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Elder Rights: World
- Archives 2007 -
Background Documents
World: The Toronto Declaration on the Global
Prevention of Elder Abuse (November 17, 2002)
This 2002 Toronto
Declaration on elder abuse is a call for action to
prevent older persons from suffering abuse. This paper
points out the crucial need of a legal framework to
address the issue. As violence against women or children
was considered a major issue in the 80’s, today elder
abuse should be viewed as a social issue of concern to
everyone.
World: Ending Discrimination Against Older Women
Through the Convention (July 5, 2002)
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women "urges that special attention be focused
on the special needs of older women." The Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women "defines what constitutes discrimination against
women and sets up an agenda for national action to end
such discrimination."
Africa
Background Documents
Tanzania: National Ageing
Policy (September 2003)
In Africa, after Mauritius, Tanzania is the second
country to have a developed policy on ageing. Older
Tanzanians face many problems including poverty and
inadequate health care and pensions. Elders lack any
meaningful participation in the important national
decision-making.
Reports | Article
Reports
Africa:
Population Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Demographic
Dimensions 2006 (June 2007)
Although the older population in most developing countries
seems relatively small compared to developed countries,
poor countries will experience a rapid increase in the
“absolute” number of older persons. In sub-Saharan Africa,
where the numbers of older persons will raise from 35
million over 60 in 2006 to over 69 million by 2030, the
sheer number of older persons grows more rapidly than in
developed countries. This report looks at age groups 50-80
and focuses in particular on the effects of HIV/AIDS on
population aging.
Mozambique: NGO
Thematic Shadow Report on Older Women’s Rights in
Mozambique (April 2007)
Bridget Sleap, along with colleagues in the HelpAge
International Office in Mozambique and others, prepared a
groundbreaking report on the situation of older Mozambique
women in accessing their human rights. Ms. Sleap presented
the report during the May 2007 meeting of the Expert Panel
for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The report reveals
that many women lack identification documents to prove
their eligibility to access services for which they are
entitled. The report also notes that both the amount and
the access of social cash transfers needs to be improved.
Finally, this submission documents gender-based violence
against older women and the need to improve access to free
health care services. The report concludes with
recommendations to the Committee.
South Africa: Time
Preference and Its Relationship with Age, Health, and
Longevity Expectations (April 15, 2007)
This study measured health, time preference and expected
longevity on a sample of individuals in townships around
Durban, South Africa in order to understand the
relationship between health and the willingness to choose
between smaller sooner rewards and larger later rewards or
in other words, individuals’ underinvestment or investment
in the future.
Articles
Zambia: An
Estimated 500,000 Elderly People Face Potential
Destitution by 2010 (December 24, 2007)
According to a new study, 500,000 Zambians over 60 fear
destitution by the year 2010. It is not only a serious
problem for a country already ravished by AIDS, but
especially for the children. Zambian seniors often take
care of grandchildren or orphans after parents die from
AIDS. Therefore the government should carefully consider
this issue and give more protection to old people who have
such an important role in the country.
Namibia:
Social Security Committee Brings Christmas to Elderly
(December, 18, 2007)
Elderly people in two nursing homes in Namibia can feel
the Christmas spirit after receiving the donated goods
worth of $10,000 from the Social Security Committee (SSC).
Senior citizens need some holiday cheer and the SSC sees
it as a social responsibility to give back to the
community and bring joy to the people who often go
neglected.
Congo: Rape, a War Weapon
in Congo (November 15, 2007)
(Article in French)
A new documentary from the German film maker Susanne
Babila depicts some Congolese men living on the border
of Rwanda who rape women, no matter what age. These
women are 10, 30 or 70 years old and all went through
the same traumatic experience. One night, soldiers
entered their Congolese village, stole goods, beat the
children, tortured and raped women and girls. Susanne
Babila met these victims in the province hospitals.
Her movie, ‘Rape, a War Weapon in Congo,’ invited the
women and girls to speak out, along with the nursing
staff who care and restore these patients'
health.
Malawi:
Mutharika Stresses Need to Assist Elderly (November 8,
2007)
The president of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika, is aiming
to provide assistance to elderly Malawians through his
Bingu Silver Grey Foundation. Reports show the elderly
are in dire need of financial assistance. In addition to
caring for themselves, some seniors act as caregivers
for orphaned grandchildren. Mutharika organized the
Bingu Silver Grey Foundation Charity Golf Tournament
last week to raise funds for seniors in Malawi.
Madagascar : Elderly People
Without Rights (October 2, 2007)
(Article in French)
On the occasion of the International
Day of Older Persons, October 1, 2007,
older people in Madagascar
highlighted the general disrespect for their human rights.
Elders in Madagascar
do not benefit from any special
protection. They most often live in the rural areas and
make up more than 5% of the population.
Democratic Republic of
Congo: Stephen Lewis Calls for a New UN Initiative to
End Sexual Violence in the Eastern Region of the DRC
(September 13, 2007)
In one of the worst cases of gender-based violence, women
in eastern region Democratic Republic of Congo live under
the threat of sexual slavery and rape. NGOs have reported
that young and old women, pregnant women and girls as
young as six years old are being gang raped in road
blockades and private homes. Some are even forced to eat
excrement and the flesh of murdered relatives. Worse, some
women have their genitalia injured through gunshots.
Protection against sexual violence should remain a major
concern in the UN.
Swaziland: The
Elderly Have No Time to Retire (August 28, 2007)
"The elderly are rife for exploitation, and they are being
exploited by a society that requires them to do demanding
work, regardless of their age or infirmities." In many
African countries older persons, especially older women,
act as care givers of HIV/AIDS orphans, without sufficient
support or recognition by humanitarian organizations or
the government. "My grandchildren are fed, they are even
well-fed,” by government or privately sponsored programs,
says Granny Tsela. "But no one prepares meals for the
elderly. I am at home with my little bit of porridge, if I
am lucky enough to have that."
Nigeria: Marginalisation of the
Elderly (August 28, 2007)
This opinion piece details how the westernization of
Nigeria has eroded traditional safety nets for older
persons in society. Indeed, older Nigerians experience
similar issues facing older persons in Western countries:
isolation, discrimination, neglect and poverty. All
societies should ask themselves why we let our elderly
down.
Kenya: Grannies Who Are Unsung
Heroes in the Fight Against HIV/Aids (August 24, 2007)
According to national statistics, out of a total
population of 32 million, Kenya has 2.4 million orphans,
of which 1.2 million are orphaned by the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Taking up the burden of the orphans’ care are mostly their
grandmothers. Although most of them are “too old to do
simple domestic chores,” “they have no choice but to get
up and look for food, medication and shelter.” Largely
ignored by the government and aid organizations, the
grandmothers are slowly receiving more recognition. While
the government plans programs to improve support
mechanisms, a movie, “The Grandmother’s Tribe,” detailing
their plight will come to the cinemas later this year.
Uganda:
Who Cares for the Aged? (August 23, 2007)
At the age of 95, Ms. Bena Nakaz struggles in her daily
life. Finding food constitutes the biggest obstacle for
Ms. Nakaz. According to the 2002 national census, Uganda
has 1.5 million older persons, most of whom “die in the
most inhumane way due to lack of health care and basic
necessities.” Most of the neglect “originates from the
fading traditional social support system,” however the
government only slowly adopts to the changes. Having
drafted a National Policy on Older Persons, the
authorities will have to move swiftly to ratify it, before
more people like Ms. Nakazi live and die in poverty.
Zimbabwe: Old and Hapless
(July 2, 2007)
Zimbabwe’s seven-year economic crisis has made the elderly
even more vulnerable. Their plights range from being
unable to obtain necessary medicines to suffering from
cold at night when the government cuts electricity
supplies. Food is insufficient; residents of an elderly
home survive on plain tea and two slices of bread in the
morning, maize meal porridge and beans for lunch and
supper.
Nigeria: Caring for the
Aged…Task Before Nigeria June 4, 2007
Nigeria’s rapidly aging society poses both challenges and
opportunities for the country. As a developing nation,
having inadequate resources is the primary downfall to
caring for the rising aging population. While Nigerians
embrace the elderly and view them as blessings, the
working-age population to support the aging has declined.
Like many countries, Nigeria lacks policies and agendas
for the elderly population. However, in 2002, the UN
organized the Second World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid,
Spain, where governments discussed policies and
initiatives to address the ensuing challenges of the
aging. Can the resulting Madrid International Plan of
Action on Aging help Nigeria?
Ethiopia: Country Urged Not to
Forget its Elderly (April 4, 2007)
Ethiopian elders face many difficulties in sustaining
their lives. During a workshop, Ms. Lizzie Nkosi, the
Ethiopia HelpAge International Country Director, asserted
that the government and the media ignore and neglect
problems facing older persons, even leaving them out of
the five year development plan. She called on media and
governments to act, urging them to give greater attention
to elderly.
Cameroon: Aging and
Solidarity (February 27, 2007)
(Article in French)
Beyond spotlighting the elderly on occasions such as
Older Persons Day or noting the tragic French heat wave of
2004 that killed many elderly, how can aging advocates
ignite the interest of governments, civil society and
families on aging issues? The International Congress of
FIAPA gathered in Cameroon to answer this question.
Cameroon: Interview of
Paulette Metang, the Executive President of the
Cameroonian Association for the Welfare of Older
Persons (February 6, 2007)
Paulette Metang has been working in Cameroon’s civil
society sector for 12 years. Her organization,
“Civil Society of Cameroon,” coordinates that nation’s
aging NGO’s. She also works with ACAMAGE, “Association
Cameroonaise pour le Bien-être des Personnes
Agées,” an association working for elderly and
aiming to increase intergenerational links. Read this
interview to learn more about Cameroonian elderly. (Also
available in French)
Africa: Palliative Care
in Africa (January 13, 2007)
Mary, a 7-year-old child with HIV infection, lives
with her 80-year-old paraplegic grandmother in Uganda.
They receive palliative care from a home-based care
program. The book, “Hospice and Palliative Care in
Africa,” contains plenty of such stories, presenting
interviews with palliative care experts from 26
African countries showing the complexities of
delivering palliative care across Africa.
Return to Top of Page
Americas
& Caribbean
Background Document
Peru: National Plan for Elderly (2002-2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The National Plan for Elderly was created to lay out
action steps that the government would take on aging issues
in Peru. The elderly population in Peru is 7.2% and could
reach 13% by 2025. This plan aims to integrate the elderly
in the society, by increasing the quality and quantity of
health care services, by creating policies of food
assistance and by helping old people enjoy a pleasant life
with their families and in society. Another National Plan
objective is promoting a positive image of older persons.
Mexico:
Law For Older Persons in Mexico City (Distrito Federal,
México) (1999)
(Article in Spanish)
A new law for older persons in the city of Mexico (Distrito
Federal de México) took effect in 1999. This law
affected all persons older than 60 years old. The law’s
aimed to integrate the elderly into society and to improve
the quality of life. The law includes sections related to
health, food, social assistance, participation, and
work.
