draft ways in which elderly mental
health services can be maintained and
supported.
Syria:
Honoring Mothers and Caring for Elder Persons (May
22, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Syria has recently passed a national plan for the
elderly to secure medical, social, and mental health
services for all elder persons regardless of their
gender. Senior citizens currently comprise 5% of the
total Syrian population, and there are 700 or so
medical clinics that provide specialty care for the
elderly. Dr. Isam Shaaban, Director for Elderly Health
at the Ministry of Health, said: “Our strategy is to
protect and support the health of elder persons by
2015: we will do this by providing a variety of health
services.” The plan also calls for the improvement of
the health of elder women.
Bahrain: First
Medical Center for the Elderly (April 18th 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Bahrain
is preparing for the grand opening of its first-ever
medical center for the elderly. The hospital is
expected to be comprised of 7 different departments
and 53 beds as well as medical staff specializing in
long-term care.
Iraq:
Escalating Violence Threatening Health of Iraqis: WHO
(April 19, 2007)
Escalating violence and widespread insecurity,
combined with a worsening shortage of health workers, is
putting severe pressure on the health of the Iraqi
population, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated. As
the violence continues, these emergency needs are
increasing the load on the public health system that is
already stretched thin. People are dying as a result. The
government estimates that almost 70 per cent of critically
injured patients with violence-related wounds die while in
the Emergency and Intensive Care Units due to a shortage
of competent staff and a lack of drugs and equipment.
Jordan: “Protection of
Families” in Irbid Launches Campaign for the Elderly
(February 23, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
ِA study conducted in Jordan, where elder persons
comprise about 6% of the total population, found that
45% of elder persons do not have any type of health
insurance. Of these elder persons, 65% of them report
that their income does not cover the cost of everyday
expenses. Faced with these facts, the Association for
the Protection of Families has launched a campaign in
Irbid to provide healthcare for all senior citizens as
well as other social services. Kathem Al-Kayfari, the
president of the organization, stated that the
initiative was made possible by exclusive public-private
partnerships.
Mandatory
Health Insurance For Dubai, N. Emirates Soon (January
17, 2007)
The Ministry of Health proposed universal health insurance
to cover all expatriates living in Dubai. The plan is
designed to alleviate the high costs of both public and
private medical services.
UAE: Nod to
Insulin Inhalation Medication Hailed (January 16, 2007)
The UAE Ministry of Health has approved the registration
of an insulin inhalation medication. This new medication,
Exubera, will help resolve the delays in delivering
insulin to some diabetics due to their reluctance to use
needles, leading to complications such as heart disease,
kidney failure or even blindness.
UAE: Unified Price List
On Cards: Ministry of Health Official (January 15, 2007)
The UAE plans to introduce a unified price list for
health care services provided at public institutions in
the country. A survey will then be conducted on the cost
effectiveness of the health services provided to
expatriates. It is unclear, however, whether the prices
will increase or decline.
UAE:
Health Insurance to Improve Quality of Life (January 12,
2007)
On January 1, the United Arab Emirates put into effect the
second phase of a health insurance project that aims to
alleviate the exorbitant health expenses to expatriates
living in the UAE. The total investment in the insurance
sector is expected to rise significantly and thus help
cover non-UAE citizens.
Qatar:
Medical Insurance ‘To Cover Everyone' (January 9,
2007)
Qatar
plans to introduce
universal health insurance for all its residents as part
of the reforms launched by the National Health
Authority, which was created a year ago to revamp Qatar
’s health system. As the health
care needs of the country are changing with its growing
economy, the National Health Authority has overhauled
the entire health-care system to cater to the new
medical and public health issues facing the country. The authority is
in the final stages of obtaining government approval for
the insurance system which will be at least partially
funded by the fund established by the Emir to support
health and education. For
a full report, click here.
Return to Top of Page
Global
World: Evolution’s Secret
Weapon: Grandma (October 5, 2007)
Studies of women hunter-gatherers in Tanzania, Venezuela
and eastern Paraguay reveal the crucial role of older
women in the evolution of human longevity. According to
the findings, University of Utah anthropologists say
that vigorous women performing arduous tasks are living
beyond their 80’s. As part of a study on the occurrence
of menopause among women in these hunter-gatherer
societies, a comparison of muscle mass measurements
demonstrated the equivalency of strength between women
in their 60’s and women in their 20’s.