Reports
Portrait
of the Canadian Population in 2006, by Age and Sex:
Findings (July 2007)
This report provides a detailed overview of the age and
sex data in Canada from the 2006 Census of Population. One
primary finding from the Census was that the number of
seniors has increased by 11.5% in the past five years, and
the number of children has declined by 2.5% during the
same timeframe.
Canada:
Clients Transitioning from Inpatient Rehabilitation to
Continuing Care or Home (April 2007)
This Canadian Institute for Health Information analysis
highlights the clinical and demographic characteristics of
inpatient rehabilitation clients in the Ontario Hospital
between 2004 and 2006. The study also accounts for the
probabilities that inpatient rehabilitation clients will
be discharged their home or to a continuing care
facility.
Canada: Seniors as Victims of
Crime, 2004 and 2005 (March 2007)
According to self-reported and police reported data,
seniors are less likely than the young to experience
violent and property crimes. But, more (5 in 10) senior
victims were victimized by a family member as compared to
(4 in 10) non-senior victims. And, according to
PhoneBusters, Canada’s anti-fraud call centre, seniors may
be more vulnerable to telemarketing fraud. Nonetheless,
seniors’ sense of personal safety has improved over the
last five years.
Canada:
A Portrait of Seniors in Canada: 2006 (February 2007)
This report depicts the demographic characteristics,
health and wellness, living arrangements, social networks
and social participation, security from crime and
victimization, work patterns and related activities,
income and expenditures, and lifestyles of the Canadian
population aged 65 and over. The report looks at three
groups of “seniors”: 65 to 74 years old, 75 to 84 and 85
and over since their life circumstances vary considerably.
The last chapters are devoted to the comparison of
well-being between aboriginal seniors (North American
Indian, Métis or Inuit) and immigrant seniors.
Articles
Costa Rica:
Families Abandon the Elderly during Christmas (December
20, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
It is surprising how many families leave older relatives
in hospitals during Christmas. In fact, families failed to
claim some 10 elderly people at the hospital after they
had finished their treatment. Now doctors call patients’
families to remind them that it is Christmas time, a
family time. They remind them that the elderly should not
be mistreated. Years ago, families, including older
members, would spend Christmas together; however, the
older patients returned to the hospital with visible signs
of mistreatment. The Hospital of Geriatrics believes that
Costa Rica has no effective way to prevent the abuse of
elders.
Canada: Boomers Won't Crash Health
Network (November 16, 2007)
A foreseen catastrophic impact on the governmental
health-care networks in Quebec once blamed on the baby
boomer population now will not be the case as once
thought. A study suggests that the aging population will
have no greater impact on the health-care networks as it
did in the 1970's. A 2005 government-commissioned report
noted that at present, the taxes collected from an average
of five workers subsidize the health services of one
elderly Quebecer. As a caveat, however, if population
trends continue, in 20 years there will be only two
workers to support every Quebecer who is at least 65 years
old.
Canada: A Third of Boomers Volunteer and More Plan
to When They Retire (November 14, 2007)
A new survey shows that older persons are likely to
volunteer when they retire.
The Bank of Montreal has just released information
showing that 34% of Canadians aged 45 to 60 volunteer
and a further 38% of boomers who do not yet volunteer
say they plan to when they retire. Older persons’
volunteer activities can be very useful for the entire
society, as they have among others tasks, an
educational role to future generations.
Costa Rica:
Adolescents Raise Their Voices in the Elderly’s Defense
(October 27, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In an important development, adolescents organized a forum
on ageing. It took place at the Presidential House and
included officials from the Office of Social Support of
the Presidency and the National Advisory of the Older
Adults, among others. The forum called on the society to
respect and value the elderly. Adolescents and the elderly
spoke about elderly abuse. In the first four months of
2007, some 223 elder abuse reports were filed.
Mexico:
Mexican Ex-Prostitutes Find Home (October 14, 2007)
What happens to elder “retired” prostitutes?
Unfortunately, they often face a tragic end of life.
That’s why Carmen Munoz, herself a former prostitute,
decided to do something to help. She raised money to open
the world’s first retirement home for prostitutes in
Mexico.
Cuba: Cuba,
the Elderly Woman and the Embargo (September 17, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Mary McCarthy, now 107 years old, feels first-hand the
embargo that the US government has placed on Cuba. Since
she lives in Cuba, the US government will not allow her to
transfer money she holds in the US back to the Cuba. She
needs this money to go to the doctor. However, Mary has
decided to stay in Cuba despite her health problems and
eventually be buried next to her husband.
Canada: Too Young to Retire, But
Tired of The Same Old (October 5, 2007)
In Canada, employers are beginning to think about ways to
keep seniors at work in companies. Indeed, they often are
very useful, thanks to their experience. But many want to
take an early retirement. Companies such as Merck Frosst,
Home Depot Inc., Direct Energy and Royal Bank of Canada
have started programs to retain employees over 50 years,
that permit their taking longer vacations and other
workplace innovations.
Canada: Neglect of Aged an
‘Outrage’ (October 4, 2007)
The Ontario Federation of Labor sent letters to all
major party leaders concluding that most nursing homes
in the province violate laws, regulations and binding
contractual obligations that require long-term care to
keep patients clean and dignified. One major violation
is the 75 per cent rule, whereby a diaper is changed
only after it is three-quarters full of urine. Nurses
who violated this rule by changing diapers more
regularly were disciplined, and those who obeyed were
given free pizzas.
Colombia: On Average
Fifteen Older Persons Find Themselves Abandoned Daily
(September 17, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In Colombia many families must or choose to abandon their
older members. Colombians have very few financial or other
resources to care for their family members. Faced with
this immediate problem, they tend to abandon the elders
while they are sleeping. Plus, some older persons
suffering from depression or Alzheimer-like symptoms leave
their families and home and forget where they live. The
national government has set up some centers for abandoned
elderly to give them temporary housing, but such
facilities are extremely limited, leaving many needy older
people living on the streets.
Colombia: Medellin
Citizens Become Young Again in the Television Show “Who
Said We Were Old” ? (September 17, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
“We are not old,” explained Felix Tabares and Estela
Pinto, two hosts of the TV Show “Who Said We Were Old?”
airing in Colombia. The show intends to inspire older
people to feel young again by challenging them to do
daring physical activities such as mountain climbing,
paintball, and rappelling. The hosts, who live off their
pensions, believe that they are young spirits trapped in
old bodies but they do not feel limited to enjoy life’s
adventures.
Canada: Sen.
LaBreton Highlights Seniors Wellness Fair (September 14,
2007)
Canadian Senator Marjory Lebreton, the federal Secretary
of State for Seniors, has had a long political career.
Most recently, in a visit to a Seniors Wellness and
Information Fair in Canada, she focused in on elder abuse.
She pointed out that different kinds of abuse exist,
financial and physical, and isolation. She will propose
“safe houses” for older persons and defend efforts for
seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible.
Mexico: The
Debit Card for Senior Citizens (September 10, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In Mexico, the Institute for Senior Citizens now provides
a debit card for senior citizens who are seventy years and
older. Beginning October 1, 2007, seniors can use this new
card to pay their electric, telephone, and energy bills,
as well as most of their daily shopping, including
groceries. This new and easier way to shop has the
potential to affect the 420,000 senior citizens eligible
for the new card, opening a new market for many small
businesses. The Institute for Senior Citizens has made it
a priority to inform those eligible of the new
services.
Barbados: 432 Sign Petition
against Elderly Abuse (September 5, 2007)
As part of the Month of the Elderly, the Barbados
National Assistance Board kicked off a signature
campaign against elderly abuse. The campaign aims to
build support for a legal framework protecting older
persons against abuse. While there are legal protection
measures for children and persons with disabilities,
there is “absolutely nothing for elderly persons within
Barbados.”
Ecuador: Seniors
Creates New Enterprises (September 4, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
As the Ecuadorian elderly population grows, many different
enterprises focusing on their needs expand as well. In
1985 the elderly made up 4% of the population but today
represent over 5.7% of the population. By 2050 there will
be as many seniors as teenagers and children. Nursing
homes for older persons are going up. People can choose a
home according to their economic situation, illnesses, or
other requirements. The Ministry of Social and Economic
Inclusion has registered 300 organizations specifically
providing services for the elderly; many others are not
registered. Organizations such as gerontology centers,
retiree associations, drug companies and health care
organizations stand to benefit from the growth in older
persons’ needs.
Mexico: The World’s Top
Retirement Havens in 2007 (September 1, 2007)
And the winner is…Mexico. Goods and services in Mexico
cost less, so retirees can afford the kinds of luxuries
only the very wealthy enjoy up north, and its healthcare
system is first rate. Ecuador came in second place
followed by Italy, where similar social benefits for
retirees are found. As the article advises, one of the
simplest ways to improve your retirement lifestyle is to
choose the retirement destination offering you more of
what you want at the best price.
Cuba: The Program “Yes I Can” Extends Its Reach (August
28, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
The Program “Yes I Can,” which has been implemented by
governments in 22 countries, 15 of them in Latin America,
shows great advances. The small community of El Naranjo in
Guatemala became the first community free of illiteracy in
this country. Elderly residents and children alike
benefited from this program. “Yes I Can” is presented via
television and is adapted in every country based on their
particular culture, language and way of speaking. The
program uses expert professionals in adult education who
are prepared to teach in various languages. In countries
like Haiti and Venezuela another program called “Yes I Can
Continue” carries on the original program, providing
adults a basic education that places them in a 6th grade
level and opens the door for them to get a superior
education.
Mexico: The Elderly March to
Reclaim Their Rights” (August 27, 2007)
A large group of older people of the third age decided to
march to the center of Juárez to demand better
health services, work opportunities and retirement homes
for the elderly. The organization “Epoca de Oro” (Golden
Age) organized this march to protest against the
injustices and the neglect that older persons suffer. The
organization is concerned that the government exaggerates
how well off older persons are rather than state the
facts. For example, Golden Age has found that only 30% of
older people in Juárez have any kind of health
care; most suffer a high level of mistreatment from both
society and their families.
Bolivia: The Rights of the Elderly
are Still Not Being Followed (August 27, 2007)
Some 500 senior united in Cochabamba to celebrate Older
Persons Day with music, dancing and theater. Along with
the celebration, the elderly and their supporting
organizations advocated for the rights of the people of
the third age. Most old people from this region work the
land at very advanced ages because they are not eligible
for pensions from the State. Older persons demanded
reductions in the price of electricity, water and
transportation so that there lives could be slightly
improved.
Canada:
Canadian Seniors Are All Right (July 25, 2007)
The vast majority of Canadians believe that the over-65
population is a valuable component of society and that
their communities respect the elderly, according to a
recent poll. Sixty percent of poll respondents, in fact,
reported having significant interaction with a person over
65 in the previous week. Most Canadians were skeptical
that the Canada Pension Plan and healthcare system will
adequately support seniors. But the good news is that
Canadians are recognizing that with age comes “a certain
panache, a certain wisdom,” and that older persons still
make valuable contributions to society.
Peru: Seeking:
Successful Señor Citizens (July
23, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In Peru
, the “Asociación Adulto
Feliz” and the “Prima AFP” organizations award
prizes to senior citizens over the age of sixty who are
positive contributors to society. These groups
seek to change social stereotypes of old age by
rewarding the elderly for their accomplishments and
promoting the reality that old age is a productive time
of life similar to youth.
Bolivia: Social
pensions, older people were cheated (June 28, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
The writer describes how schemers cheat older people out
of their social pensions in Bolivia. In one scam, persons
carried fake identification papers and passed through the
registration process and received the social pension.
Other scam artists recruit old, poor and illiterate
persons to apply for the social pension and rob them as
soon as they receive the money. In another case, a
daughter cheated her mother by forcing her to apply for
the pension and then robbed her. Law officials are
investigating to learn if there is an organized network
involved in this terrible scam operation. Of course, this
cheating and robbery undermines public confidence in the
efficacy of the social pension administration system in
Bolivia.
Argentina: Demand for Programs to Confront Elder Abuse
on the World Abuse Awareness Day (June 16, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
On June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the National
Institute against the Discrimination (INDI) demanded an
end to age discrimination and inadequate health treatment,
as well as a change in the negative image of the elderly.
In the city of Buenos Aires, some 700,000 men and women
are older than 60 years. Although around 1,200 official
reports of violence are filed every year, only 1 of 5 go
to court for judgment. According to a Pan-American
Organization of Health study, each year 1.6 million people
become blind or are hurt as a result of a violent act,
sometimes self-inflicted.
Argentina: Older Persons Go to the University (31 May,
2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In Argentina there are a lot of university programs for
the elderly. Inspired by the example of Toulouse, France,
that created a University for the Elderly in 1973,
Argentineans now have 20,000 older persons registered in
such programs. On one hand, the programs change the image
of ageing regarding this time as a moment in life with
possibilities to continue learning. On the other hand, the
programs depend on Extension Services of the university
that have very limited budgets. The author argues that
elder programs should be integrated as a regular part of
the universities so that they do not suffer budget
cuts.
Brazil: An Unflattering Portrait: Half of Brazilians
Seniors Are Illiterate (May 9, 2007)
According to a recent report on urban senior citizens in
Brazil, 49% of them are illiterate and some of them do not
even know how to write their own names. Despite this
incredibly high figure, no public policy is in place to
deal with the problem. Research from this report also
covers large-scale age-related prejudices such as
psychological or physical violence and humiliation.
Argentina: Two
Bills go to Congress and a Phone Help-Line to End
Violence Abuse (May 2, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
The National Government of the city of Buenos Aires will
send a bill to Congress to require that family violence be
considered as a violation of Argentine Human Rights. At
present, family violence includes violence against
children, conjugal violence, violence against older
people, and violence against people with disabilities. The
government also wants to submit another bill prohibiting
trafficking of children. The city of Buenos Aires has a
new phone line (137) that receives phone calls from people
who suffer any form of violent abuse. One psychologist, a
social worker, and two policemen go to the location where
the violence has taken place. This is one of the first
steps to end violence abuse that has many victims, old and
young.
Cuba: Getting Old in Cuba (April
24, 2007)
This article gathers testimonies about older persons
and their families in Cuba. Although the Cuban government
provides an efficient, free health care system, older
persons suffer from the housing shortage and from the lack
of assisted-living facilities where they could spend their
last years. Families and neighbors have to step in, which
is not perceived as a sacrifice since “Cubans have a
highly developed sense of community and voluntarily pitch
in to help each other,” according to sociologist Cuban
Diaz Tenorio. Average life expectancy in Cuba is 77.08
years. Fidel Castro's personal physician, Dr. Eugenio
Selman, heads the "120 Years Club," designed to promote
longevity among the population.
Mexico: Mexico Army Chief Faces
Lawmakers Over Alleged Rape (April 20, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
The Mexican army has been charged with covering up a rape
case in which army officers have been accused of raping an
elderly woman and then killing her. The woman, aged 73,
was found dead a few hundred meters from a military base
last February. The victim’s family stated that just before
her death, the victim had told them that she had been
raped by a group of soldiers. Tests show that she died as
a result of wounds she incurred while she was raped.
President Felipe Calderon has stated that the elderly
woman died of natural causes.
Argentina: A Safe Home
without Barriers (April 11, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
The “Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina” (AMIA),
that promotes the well being and development Jewish life
in Argentina, opened a new elderly home called “LeDor
VaDor” in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in March, 2007. Before
building “LeDor VaDor,” the organizers traveled to the
United States and visited many residences for older
persons..
Now that the facility has opened, everyone notices that
many geriatricians work there, a major contrast with other
Argentinean nursing homes. The organizers wanted poor old
people to live in a high quality place.
Chile: Keys to Face Fear of Aging (April 9, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Solidarity, diseases and reduced income are some of the
biggest fears people face after they become 50 years old.
Dr. Vaillant from Harvard explains that it is important to
adapt to the principle of changing what can be changed,
accepting what cannot be changed, and knowing the
difference. This article is divided into subsections with
guidelines about how to overcome common fears.
Argentina:
Around 150,000 Retired People Continue to Live in
Poverty (April 8, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
According to a study from the Institute for the Social
Development of Argentina conducted in 300,000 homes that
includes an older person, researchers found that few
elderly receive any pension or retirement funds. In about
150,000 homes at least one older person lives in poverty.
Although the government decided to give a pension to
people who didn’t pay sufficiently into the social
insurance system while in the workforce, the payment of
AR$250 (USD$50) per month is not enough to survive in a
country with high inflation rates.
Chile: Two Billion Pesos Available for Elderly-Related
Projects (April 7, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Post-retirement elderly persons do not want to sit around
with their arms crossed, waiting to develop diseases and
eventually die. Instead, they want to continue being
active. Living in a society where their labor contribution
is not wildly welcome and where their pension income often
is not enough to cover their everyday expenses, remaining
active is a challenge. In response to elderly persons’
wanting to be active, the Chilean government offers 2
billion pesos to different elderly-based projects or
activities, ranging from recording folklore stories to
recreational activities.
Argentina: Crime Wave Against
Elderly Persons (March to April 2007)
(Articles in Spanish)
Here are four articles with terrifying details about
on-going crimes against helpless older persons in Buenos
Aires. Citizens have noted this ongoing crime wave against
older persons. Has poverty reached such levels that
children and others rob for economic gain? What are the
Argentine government and police doing to stop these
assaults? What preventive measures can protect elderly
persons from this kind of brutality?
Chile: Deterioration of
the Quality of Life (April 3, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
With the new pubic transportation, Transantiago,
everyday life has changed drastically. Although it is a
bit cheaper and makes a lot less noise, the system is
widely unpopular. Most people complain about its
unpunctuality and the traffic congestion it causes. In
addition to these problems, elderly persons face a big
and serious obstacle—immobility. The Transantiago system
forces them to walk long distances, and many times they
are faced with buses and metros too full to travel
safely. Thus the elderly population prefers the older
transportation system, in spite of its danger, loud
noises, lack of comfort, and conductors’ ill treatment
towards the passengers; at least the older
transportation system allowed them to move around the
city and remain active.
Argentina: Proofs of No
Authorization from Patients (March 28, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
A federal investigation is underway in Argentina to
discover whether doctors tested new antibiotics on
elderly persons without their authorization. A proof of
consent is accepted if it is done in writing. The
investigation shows that there are doctors who received
payments of $40,000 from a North American laboratory to
test the antibiotics called tigecyclin on elderly
persons. Unfortunately, there is no explicit law that
regulates how a clinical trial is to be operated.
Paraguay:
A New Law for Older Persons (March 19, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
A new law for older persons in Paraguay took effect in
March 2007. The law has a clause creating the General
Direction of Older Persons, which is responsible for
developing programs that protect older persons, and
particularly protecting the poorest of the poor. Last year
a group of old people paid a monthly fee to a company that
promised to give them a pension. But the company was
fraudulent and the company lied to the older persons. Some
500,000 old people live in Paraguay. Only 110,000 have any
income and the rest, some 390,000, suffer from poverty and
extreme need.
Colombia: Aging
with Dignity and Happiness (February 23, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
One day, you wake up and realize that you are past 60
years old—what a strange sensation! While it is normal for
people over the age of 60 to start thinking that their
lives are about to end, it is just fear and anxiety taking
over logic. While it is true that as people age, they will
start to experience changes in their physical and mental
senses. However, necessary and easy precautions can slow
down the process. This article includes a list of 10
effective strategies to age with dignity and happiness.
Bolivia: A Battle between an
Elderly Man and an Anaconda
(February 19, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
A David and Goliath story: Eight-year-old Mateus would
have made a satisfying lunch for an anaconda if it had not
been for his grandfather, Joaquim Pereira. The five-meter
(over 16 feet long) anaconda trapped Mateus while he was
playing with his friend in a rural area. His grandfather
came to Mateus’s rescue as the anaconda was placing its
jaw on the boy’s chest. He battled with the anaconda for
almost 30 minutes before he succeeded in breaking its grip
on the boy.
Argentina: An Elderly Man Beaten to Death for Theft
(January 29, 2007)
(Article
in Spanish)
Buenos Aires witnessed a third murder of an elderly person
in one week alone. The latest took place in broad
daylight, at 10 in the morning. The thief beat and robbed
an 80-year-old elderly while he was shopping. Yet still
alive, he walked about 100 meters before he had a
cardiovascular arrest and died. The first two equally
brutal murders took place in the victims’ homes. The city
has a history of violence towards elderly persons.
Chile: Government Launches
Guide of Social Rights (January 23, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
The Chilean government published the Guide of Social
Rights that seeks to keep citizens informed of their
rights and the resources available. The revolution in
social protection in Chile
will be assured when the System for Social Protection is
launched in 2010. This plan will protect every person at
every life stage, by providing benefits and subsidies to
those in need. The
recently published guide serves to inform the masses,
but also to emphasize Blanchete’s firm belief that
public services are a right of the people, rather than a
favor provided by the state. Consequently, every person
in need requires optimal assistance. The published
guide covers nine essential social rights: education,
health, labor, social security, shelter and adequate
living conditions, justice, dignity and fair treatment,
culture, and the right to a better quality of life and
social integration.
Argentina:
An Elderly Woman Was Robbed and Beaten Up in La Plata
(January 9, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Ms. Ramos, 84 years old, went to the bank to withdraw
4,700 pesos (US$1,525) of her pension. Soon after Ms.