Report: Euro Health Consumer
Index (October 2007)
According to a Swedish study from the Health Consumer
Powerhouse, Austria and the Netherlands are rated the
best two countries in terms of health care system in the
European Union in 2007. To rank the 27 EU countries (as
well as Switzerland and Norway), researchers took into
consideration a variety of criteria, including patients’
information and rights, access to medicine, and
generosity of the system. In 2006 France was at the top
of the list; in 2007 it has moved down to third place.
Its decline is explained by the slowness of the
introduction of new medicine into the French
pharmaceutical market.
Report: World:
Underweight, Undernutrition and the Aging (October
2007)
Considerable research has focused on the effects of
obesity, including obesity among the elderly. Yet a
significant share of the elderly throughout the world is
underweight and does not get enough calories or the
right nutrients. Good nutrition is especially important
for the aged as their immunity weakens with age.
Undernutrition is especially acute among the elderly in
the poor. Some long term solutions include
supplementation and fortification of selected foods; and
for the developing world, the development of
nutrient-enriched crops.
World: Marking Day to Prevent
Suicide, UN Stresses that People of All Ages Can Be at
Risk (September 10, 2007)
Emphasizing that suicide is a problem that touches all
age groups, this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day
theme is “Suicide prevention across the Life Span.”
Although experts say there is a “phenomenal potential
for preventing suicide among the elderly,” suicide rates
for older persons remain very high. Often “prejudices on
the part of people in the health-care profession and
others who feel that it’s normal to be unhappy,
depressed or feeling down when you’re older,” play a
role.
anemia
(low red blood cell count) as part of the natural
process of aging. They do not diagnose or treat
anemia as vigorously in older persons compared with
younger patients. This article argues that although
anemia represents a growing problem in the aging
population, it is not a normal consequence of aging. The
article urges the need for more research into the
“significant physiological changes in aging that may
affect red cell production.”
World: Managing Health Care
in an Ageing World (September 2007)
Containing data from the World Economic and Social
Survey 2007: Development in an Ageing World, this UN
report “concludes that ageing will contribute to rising
health-care costs over the coming decades, but is not
the most important factor behind the projected
increases.” It examines the health cost projections for
two countries at very different stages of
development—Sri Lanka and Australia. The report
“suggests that any increases in health costs due to
ageing should be manageable, particularly if Governments
put greater emphasis on preventive measures which could
limit the incidence of chronic diseases.”
World: How Does HIV/AIDS
Affect the Elderly in Developing Countries?
(August 2007)
Although younger generations are most at risk of
contracting HIV/AIDS, the elderly may be most
vulnerable to infection. In addition, as a
greater number of young adults are infected, older
persons “not only lose the support of their adult
children, but they must increasingly take on
additional familial responsibilities- with
potentially adverse effects for their own” income
and health. Information and resources
targeted at the elderly can help them take care of
their loved ones and to protect themselves.
World:
US is World’s First in Centenarians (July 4, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to research from the Gerontology Research
Center in Los Angeles, the number of centenarians has
been growing largely without exception, especially in
the United States. The
United States has the most
centenarians, followed by Japan , France , Sweden , and Italy
. Researchers say that having a
positive attitude is a key to these Americans’
longevity. In addition, male centenarians tend to have
below-average blood pressure and are usually thin, and
most centenarians don’t smoke. Women who gave birth
naturally are four times as likely to live to 100 as
those who gave birth by another method.
World: Cognitive
Aging: Imaging, Emotion, and Memory (July 2007)
Aging is inevitable; severe cognitive decline is not.
Less than one in five people over age 65 years
experiences moderate to severe memory impairment. As
people age, their brain shrinks; learning new concepts
and patterns becomes more difficult. But this is not a
common pattern among all older people. Research
suggests that the brain does not just passively
decline. The brain reorganizes itself, using different
circuitry in older adults. It reacts to experience and
shows both gains and losses with age. Older people
continue to generate new nerve cells and also use more
parts of the brain than does a young adult.
Report: Financing
Long-Term Care: Lessons from Abroad (June 2007)
(PDF format, 10 p)
This Boston College report compares and contrasts
US policy on financing long term care with that of
other nations. Japan, Germany, and France revamped
their long-term care systems in the mid-nineties,
while both the UK and the US maintained earlier
models. The authors found that the social insurance
model implemented in Germany and Japan has
successfully raised funds for older persons’ long-term
care. France’s system, on the other hand, is based
largely on income; effectively excluding high income
seniors from the program. However, the costs of these
new systems have been higher than expected, especially
in Japan and France.