Ramos returned to her house, two men attacked her,
beat her and took all of her money. This is not the first
attack against elderly. They often tend to withdraw all of
their money and save it in cash at home. Thieves find
older people an easy target--they are easy to attack and
likely have a good amount of money on them.
Chile:
The Younger Chileans Stereotype the Old People (August
21, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The University of Chile surveyed young people to see the
image that they had of older persons. The results were
very negative. Young people see old people as dependent
(47%), sickly (38%), fragile (42%), and sexually
inactive (50%). In Chile around 65 percent of the older
population is independent, and only 4% depend on their
relatives for health and income. It is very important to
change the image of the elderly: stereotypes and
prejudices can become a reality.
Return to Top of Page
Asia
Pacific
Background Documents
India:
National Policy for Older Person (1999)
The Indian National Policy on older persons attempts to
assure the well-being of older Indians as well as to value
an age integrated society. Against that background, the
national policy is based on principles of financial
security, health care, shelter, and welfare, among others.
Reports
Report:
6,500 More Aged Care Places for Older Australians
(December 20, 2007)
The Australian government will allocate $40.5 million to
aged care providers to help them build and improve aged
care services. Moreover, 6,525 new aged care beds will
come on line to meet the needs of providers in Australia’s
undersupplied regions. The government says it is committed
to reform the existing aged care system.
India: Is Caring for Elders an
Act of Altruism? (23-25 October, 2007)
The study analyzes the readiness of younger siblings to
support older ones and examines their degree of motivation
and altruism in looking after their parents. The
researchers surveyed 1000 households (slum dwellers,
high-income, non-military civilian and middle- to
low-income households) with elderly co-residents in Delhi,
India. The findings reveal the primary role of
socio-religious and moral factors in motivating siblings
to support the old. However, siblings in higher age
brackets tend to consider parental care as a financial
burden. The researchers suggest that faith leaders and
educators should take an active part in strengthening the
ties between the generations.
New Zealand:
New Zealand’s 65+ Population: A Statistical Volume
(October 2007)
The population of New Zealand is aging and this change
will profoundly affect policy making and planning at
national, regional and local levels. This report, largely
structured around key social well-being domains and
demographic features, focuses on culture and identity,
health, housing, migration, safety and security, and
social connectedness, and it draws data from social
surveys, demographic projections, and administrative
data.
China/US:
What College Students Know about Older Adults: A
Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study (October 2007)
This study asks 227 college students from Illinois,
US, and Shanghai in the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
about their perception of being old. The US students’
answers were consistently more individualistic, focused on
freedom and the personal (personal knowledge accumulated
over a life course, the personal aging or dying
experience) whereas the PRC students’ answers were
relationship-oriented and focused on interconnectedness
(filial children, fear of abandonment, caring for
grandchildren, contributing to society). For better
intergenerational understanding, the writers recommend
that intergenerational programming and age-mixed
activities should be created and expanded.
Hong Kong:
Evaluating the Curricula for Entry-Level Care
Professionals in Aging-Related Fields (October 2007)
How do students in medical and nursing studies as well as
social work alumni evaluate the undergraduate programs
offered at the University of Hong Kong? What are the
potential areas for developing effective curricula for
entry-level care professionals? The answers pointed toward
including aging-related knowledge and skills in
undergraduate programs since this is essential information
for competent practitioners. The authors urge
collaborative teaching among gerontologists/geriatricians
and general human service educators along with “hands-on
training in aging programs and services in various
settings.”
China:
Health and Health Care of the Older Population in Urban
and Rural China: 2000 (September 2007)
China, home to the largest older population in the
world, will age much faster than Western countries in the
near future. This report presents a descriptive analysis
of the health status and health care of China’s older
population in 2000. It looks at older people’s activity
limitations, self assessed health, chronic disease status,
lifestyle behavior and mental health. This report also
examines how China’s elders use health care services.
Australia:
Older Women’s Fears of Violence: The Need for
Interventions that Enable Active Ageing (September 2007)
This author investigates older, low-income Australian
women’s perceptions of fear and their expressed need to
learn to protect themselves against violence. It finds
that as women become older, fears concerning their
vulnerability in areas such as limited finances, lack of
transport, inability to maintain home protection, or
mistrust of others, increase. This study suggests that
“media has the capacity to educate and inform about
protective measures, although it may negatively impact on
older perceptions of violence.”
Australia: Perceptions of Elder Abuse among Australian
Older Adults and General Practitioners (September 3,
2007)
This report investigates and compares perceptions of elder
abuse by general practitioners (GPs) and older people. The
results suggest that GPs tend to view all types of abuse
scenarios as less severe when compared to the groups of
older adults. In addition, “caregivers saw scenarios as
less severe than other groups of older people.”
Australia: Does Gradual Retirement Have Better Outcomes
Than Abrupt Retirement? Results from an Australian Panel
Study (August 29, 2007)
According to this report, “retiring gradually allows time
for people to make changes to their lifestyle.” Having
control over the timing and manner of leaving work has an
even greater positive impact on psychological and social
well-being. “Policies and employment practices that
promote employees’ control of their retirement decisions
will enhance wellbeing in later life and facilitate longer
workforce participation.”
Vietnam: The
Relationship Between Old Age and Poverty in Viet Nam
(August 22, 2007)
This United Nations Development Programme report suggests
that the Vietnamese older population as a group are able
to command resources to ensure their welfare if they
continue to be economically active, share pooled resources
in a household with others and provide other forms of
active participation such as housework or child care,
receive private inter-household or public transfers, or
rely on personal lifetime investment in savings or private
pension provision. This, unfortunately, is difficult to
achieve and the reality is “that many elderly are poor and
the presence of elderly people increases the incidence of
poverty.”
New Zealand: Positive Ageing
Indicators 2007 (August 2007)
Positive Ageing Indicators 2007 provides a picture of
older people’s quality of life in the areas of income,
health, housing, transport, and access to facilities and
services. It also examines levels of cultural engagement
among older Māori, attitudes to ageing and older people,
older people living in the community, and their
employment and opportunities. These indicators will help
to identify key issues for older New Zealanders and
areas where action is needed.
Report: Japan: Older
Workers: Lessons from Japan (June 2007)
As the baby boomers reach traditional retirement ages, US
policymakers may wish to encourage longer worklives. The
report examines the example of Japan, where more than 30%
of the elderly continue to work after the official
retirement age, making it rank first among major
industrial nations in terms of labor force participation
rates. As of 2005, the United States ranked second with a
rate of 25.6 percent. While more than 60% of Japanese
workers cited economic considerations as the reason for
remaining employed after 65, the Japanese government also
encourages longer worklives by promoting self-employment
opportunities.
Report: Baby Boomers – Doing it
for Themselves (March 2007)
Five years of strong economic growth and extensive
publicity about the need to “work longer, save harder”
have resulted in more Australian baby boomers finding and
keeping jobs. In addition, there have been some striking
increases in labor force participation rates by older baby
boomers. Yet it is still apparent that many baby boomers
are retiring early, with debt hanging over their heads.
The average debt for all baby boomer households is an
estimated $59,000 in 2004, with 73 per cent of the entire
group recording some debt. The good news is that boomers
are managing to reduce their debt levels as they approach
the official retirement age.
Report: Korea: The Aging of
Korea: Demographics and Retirement Policy in the Land of
the Morning Calm (March 2007)
Korea is a unique example in the global aging situation.
Unlike Japan, the United States, and Europe, Korea is
still in the midst of modernization; and unlike China,
Korea already has a high-income society. Despite the
breathtaking economic growth of recent decades, Korea
remains a traditional society. Tradition requires the
Koreans to retire early, the women to stop working when
they get married and the family to take care of their
older relatives. Consequently the National Pension System
doesn’t target the elderly who face “modern” problems such
as dependency and isolation. The report proposes to move
to a universal flat benefit system, and to combine it with
a mandatory funded system; this would encourage much
higher rates of participation, especially from the new
generation.
Asia: Aging in Asia and
Oceania (March 2007)
Last year AARP commissioned a survey designed to
increase their knowledge of aging issues and attitudes in
key Asian markets. Researchers compared US and Asian
societies and their policies toward aging. The report
examines the different ways in which societies address
retirement security and quality of life issues in old age,
and attitudes toward older people and their place in
society.
Report: Australia: Security and
Protection Legislation for Aged Care (February 2007)
In Australia, the House of Representatives is going to
give new legislative protection to aged care residents,
including compulsory reporting of abuse. This Aged Care
Amendment Bill 2007 appears to be a major step forward in
monitoring the care of older persons in institutions.
Articles
China: Elderly
Survey in Harbin: 65% Elderly Want to Stay at Nursing
Homes (December 26, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In the city of Harbin, an Elderly Status Survey conducted
July to October 2007 showed that 92% of older people are
satisfied with their material life, while 55% want further
improvement in their spiritual life. Among the older
people interviewed, 62% are having health problems and 65%
of seniors over 70 years would like nursing home care. The
survey also revealed that up to 78.6% of older people are
lonely, either because their children are busy at work or
because they live alone.
China:
How Are Older People in China Living Now? (December 25,
2007)
(Article in Chinese)
The “National Elderly Population Survey” conducted this
year with over-60 older people in China has shown how they
are living their lives are now. Older people’s lives
throughout China have improved when compared to results
from the 2000 survey. Pension and personal income
increased remarkably; health insurance is improved; social
welfare is further enhanced. The living environment is
getting better. However, the number of lonely elderly also
increased and seniors’ feelings about spiritual life
remain unchanged.
China: A Difficult Yet Urgent
Task (December 20, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to the UN’s standard, China became an aging
society as early as seven years ago. The over-60
population in China has reached 145 million, accounting
for 11% of total population. The low birthrate, the
widespread one-child family pattern, flows of migration,
and the changing life style of the elderly are
contributing to the increase of lonely elderly. Beginning
in 2025, China will enter a fast aging period. The 12-year
time window for setting up and perfecting a social
security mechanism is not very long. Elder care is not
just about people’s well-being, but also impacts the
country’s politics, economy, society and spiritual life.
China: Elderly Survey in China:
Half of The Elderly are Lonely in Old Age (December 17,
2007)
(Article in Chinese)
By the end of 2006, the over-60 population in China
reached 149 million, accounting for 21.4% of the world’s
elderly. At the same time, the percentage of over-60
persons is increasing at a rate as high as 3.2% annually.
More and more older Chinese no longer expect care from
their children, but rather rely on social pension schemes.
According to the “National Elderly Population Survey”
released by National Elderly Committee, 50.3% of older
persons have joined pension schemes. The survey also shows
that the number of “lonely elderly” is about half (49.7%)
of all old people At present, the development of elder
care services in the country is not meeting the strong
demand from aged citizens.
China: Ageing 'Threatens
China Economy' (December 18, 2007)
China recently emerged as the world’s third economic power
after the US and Japan. Its low cost labor has made the
economy grow. But what will happen when the current labor
force reaches old age? China is not prepared, the author
says. The challenge of migration from rural areas to
cities for jobs has left older people behind in the
countryside with few pensions or relatives to help them.
How will China’s government deal with this emerging
critical need?
China: Elderly Becoming
Increasingly Isolated (December 18, 2007)
Everyday, more and more of China's elderly seem to live in
isolation, refusing to socialize and haunted by
loneliness. More ominously, a survey found that about 2.6
percent of elderly people in urban areas and 4.9 percent
in rural areas have thought about committing suicide. The
Deputy Director of the China National Committee on Aging
(CNCA) office stated that older persons desperately need
care and consultation for their psychological problems.
Intergenerational socializing and family involvement is
vital for maintaining the happiness of the aged population
of China today.
Japan: Elder Abuse Underreported - Survey Finds Vast
Majority of Mistreatment Cases Ignored (December 5,
2007)
In April 2006, the Japanese government defined
abuse and stipulated caregivers' obligation to report it
to municipal government authorities. A new survey shows
that in most cases, caregivers don’t denounce or report?
abuses. Elderly Japanese remain victims of discrimination
and humiliation, such as psychological, language or
physical abuse in nursing homes. The survey reports 498
cases in 2006.
China: Member of the C.P.P.C.C:
“Lonely Elderly are Enjoying Life" (December 5, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Mei Zhen Rong, a 50-year-old member of the Chinese
People’s Political Consultative Conference in Luo Yang
city – He Nan province, is concerned about care given to
older persons in her region. With her principle of
“inspiring everyone in the society to care for the
elderly,” she coordinates 50 other retired people from Shi
Hua Organization in a painting club for “lonely elderly.”
Ms. Mei Zhen Rong holds painting classes every week at the
club. In recent years, as more and more younger family
members move away from their family homes to work or
study, the number of “lonely elderly” increases daily. At
this point Luo Yang city, many of the remaining older
persons have joined Mei Zhen Rong’s club and found a
second family.
Japan: Japan Elderly Abuse
much more than Disclosed: Media (December 4, 2007)
With 10% of the population over 75, Japan is now facing
serious problems of abuse against elderly people.
Government report revealed 13,000 abuse cases by family
members. Meanwhile at nursing homes, nearly 500 elderly
people were abused in various ways by employees. 190 cases
involved psychological abuse, 130 cases involved physical
abuse, and 110 others involved tying to bed or other types
of restraints. These are results from a survey conducted
with nursing home employees.
New Caledonian: Older Persons
Are Looking for a Home (December 4, 2007)
(Article in French)
The Caledonian Communal Center for Social Action survey of
persons aged 60 to 85 years will help Caledonian local
authorities to meet older peoples’ housing needs. One
housing unit, the Cerisier Bleue Residence, is celebrating
its 10th anniversary and seems to have found a good answer
to older people’s needs: Occupants stay independent and
remain in their own apartments but they can participate in
collective events organized in the building.
China: Hui Ethnic Elderly: “I
Can Do Business Online Now” (November 17, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Mai YanHua, 74 years old Hui, lives in Ning Xia Autonomous
Region. A successful food businessman, he sells his food
online. In 2002, Gu Yuan city in the autonomous region of
Ning Xia began an information technology project targeting
rural areas. Now farmers at more than 126 rural area
information technology posts do internet-based business.
By doing business online, Mai YanHua increased his
customers. He sells food to buyers as far as North East
China and Beijing. Due to online sales, his income has
doubled since 2002.
Taiwan: The Aging
of Society Deserves More Attention (November 16, 2007)
Taiwan is a fast-aging society. At present, people aged 65
or older make up about 10 percent of the population; by
2025 it will increase to 20 percent in 2025. That’s why
the Cabinet recently adopted a plan to assist the island's
older persons. The government plans to spend US$2.7
billion over a 10-year period to provide senior citizens
with various services -- including home care, free
transportation, and rehabilitation -- that they need to
live a healthy and comfortable life. Will these measures
alone meet the needs of the elders, so often ignored by
younger generation?
Japan: As Japan
Ages, Prisons Adapt to Going Gray (November 3, 2007)
“There are worries that prisons could become a sort of
social welfare facility for the elderly,” said Hideo
Nemoto, an official at Shizuoka Prison west of Tokyo.
Indeed, as Japanese society ages, family traditions and
community ties break down. The 65-and-older group of
incarcerated persons is the fastest growing group of
prisoners in Japan. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of
elderly criminals escalated by 160%, to 46,637. Prisons
are facing pressure to care for elderly prisoners and
taking on an enormous financial obligation.
China:
District Lets Elderly Lease out Apartments (October 31,
2007)
In a local district in China , the Putuo
District Community Service Center , has
begun to help older persons who want to rent their
property. It helps elderly raise money to pay for
accommodations in nursing homes or retirement facilities.
A supervision department to oversee the project will be
set up soon.
India:
Urbanization Not Too Good for Elderly (October 26, 2007)
In urban India, wealthy elders living alone are at high
risk for ‘acute loneliness,’ making them more vulnerable
to ‘emotional entrapment,’ in which they are emotionally
blackmailed into giving home health aides, drivers and
other help their valuable assets as a sign of gratitude.
As India becomes more urban, adult children and relatives
may not be as readily available to care for their elderly
parents and relatives, thus lonely elders are turning to
outside help who may take advantage of them. It is crucial
to identify acutely lonely elders living alone in urban
areas and provide support through counseling.
Taiwan: Veterans’ Homes to Open
Their Doors to Elderly Taiwanese (October 18, 2007)
Veterans’ homes and care centers that have catered
exclusively to long-retired soldiers who came from China
with the Chinese National Party army will open their doors
to elderly ethnic Taiwanese. Retired soldiers tend to
receive better healthcare services and pensions than the
Taiwanese, but some have no need for these services. The
unused resources will now be shared with the rest of the
population, which can help change public perceptions about
veterans “and also help ethnic groups get along with each
other.”
China: Exploring New Models of
in-Home Services for the Elderly (September 26, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Shanghai Jing’an District Committee of Aging provides
comprehensive in-home services such as regular medical
check-ups, meal provision, and house cleaning to qualified
elderly living in the district. Since 1999, the district
pioneered in exploring in-home service models in the city
by establishing services such as “Elderly Daily Care
Center” and “Happy Aging Home.” Such services offer
in-home services ranging from daily care to psychological
comfort.
China: Report of Survey on Elderly Mentality and
Attitudes in Nanjing (September 24, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In mid-September, over 500 older persons with ages ranging
from 55 to 80 years, were surveyed regarding their living
situations and attitudes. According to the survey, the
majority of the elderly expressed their willingness to be
involved in some work or social activities after
retirement. However, many felt difficulties in adjusting
to after-retirement life, and some expressed a sense of
being lost and lonely or even angry about the changes in
after-retirement life. The survey also indicates that the
majority of elderly lack social or entertainment
activities, and only a few elderly are able to keep their
social activities at the same level when they were
younger.
China: Will an Aging Population
Defang China? (October 1, 2007)
China,
one of the five members of the Security Council has taken
on a very important role on the international scene.
Today, less than 8% of China's population is 65 or older.
By 2050, that proportion could rise to as high as 24%.
Accorded to the author, China has to take some measures
for this part of the population to continue to be a major
power.
China: Exploring new models of
in-home services for the elderly (September 26, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Shanghai Jing’an District Committee of Aging provided
comprehensive in-home services such as regular medical
check-ups, meal provision, and house cleaning to qualified
elderly living in the district. Since 1999, the district
pioneered in exploring in-home service models in the city
by establishing services such as “Elderly Daily Care
Center” and “Happy Aging Home.” Such services provide
in-home services ranging from daily care to psychological
comfort.
China:
Report of survey on elderly mentality and attitudes in
Nanjing (September 24, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In mid-September, over 500 older persons with ages ranging
from 55 to 80 years, were surveyed regarding their living
situations and attitudes. According to the survey, the
majority of the elderly expressed their willingness to be
involved in some work or social activities after
retirement. However, many felt difficulties in adjusting
to after-retirement life, and some expressed a sense of
being lost and lonely or even angry about the changes in
after-retirement life. The survey also indicates that the
majority of elderly lack social or entertainment
activities, and only a few elderly are able to keep their
social activities to the same level when they were
younger.
China:
Showing Up in Person for ID Verification Baffles
90-year Olds Who Have Difficulty Moving Around
(September 20, 2007)
According to recent regulation, retirees are required to
show up in person for ID verification on a regular basis
in order to prevent fraud and mistakes. However, many
elderly have difficulty moving around or are bed-ridden.
Recently, Mr. Su, a 94-year old, is facing such
difficulties. An official said that the organizations
handling the ID verification should accommodate the
special situations like Mr. Su by offering options of
going to retirees’ home for ID verification.
Australia: Senior’s
‘Accept Blame’ for Environmental Damage (August 30,
2007)
Senior citizens in Australia are accepting
responsibility for their share of the damage to the
environment. Stating that they want to leave the planet
in better shape than they found it, the National Seniors
Program are pressing the government to permit older
Australians from 124 senior citizen branches to donate
their time to help schools with environmental issues. As
role models, senior citizens want the chance to teach
young people the benefits of environmental
responsibility.
Pakistan:
Steps Urged for the Elderly’s Welfare (September 10,
2007)
In Islamabad, the Pakistan Social Association (PSA) took
up the needs of elders at a seminar, held September 9,
2007. The fact that family ties are fading and traditional
and religious links are weakening, older persons suffer
the most economically, socially, and psychologically. The
seminar stressed helping elderly people to the level where
they can contribute to the society rather than becoming a
“burden” they could bring value to society.
Japan:
Robots Turn Off Senior Citizens in Aging Japan
(September 20, 2007)
After a seeming boom in the production of robots as
companions and helpers for older persons, newest market
research shows that older persons have lost their
interest. Instead of high-tech gadgets and futuristic
robots, they now prefer utilitarian devices, such as
height-adjustable countertops and phones with
jumbo-sized keys.
China: Showing Up in Person for ID
Verification Baffles 90-year Olds Who Have Difficulty
Moving Around (September 20, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to a recent regulation, retirees are required
to show up in person for ID verification on a regular
basis in order to prevent fraud and mistakes. However,
many elderly have difficulty moving around or are
bed-ridden. Recently, Mr. Su, a 94-year old, is facing
such difficulties. An official said that the
organizations handling the ID verification should
accommodate the special situations like Mr. Su by
offering options of going to retirees’ home for ID
verification.
Japan: Respect for
the Elderly (September 18, 2007)
Japan:
On September 18, Japanese workers stayed home in honor of
Respect the Aged Day, now in its 60th year. The average
longevity in Japan is very high, 79 years for men and 85
years for women. As a result, elderly people could play a
major role in society. Unfortunately, an increasing number
of people over 65 years live alone, some four million.
Many do not choose to live alone but circumstances have
created this situation. That’s why the Asahi Shimbun
newspaper has launched an appeal to all Japanese to meet
each other socially and to look after the oldest.