China: The Arched-Back
Posture Suits Older Persons While Sleeping (June 20,
2007)
(Article in Chinese)
While sleeping, older persons may benefit from an
arched-back posture, according to a professor at Tsing
Hua University in Beijing. Using this posture better
relaxes the muscles, aids in blood flow, and promotes
digestion. Older persons who suffer from diseases such
as sleep apnea and esophagitis also might find some
relief by using this posture rather than lying flat on
the back or stomach.
World:
Diabetes Causes Muscular Fatigue in Elder Persons
(June 7, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Korean and American research scientists have
discovered that elder persons with type 2 diabetes
experience a rapid loss of strength in their muscles
and bones; more so than those without diabetes. In
some cases, elderly diabetic patients were 50 times
more likely to experience this loss in stress than
someone of the same age without the disease.
World: Drugs for the
Elderly (May 2007)
This report updates a book of the World Health
Organization. It is a guide for appropriate medication
levels and also lists known side-effects of the drugs
most used in treating older persons. It also points out
alternatives to drug therapy. The report presents the
main medicines used to treat problems in the alimentary
tract, blood, cardiovascular system, hormones,
infections, muscles, nervous system, respiratory system,
or sensory organs. (Click here for the Introduction,
Section I, II, III, IV)
Report: World: The Shape of
Things to Come (April 2007)
Theorists claim that certain age structures in
populations can support governments’ efforts to create
and maintain political stability, and others can
impede such efforts. Presenting the four main types of
age structures present in current populations, the
writer profiles one or two countries that represent
each structure. Read how each structure impacts a
country’s stability, governance, economic, and social
well-being. Do the recommended policy initiatives
support healthy and balanced populations?
World:
Africa Health Strategy 2007-2015 (April 2007)
African Union ministers have developed the “African
Health Strategy 2007-2015,” which aims to offer
strategies and approaches on strengthening the equity
and development of health systems in Africa. The
Health Strategy recognizes many of the challenges that
elderly people must face everyday. The strategy
highlights the “alarming growth” of chronic diseases
and recommends that better services be provided to aid
sufferers. It also notes that older people are
increasingly shouldering the responsibility of caring
for orphans and children.
World:
Healthy Development: The World Bank Strategy for
Health, Nutrition, and Population Results (April 24,
2007)
As part of the World Bank’s new poverty alleviation
strategy, the Bank has introduced a health plan
focused on improving health access, especially for the
most vulnerable in developing countries. The Bank also
wants to improve financial protection measures against
the costs of illness as another way to prevent
poverty. This new strategy repudiates the Bank’s
long-held history of slashing social services in a
country in order to improve the economy. Now it
appears that the World Bank wants to strengthen social
services to accomplish the same goal.
World:
Report: Neurological Disorders: Public Health
Challenges (February 2007)
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that
neurological disorders, ranging from epilepsy to
Alzheimer disease, from stroke to headache, affect up to
one billion people worldwide. For many people with
neurological disorders access to appropriate care is not
available because of inadequate health delivery systems,
lack of trained personnel, the absence of essential
drugs and prevalence of traditional beliefs and
practices. As the global population ages, the impact of
neurological disorders will be felt both in developed
and developing countries. The report recommends a series
of actions that in certain countries with limited human
and financial resources may be difficult to apply, so it
suggests that countries work with international
agencies, nongovernmental organizations or other
partners.
World: Commission
on the Status of Women: Reversing Spread of HIV/AIDS
among Girls and Women (February 27, 2007)
The Commission on the Status of Women is gathering at
the UN this year, February 26th to March 9th around the
specific theme of “the elimination of all forms of
discrimination and violence against the girl child.”
Beside the work of the Commission, NGO’s have organized
many side events relating to the theme. On February
27th, Zonta International held a workshop entitled
“Reversing Spread of HIV/AIDS among girls and women.”
Forming small groups, the audience addressed different
questions such as finding effective measures to combat
HIV/AIDS and taking actions with NGOs and governments.