Japan:
Percentage of Japanese Aged 65 or Older Hits New High
(September 16, 2007)
Recently released Government data shows that nearly 22
percent of Japan’s population is aged 65 or older. The
figures, which surpass last year’s record, show that
“approximately 27.44 million people, or 21.5 percent of
the country's 127.76 million population” are elderly. The
government predicts that by 2055 those aged 65 and older
will make up 40.5 percent of Japan's population.
China, Hong Kong: Dementia: Six
People Go Missing Every Day (September 13, 2007)
According to research from the Chinese University, an
average of six people with dementia get lost every day in
Hong Kong. While this fact itself requires closer
attention by the government, the real problem is that only
one in four families report the disappearance to the
police immediately. In Hong Kong, one can observe the
transition from a traditionally close family structure to
a more “Western” one, where older persons often collect
“cardboard or tin cans for recycling to earn extra money.”
China: Elderly
Universities Become a Popular Place Among the Retirees
(September 6, 2007)
Hefei City, Anhui Province, has over 560,000 seniors aged
60 or over, accounting for 12% of the total population in
the city. Many retirees enjoy financial security, but they
desire a more active way of life through learning and
socializing with their peers or younger generation. Due to
the lack of opportunities and places for the elderly to
engage in cultural and social activities, most seniors
choose to go to the “elder universities,” training
organizations that provide group lessons ranging from
calligraphy, piano lessons, to computer applications and
foreign language instruction. These elder universities are
now facing a new and difficult challenge: excessive demand
to enroll over the supply or number of available seats as
more and more retirees join the classes. Current
participants continue to register and stay on with the
organization term after term.
India: Elderly Not Wary of
Calling off Marriage (September 5, 2007)
The number of pensioners seeking a divorce in India is
rising. Out of 2,000 cases filled at a local court,
10% were from the 40-50 age group, while 10 cases were
filed by petitioners in the 50-60 and 60-70 age
groups. Many divorcees are women, who stay in their
marriages until their children grow up and are
settled, thereby avoiding entanglement in messy
divorces.
Tunisia: A Pioneer Policy for the
Promotion of Older Persons in Families and in the
Society (August 2007)
(Article in French)
Like many other countries, Tunisia faces a growing number
of older persons and the challenges that come with an
aging population: high consumption of health services,
imbalance of the pension system and new needs for social
protection. The article gives an overview of the programs
and financial aids that allow older persons to keep a
decent purchase power and their independence. Recently
President Ben Ali presented a ten-year plan to promote the
protection of the elderly. Tunisia shows, here, its desire
to follow MIPAA recommendations.
China: Money is Not the Issue;
Elderly Need Better-Equipped Old Age Care Homes
(August 31, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Both the elderly and their children expressed their
concerns over the quality of facilities and amenities
available in current old age care homes. The old age
care homes in Nanjing mostly provide very few amenities
and only simple services. They typically are not
equipped with doctors or nurses and can only provide the
most basic services as residential facilities for the
elderly. Only a few homes have the ability of providing
recovery or nursing services.
India: Indian Bid
to Enforce Children's Obligation to Aging Parents
(August 27, 2007)
Older persons feel the effects of the rapid change of
traditional values in India the most. As many adult
children move into their own housing or leave the country
to seek better employment opportunities, older persons
increasingly feel lonely, isolated and without sufficient
funds to support themselves. India’s government drafted a
law that would make it “a legal obligation for children,
heirs, or relatives to provide financial assistance to
senior citizens.” While the draft has several legal holes
to fill, some older persons say they would not use the law
against their children. Ananta Khudaskar, a frail elderly
man, says: "I want my son's love and affection, not his
money."
China: China's
Elderly Care Conundrum (August 23, 2007)
China continues to grow as one of the world’s most
powerful economic powers. However, as a result of China’s
one-child policy, not enough young people are joining the
work force. This increases the burden of responsibility on
younger workers to care for their elder relatives and puts
an enormous load on future generations. Among them is
four-month-old Jie Jie. His family counts on him to "to
look after all of us, mum, dad, grandpa and grandma one,
grandpa and grandpa two."
Thailand:
Thailand's Aging Population (August 19, 2007)
As a result of changing economic conditions and social
values in Thailand, older persons “are more likely to live
alone at home, especially in rural areas where the younger
generations frequently migrate” to urban dwellings. Thai
families are also becoming smaller, which leaves less
potential care givers for the elderly. The article’s
author argues that older persons should do more to ensure
that they are aging healthy, as older persons can not rely
on others to take care of them.
China:
Speeding Cars Makes Crossing the Road Difficult for
Older Persons (August 11, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Compared to younger persons, senior citizens often walk
much slower, have mobility problems, and are therefore
more accident-prone on the roads. Rapid construction in
the city has brought wider roads and higher speeds, which
exacerbates the difficulty of older persons with mobility
problems crossing the streets. According to new
transportation regulations, vehicles should slow down at
the crosswalks and yield to pedestrians.
China:
300 Older Persons in Nanjing Help Over 100 Impoverished
Students (August 5, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Three years ago, Nanjing resident He Yan established a
senior citizens club with the help of the media. This
year, the group’s action theme is “giving thanks and
giving back.” He Yan says that in his hometown, there are
many talented students who will drop out of school because
their family cannot afford the 300 Yuan annual tuition.
So, with the help of the Shizuishan Board of Education,
the senior citizen club chose 103 qualified junior and
senior high school students on whom to focus their aid.
Both companies and individuals in Nanjing donated to the
effort, and in less than 2 hours, these 300 older persons
had helped 103 impoverished students.
Australia:
Great-Great-Granny Earns Masters Degree at 94 (August 2,
2007)
A 94-year-old Australian woman recently became the oldest
person ever to earn a master’s degree. She entered
undergraduate study at the age of 70 and decided to pursue
a master’s degree in medical science in 2002 at the
University of California. Despite her accomplishments,
Turner maintains that she is proudest of her seven
children and two stepchildren.
China:
Retired Couple Establishes Seniors’ Activity Center
(August 2, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Every evening, the sound of music flows out from a
backyard of a house in Dongguan Villa, Xing’an
Neighborhood, Anqiu City—this is the sound of over 20
elderly singing or dancing, enjoying the happiness of
their retirement life. This house is the home of retired
couple, Minghao Yin and Xuecai Liang, as well as the place
where they established the Xi Yang Hong Seniors’ Activity
Center to help the local older persons have a happier and
enjoyable life.
China:
1,000 Older Persons Experience the Misery of Electricity
Loss: 7 Power Outages in Half a Month (July 29, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
For days, elderly apartments in Shuangyu town in Yangyi
Village in Lucheng district have repeatedly experienced
power outages, greatly distressing the older persons. The
Longfeng Villas currently house over 500 seniors. During
the loss of electricity, the villas do not have air
conditioning or fans, and some older persons even
experience breathing problems. The Longfeng complex has
three older persons who require ventilators to breathe,
but during a power outage not only their ventilators will
not start, but the villas’ emergency bells will not work
either. According to a customer service representative
from the electricity company, because of the energy
situation in the summer in Lucheng, the company has
already planned to place restrictions on the commercial
use of the electricity in the Shuangyu area to guarantee
enough electricity for the residents.
Bangladesh: Open
Departments in Hospitals for Elderly People (July 28,
2007)
At a seminar organized by the Bangladesh Association for
the Aged, speakers urged the government to “provide
medicine free of cost and open separate departments in all
hospitals for elderly people.” In addition, speakers
advocated for programs ensuring better health services for
older persons, saying that current measures are “not
enough and poor elderly people are still deprived of their
fundamental rights.”
Australia: Cold
Snap Takes Toll on Emergency Wards (July 24, 2007)
The Royal North Shore Hospital could barely handle the
overflow of emergency room patients who came with
“virulent winter illnesses” due to the large number of
elderly people waiting for care. According to Sydney’s
health services, if the government gave proper attention
to the issue of care for older persons, hospitals could
avoid delays and shortages of beds. When simple health
problems are addressed at local care facilities for older
persons, emergency patients can receive the immediate
attention they require.
China:
What’s Email? 50 Retired Forestry Workers in Cili Learn
the Computer (July 20, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Not understanding how to use a computer today is almost as
bad as being illiterate in the past. Therefore, older
people in Cili are taking a training class provided by the
Cili District Forestry Bureau to learn about basic
computer operations and ask questions. Studying the
computer also helps these older persons keep their minds
active, meet new friends, and “stay young.”
China:
China Netcom Beijing Office Offering the Elderly “Warm
Line” Service (July 19, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Lift the handset without dialing any number for 5 seconds
and your phone will be connected to a family member’s
phone automatically. This new “warm line” service designed
solely for the convenience of the elderly, started this
Tuesday in a community in Beijing and established the
“express calling service” for hundreds of elderly there.
When elderly people have emergencies, they can just pick
up the phone in order to get immediate help.
China:
Scam Company Received Over 900,000 Yuan from Older
Persons by Fraud (July 18, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
A company, licensed in Hangzhou by a group of people led
by Changjiang Bao from Hubei province, ripped off 51 older
persons for a total amount of 910,000 Yuan within a single
month. They told victims that the money were used for
“investing in a duck raising project” and promised them
“high investment returns.” Once they got the money, they
ran away. A few days ago, the Hangzhong Police arrested
the group led by Changjiang Bao and Jinyan Feng.
China:
More Deaths Among Older Persons Living Alone: How Can We
Guarantee Their Safety? (July 11, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In modern Chinese society, older persons and their
children both require their own space, a change from more
traditional times when several generations would live
together. As of December 31, 2006, there were 172,400
seniors living alone in Shanghai, and it is a common
occurrence for these elders to die alone; for example,
there was one older person who was not discovered until a
week after his death. Some communities in Shanghai have
installed emergency bells or emergency beepers connected
to the community service center.
China: Of 970,000 Older Persons, Barely 700 Senior
Citizen Cards Distributed: Why So Slow? (July 3, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Among Hainan province’s 970,000 older persons, only about
700 have received their senior citizen “preferential
treatment” card to date. Mr. Fu, an older person from the
city of Haikou, claims that he completed an application
for the card in March only to learn last week that the
office had not sent out his forms yet. Many cities are
reporting financial problems as the main cause for the
delay.
China: Haidong Holds Twentieth Elder Athletic
Competition in Hualong (June 28, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Haidong district held its twentieth Elder Athletic
Competition in Bayan, Hualong on June 25. The competition
is held to improve the physical and psychological strength
of older persons and encourage them to undertake physical
training, in addition to developing the area’s culture.
China: Thousands in
Chinese Town Protest Forced Eviction (June 23, 2007)
Thousands in China have protested the eviction
of a 90-year-old elderly woman from her home. Sources
say that authorities have been trying to expel her since
2004 to make way for a real-estate project. Such
practices are becoming quite common in China. The
protest drew some 20,000 people and yielded quite a few
arrests. The woman was reportedly seen on the roof of
her house defending herself with a homemade gasoline
bomb.