As the workshop leader said, dealing with HIV/AIDS means
also dealing with care issues and the fundamental role
grandmothers take in caring for their grandchildren
orphaned by the plague. Valentine Honoré from
Global Action on Aging participated in this workshop
advocating more specifically for social pensions as a
necessary resource to allow older persons to help the
young survive. To learn more about social pensions,
click here: http://www.globalaging.org/pension/world/social/socialpensions.htm
World: Report: Major
Developments in Health and Ageing (February 2007)
This comprehensive briefing paper, part of an AARP
series on the Commission for Social Development,
discusses the new challenges arising from an ageing
world and the major developments in health and ageing.
The reduction of infectious diseases has led to an
increase in life expectancy resulting in increases in
chronic and ageing-related conditions. These changes can
be particularly difficult for poor countries that still
struggle to curb infectious diseases as well as
non-communicable diseases.
World: NGOs Declare War on
the Laboratory Novartis (January 25, 2007)
(Article in French)
Beginning January 29 the laboratory Novartis will be
involved in a lawsuit with the Indian government. The
Swiss pharmaceutical group claims that Indian laws make
it easy to manufacture generic drugs that have patent
protection elsewhere in the world. NGOs, such as Oxfam
International and Medecins sans frontieres, denounce
this “health apartheid” that prevents the poorest
countries from accessing medicines. In 2007 this Indian
law may have worldwide effects since its pharmaceutical
industry vies with Europe and can produce quality
generic drugs for lower prices. Yet Novartis claims that
its patents protect its innovations and high drug prices
help to finance the research.
World:
A Patch Which Delivers a Vaccine Against Alzheimer's
Disease Through the Skin Has Been Shown to be Safe and
Effective, a Study Has Found (January 23, 2007)
Researchers at the University of
Southern Florida have created a patch that clears
brain damaging plaques in mice. Unlike vaccines, the
patch is non-intrusive and has not demonstrated the
side effects of other Alzheimer’s vaccines.
World: Hormone 'No Anti-Ageing Elixir' (January 16,
2007)
A recent study offers no proof that growth hormones
often advertised to counter the effects of aging help
prevent aging in any way. "If you give people growth
hormone it does help to build up muscle bulk and lose
fat, but that does not necessarily translate into
feeling better, or younger, or being able to perform
better," said Dr Peter Trainer, an endocrinologist at
Manchester's Christie Hospital. The Annals of Internal
Medicine study found the therapy posed a risk of side
effects, including swollen joints, carpel tunnel
syndrome and diabetes.
World: Anti-Cancer Chicken Eggs
Produced (January 14, 2007)
(Article also available in Arabic)
According to the BBC, a group of British scientists have
succeeded in developing a new strain of genetically
engineered chicken that can produce eggs containing
proteins which can be used in the treatment of cancer.
This is the same group of scientists that cloned “Dolly”
a few years ago. An enormous advantage of the new
discovery is its cost, since deriving the proteins from
eggs enables mass production of the medication, thus
reducing the high cost of research. The reporter expects
that, according to the head of the team, it will take at
least five years before experiments can be conducted on
human beings, and ten years before the new medications
can be produced commercially.
World: Milk
Cancels Health Benefit of Drinking Tea: Study
(January 9, 2007)
(Article also available in Arabic)
Drinking tea can reduce the risk of heart disease
and stroke but only if milk is not added to the
brew. Research shows that tea improves blood flow
and the ability of the arteries to relax but
researchers found milk eliminates the protective
effect against cardiovascular disease.
World: Five
Essential Principles To Stay Healthy (January 6,
2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Health is so important that it is the first thing to
ask about when you meet somebody. Follow five main
principles in order to stay healthy: get balanced
nutrition, while avoiding saturated fats and salty
food, maintain a healthy weight, exercise, help
fight toxins in your body by eating food (or taking
supplements) that contains antioxidants, and have a
good night’s sleep.
WHO Report:
Missing Voices: Views of Older Persons on Elder
Abuse (2002)
(PDF format, 32 p)
The World Health Organization has recognized
that the issue of elder abuse must be dealt hands
on, partnering with the International Network for
the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), HelpAge
International, as well as others from academic
institutions in a range of countries. In this 2002
report, WHO highlighted realities of elder abuse in
eight different nations: Argentina, Austria,
Lebanon, Sweden, India, Canada, Kenya, and Brazil.
Researchers found that older people perceived
different types of abuses, such as verbal, physical,
or outright neglect and deprivation. The reports
concluded with several recommendations such as
supporting healthcare professionals by drafting a
screening process in primary healthcare settings as
well as giving them educational packages describing
elder abuse. Other recommendations included civil
society outreach and developing worldwide
inventories of good practice.
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