Japan:
Japanese man is world's oldest at 111: Guinness (June
19, 2007)
A 111-year-old Japanese engineer, Tomoji Tanabe, received
a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records
officially certifying him as the world’s oldest male. His
predecessor, Emiliano, Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico,
died at the age of 115 on January 24. Tanabe has
repeatedly said that avoiding alcohol was a secret of his
longevity.
Australia:
Is This Any Way To Treat Our Elderly? (June 17, 2007)
According to the article, Australia’s most notorious
criminals have healthier, more expensive meals than the
country’s elderly. While about $5.70 is spent on a
prisoner's meals each day, pensioners on the breadline who
live at home have to budget for as little as $2 a meal.
Japan’s
Elderly are Urged to Work (June 8, 2007)
The increasing presence of older adults in Japan has
motivated the government to help the elderly become active
in the workforce. It is vital for people to see them as
“invaluable manpower instead of people who just need
support and care.” A movement toward elderly employment
could prevent poverty and “scandals over the payment of
state pensions.”
China:
Elderly People Edged out of Tour Market (June 5, 2007)
Confronted with comparatively high costs, many travel
agencies in Guangzhou, southern China, are dropping
services specifically designed for older people. The
director of one tour association blamed elderly people’s
vulnerability to illness, as well as their tendency to
spend less than younger tourists. Another company,
however, said adding services for the elderly helped them
boost their revenue by 80 percent.
Japanese
pensioner climbs Everest, sets record (May 29, 2007)
A 71-year-old Japanese man has become the oldest person to
climb Mount Everest, the Kyodo Tsusin news agency said
Tuesday. KatsusukeYanagisawa said he was glad he made it,
adding that the support of his friends was a great help to
him. The previous record belonged to 70-year-old Takao
Arayama, also from Japan.
India:
Old Age and the Cold Shoulders (May 17, 2007)
The elderly population in India has roughly doubled in the
last 25 years; however, their quality of life and care are
declining with this rapid growth. For instance, 30 percent
of the older population lives under the poverty line.
Similar statistics hold true for other countries. The
author points out that the UN’s Madrid International Plan
of Action adopted in 2002 predicted this situation,
underscoring that societies can perceive aged persons as a
burden and an “inevitable threat to individual[s]
today.”
China: Shanghai Committed to its
Aging Population (May 17, 2007)
More than 20% of Shanghai’s residents are now
over the age of 60. By 2020, those over 60 will
account for 25 to 33 percent of the city's total,
while the number of younger working persons is
expected to decrease. As a result of this development,
the government has decided to increase spending on
social security, which includes both pensions and
healthcare. The municipal government has said that it
will add 10,000 hospital beds for the aged each year.
Currently, about 97% of Shanghai senior citizens have
a pension plan.
Taiwan: The Employment of Aged Persons is a
Struggle in Asia (May 15, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A recent study showed that executives in Taiwan were
less prone to hire elder persons compared to their
other executives in Asia. The study also found that
less than 10 percent of company executives had a
concrete plan for hiring those over 50 years of age.
Comparisons were made with Hong Kong, Singapore,
India, Japan, and China. 48 percent of company
executives in Singapore, for example, said that they
have implemented strategies for the hiring of older
persons. The study concludes by stating that a few
Swedish companies that were surveyed did not fare well
with regards to the employment of senior
citizens.
New
Zealand: The Advantages of Old Age in Kiwi Workplaces
(May 15, 2007)
According to a study, New Zealand has one of the highest
rates of working boomers among the countries of the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD). The study illustrates the adaptations employers
may be required to make to change demographics in the
workforce.
Elderly
Japanese Seen as an Important Sector in the Economy
(April 15, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
After realizing that senior citizens make up a large part
of the Japanese economy, companies are now focusing on
developing products and services for the elderly. Some of
these programs include 24-hour medical care service that
is expected to generate healthy returns for companies with
such initiatives.
Japan: Impoverished
Refugees Flood Japanese Cities (April 30, 2007)
While it is quite unknown, poverty in Japan affects many
people, young and old. According to the author, older
persons are among the most vulnerable. “Japanese homeless
people are, mostly, middle aged and elder. The cruel
economy is especially harsh to these senior people.”
China’s Elderly Are Yet to
Surf the Internet (April 25, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China has an elderly population over 140 million
coinciding with the 140 million Internet users in China.
However, very few Chinese older persons use the Internet.
What accounts for this? Language barriers, difficulties of
inputting Chinese, and limited access to necessary
hardware, equipment, etc.
China: Community activities
are not just for the elderly (April 20, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Older persons make up the main participants in
community activities. Interestingly, few young people
participate in such activities even though such activity
would enrich their lives. Many elderly say that they would
love the young people to participate in community
activities as well. They feel that community activities
should not be left to older persons.
Brunei: Young People Urged to
Take Better Care of Elderly (April 17, 2007)
Brunei launched a program entitled “Family in Caring
for Senior Citizens.” It encourages young people to take
care of their old parents and to provide support to senior
citizens. More than a coercion program, it requires “every
member of society to take responsibility for their moral
obligations:” Young people are taught that the family unit
has major responsibility to care for senior citizens. The
government also ensures older persons’ well-being: since
the Old Age Pension and Disability Act in 1954, it
provides a monthly pension to them.
China: Elderly Working
After Retirement Creates More Unemployment? (April 17,
2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In recent years, more and more retirees want to enter
the labor market. Younger job seekers worry that retirees
are competing with them for jobs. Many companies show
their preference for the retirees for several reasons.
Hiring retirees does not require paying social security
tax, a 20-30% savings on labor costs. Moreover, retirees
are usually experienced workers and do not need much
training. Countering the younger workers’ worries, experts
from a retiree association claim that jobs taken by older
workers differ from those that most younger job seekers
want. Therefore the younger workers have little need to
feel competitive pressures.
China: Why Do the
Elderly Often Become Scam Victims? (April 12, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China has entered an aging society with its older
population comprising 10% of the total population. The
elderly now face frequent scams and many have suffered
economic loss. The article discusses various reasons and
measures that the older persons can take to safeguard
themselves from falling into these traps.
China: Add the gender perspective
into the elderly women’s legal rights system (March 29,
2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In comparison with their male counterparts, China’s
older women face many problems in securing legal
protection. On average, they are worse off in terms of
economic security, access to medical services, owning
property as well as social integration and taking part in
society. In China, around 70% of elderly women live in the
rural areas where the social security system is almost
non-existent. These rural elderly women face even more
severe challenges than their urban counterparts. In 2007,
China started to revise its “Law of Elderly Legal Rights
Protection.” Experts and women’s organizations are
advocating consideration of gender issues and changing
laws to meet the particular issues facing older women.
China: Immigrant
Elderly Hope for Transferable Benefits (March 29, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
China has based both it pensions and medical systems
in a specific locality. Older persons must worry about not
getting reimbursed for their medical expenses paid in
other regions of the country. Elderly with chronic
diseases who travel outside their home region have either
to bring enough medicines with them or pay the expense
themselves. During this year’s two conferences (National
People’s Congress and Political Consultative Conference),
many representatives proposed eliminating the restrictions
on receiving pensions and reimbursing medical expenses
across regions. With the fast development of China’s
economy and more free movement of people among the
regions, it is a necessary step to establish a medical and
social security system that allows cross-regional use.
Korea: Two Koreas Hold First
Reunions via Videos (March 27, 2007)
Since the division of the Korean peninsula in 1945 and the
1950-1953 Korean war, millions of families have been
separated. Currently, virtual visits take place between
the separated families via a fiber-optic video cable. This
Red Cross initiative permits families to reunite families’
members via a television screen. It helps answer the
urgency for older persons to see their relatives before
dying. In the past decade, about 32,000 South Koreans died
without seeing long- lost relatives from the North.
China: An Aging Society
Needs Apartments For the Elderly (March 22, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
During the 5th session of the 10th Political Consultative
Conference, Guo Songhai, the national commissar of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
submitted a proposal regarding apartments for the elderly.
According to the proposal, building elderly apartments is
one way to supplement the traditional family-support model
of elderly care. While many cities already have many
elderly apartments which are very popular among the
elderly, there still remain many issues including demand
for elderly apartments exceeding supply, and insufficient
support from the governments at various levels to
construct such elderly apartments.
India: Indian elderly cared
well by their families and governments (March 21, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
According to this author, the elderly in India are
very well respected and cared throughout the society. They
enjoy preferential treatment including a government-funded
stipend, various discounts at public parks, and seating on
public transportation. Many Indian families still have
three or four generations living together and the elderly
are always the most respected ones in the family. To
ensure income security for the elderly, India passed into
law “National Policy for the Elderly” which protects the
legal rights of the elderly.
Asia: Improve the Retirees’
Life and Create Opportunities for the Elderly in Asia
(March 15, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
AARP, an American organization that services persons
over age 50, with the help from two Japanese
organizations, held a conference in Tokyo in February this
year. The conference focused on ways to improve retirees’
lives and how to create opportunities for the elderly in
Asia. Representatives from various countries including
China, India, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore,
Japan and US attended this conference. They discussed how
to utilize the huge untapped human resources among the
retirees, how to help the elderly better integrate into
the communities, and the proper function and role of the
elderly in the family.
Asia: Age and Population:
Older, healthier, happier, but poorer (March 14, 2007)
Asian elderly live longer and healthier than in other
parts of the world. Nonetheless, many Japanese believe the
country has an adverse demographic profile, fearing that
the elder population will weigh down national economic
growth. Other countries - like Australia, New Zealand and
Singapore – appear less pessimistic. Older people are seen
as helpful, contributing members of society, wise and also
perceived as consumers. Meanwhile, the financial community
sees the elderly as an easy target. For example, “bankers
see a huge opportunity and are engaged in a race to create
products that enable investors to place bets or hedge
risks on longevity risk."
Japan: Japanese Nursing Home Kept
Man in Cage (February 20, 2007)
Older people are facing some shocking abuses in unlicensed
nursing home according to this Japanese report. Government
approved facilities have grown too expensive for many
Japanese. Families and older persons increasingly use the
growing number of unregulated nursing homes where severe
abuse takes place.
China: Immigrant Elderly Adapt to
the Life in Shenzhen (February 13, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
Shenzhen is a city that receives a large number of
immigrant workers from other parts of China. In recent
years, parents of these immigrant workers started to moved
into Shenzhen as well so that the family can stay
together. Although facing a new environment, many elderly
chose to actively adapt to the life in Shenzhen by making
friends, helping out with the neighbors, and picking up
hobbies—they successfully found a new way of life in
Shenzhen.
China : Elderly Getting Remarried in Shanghai
(January 31, 2007)
(Article in Chinese)
In recent years, the Chinese public has given a lot of
attention the issue of older persons who re-marry. A recent survey
of the elderly in Shanghai
indicates that personal property management and
different living habits have become the two most
important hindrances for older persons getting
remarried.
Japan
Adapts to the Oldest Population in the World (January
11, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In 2050, elderly persons will make up more than a
third of the total Japanese population. Japan
is a land with a low birthrate, long life and almost no
immigration. Therefore the country needs to prepare itself
for a very different society. Food companies are creating
“chewing-friendly food” that are nutritious and in
packages that are easier for elderly persons to open.
Travel agencies see a future with this older population
because they “lived to work” with almost no vacation and
now have large savings and time. Contractors for new homes
are adapting their designs to the needs of elderly
persons. Perhaps the rest of the world should follow Japan
’s steps
Japan: Japan to Upgrade Care of
Elderly Inmates (January 9, 2007)
Japan’s aging society raises concerns about the financial,
welfare and living condition issues, in particular those
in prisons. At present, elderly prisoners make up to 12
percent of total inmates in Japan. Many require assistance
in caring for themselves. In order to relieve the burden
on prison personnel, the Ministry of Justice plans to
invest about $76 million in renovating 75 prisons
nationwide to include facilities such as elevators,
handrails and wheelchair ramps. If successful, the
government will expand the program.
Hong Kong: Elder University Proposed for Hong Kong
(January 7, 2007)
In response to China’s growing number of senior citizens
in Hong Kong, Chinese government cabinet member, Leong
Che-hung, suggested establishing a university for them.
This would give Chinese senior citizens a chance to earn
degrees they did not get when they were younger. Research
has shown that an active mind helps maintain an elderly
person’s wellbeing. A university for older persons is a
good way to keep active and healthy. It is a possible
indirect approach to the pension and low birthrates
issues.
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Europe and Central Asia
Background Documents
Serbia: National Strategy on
Ageing (2006-2015)
Serbia has adopted a strategy on aging for the period up
to 2015. The strategy encourages the development of a
society for all ages where stakeholders as well as the
citizenry give attention to the needs and contributions of
older persons. The Serbian population is one of the oldest
populations in the world, numbering 1.2 million
individuals, a sixth of the population.
Reports
United Kingdom: Public Perceptions of the Neglect and
Mistreatment of Older People: Findings of a United
Kingdom Survey (November 2007)
How does the public understand the extent of elder abuse
in the United Kingdom? Key findings “are that older people
believed that there is less neglect and mistreatment of
older people than younger people, that women perceived
more than men, and that there were regional variations in
these perceptions,” and the “most frequently reported
locations of abuse were care homes and hospitals, and the
most commonly reported form was inadequate or insufficient
personal care.” But the reader wonders about the facts of
the matter, i.e., how much elder abuse do older people
endure and how will it be stopped.
Czech Republic and
Slovakia: Transition from Work to Retirement in the
Czech Republic and Slovakia (November 2007)
What are the differences in the participation of older
persons in the labor markets of two new Member States of
the European Union - the Czech Republic and Slovakia?
After the division of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the two
countries took different directions on employing old
people. In Slovakia the indicators of employment and
productivity moved ahead as a consequence of the pension
system and other changes. In the Czech Republic we see not
only an increased number of older employed persons, but
also workers leaving the labor market too early.
United Kingdom:
Working Beyond the State Pension Age in the United
Kingdom: the Role of Working Time Flexibility and the
Effects on the Home (November 2007)
What is the relationship between formal flexible working
arrangements and a flexible retirement? Authors of this
study suggest that employees working in an environment
that allows room for personal issues to be addressed
confront retirement with greater attention to the self
than those forced to think of work only. The authors note
that “flexibility may well be increasingly negotiated at
the individual level between managers and employees,” and
not at a policy level.
Italy:
Towards a More Balanced Interchange Between Generations
(23-25 October, 2007)
The report investigates what happens to older persons when
their families don’t help them. Although families are the
primary supporters for the old, the author states that the
government has responsibility for finding a way to provide
a decent living for the elderly. As one of his
suggestions, he urges governments to adjust thresholds for
old age over time to provide a better interchange between
generations.
Netherlands: Escape Loneliness by Going Digital: A
Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of a Dutch
Experiment in Using ECT to Overcome Loneliness among
Older Adults (September 1, 2007)
Older persons can “reduce feelings of loneliness by
improving the participants’ social lives and distracting
them from their loneliness” with use of the internet. As a
result, the users’ self-confidence increases. Social
workers and others who are interested in loneliness
intervention programs among older people can learn from
this report. It reveals how the internet helps people get
in contact and stay in touch with others, despite poor
health.
United
Kingdom: Employer responses to an ageing workforce
(September 2007)
This report focuses on how United Kingdom employers are
managing an aging workforce particularly in response to
the introduction of the Employment Equality (Age)
Regulations 2006 which outlawed age discrimination in the
workplace and vocational training in October 2006. Based
on qualitative research in 70 firms in 9 occupational
sectors, this study found, contrary to previous research,
that in many cases, most employers said they prefer hiring
an older person than a younger one for different
reasons.
Germany: Patterns of Intergenerational Support in
Grandparent-Grandchild and Parent-Child Relationships in
Germany (August 29, 2007)
An increasing share of 62-85 year-old German grandparents
“gave financial support solely to grandchildren, and a
decreasing share gave exclusively to children.” Adult
children, however, were still more likely to be
“recipients of financial transfers than grandchildren, and
the value of the financial gifts to children was almost
three times higher than to grandchildren.” In addition,
German grandparents were generally more likely to support
their grandchildren and children than vice versa.
Germany: Differential Mortality by Lifetime Earnings in
Germany (August 17, 2007)
(PDF, 28 p)
Using a very large sample of male German pensioners aged
65 or older from both the former GDR and western Germany,
this report documents mortality inequalities. Its findings
show a difference of almost 50 percent (six years) in life
expectancy between the lowest and the highest
socio-economic group considered and reveal a correlation
between lifetime earnings and mortality.
MENA:
Literature Review on Social Exclusion in the ESCWA
Region (July 13, 2007)
The French originally coined the word “excluded” in the
1970s in reference to social assistance, describing
various categories of people left out of State’s
contributory benefits. Since then, development
organizations began to use it to describe groups in
society who are not participating in society. This
exclusion harms both the excluded groups, who do not
receive benefits from being fully-fledged societal
members, and the larger society, which is unable to fully
engage its human potential. This report takes a look at
social exclusion in the Western Asia region and finds that
older persons, along with women and religious and ethnic
minorities, are a group persistently excluded from society
in multiple ways.
UK: Everyone’s Future: The
Challenge of Age (July 2007)
This report describes the goals of Help the Aged, a
leading charity in the UK dedicated to protecting the
rights of elderly. It hopes to become the voice of older
people suffering from issues such as poverty, isolation,
neglect, and ageism. The report discusses how these
problems continue to affect elderly people as well as the
steps the charity has taken to resolve these problems.
Many of their programs have helped improve the quality of
life for elderly British people and provided them a forum
to express their opinions
UK: UK Study
of Abuse and Neglect of Older People (June 2007)
(PDF Format, 4 p.)
In a first, this study provides reliable estimates for the
extent of abuse and neglect among UK elderly living in
their own homes. Defining elder abuse by neglect, and
financial and interpersonal abuses, its findings suggest
that there are a “significant number of older people who
have experienced, or are continuing to experience, a
problem which may have serious effects on their health and
well-being.”
France:
New Technologies Likely to Improve Gerontology and
Daily Life of Older Persons (May 2007)
(Report in French, PDF, 74 p)
While the aging of the population brings many
worries, at the same time a surprising evolution of the
new technologies is being developed to be used in the
health and domestic arenas. This report shows that those
techniques are of the greatest significance for physicians
in gerontology. Meanwhile the report evokes ethical
problems that are associated with new technologies and the
lack of recognition they attract from social security
institutions as well as from medical doctors. Do they
refuse to consider older persons as an “industrial
market”? Or do they perceive technologies as a threat?
Sweden: Ethical
Challenges Related to Elder Care, High Level Decision
Makers Experiences (April 10, 2007)
Ethics often collide with
budgets making it difficult for conscientious
care-providers to deliver the health care that they
would like, particularly to older persons. In
some eighteen interviews with “high level decision
makers,” the authors found these guardians of ethical
care standards for older persons soaked in
uncertainty, frustration and loneliness. The
study ends with the hope that more discussion of the
issue will lead to common agreement about what’s
“ethical.” In the meantime, cold cash decides
the issue.
France: Changes in
the Aging Structure of the Population and
Consequences for Development (April 9-13, 2007)
(Report in French)
On the occasion of the Commission on Population and
Development, the ministries of social cohesion and
foreign affairs identified their joint concern in
maintaining relations of solidarity and exchange
between generations in an unfavorable economic
context. The French growth rate is nowadays too low
to sustain the balance of the pay-as-you-go pension
system. The country must consequently improve the
exchange between generations: by improving the
employment rate among the young and encouraging the
older workers to keep an activity, promoting close
relationships with family and neighbors.
Report:
Poland: Transition from Work into Retirement (March
2007)
(PDF format, 211 p)
The authors offer demographic data comparing persons
aged 50-69 receiving retirement pensions (including
early retirement pensions) with those not receiving
them due to their actual status on the labor market.
The comparison is made along the socio-demographic
lines (age, sex, level of education), as well as
current status on the labor market, planned age of
retirement and main reasons for retirement. Poland’s
Central Statistical Office, which prepared the report,
estimates that the highest increase in the number of
persons at the post-working age—a growth by almost 2
million people—is expected in the decade 2010-2020.
The findings are presented in Polish and English (p
92).
Scotland: All Our Futures,
Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population (March
2007)
(Access the complementary report “Summary and Action
Plan”)
This document lays out a strategy for the aging population
in Scotland. It calls on the government of Scotland, the
UK government, all local authorities, public agencies,
further and higher education bodies, the private sector
and the voluntary sector to work together. As in many
other developed countries, Scotland has to focus on the
desire of most people to remain in their own homes as long
as they are able. The government has to provide accessible
transport services, to increase the disposable income of
older Scots or to improve the health facilities. This
document presents case studies and suggested reforms. Read
the accompanying report that calls for a political
commitment toward older persons, entitled “Summary and
Action Plan.”
Europe:
Informal
and Formal Care in Europe (February 2007)
Women aged 45-59 make up the majority of the informal care
force in Europe. Increasing government expenditure on
formal residential and home-help for the elderly can
significantly and cost-effectively increase the labour
force participation rates of women by relieving their
informal care burden.
Spain: An
Experimental Investigation of Age Discrimination in the
Spanish Labour Market (March 2007)
Pairs of men aged twenty-seven and forty-seven sent
unsolicited inquiries about possible job openings for
waiters to 340 hotels and restaurants in 23 towns in
Spain. Discrimination against the older applicants
corresponded to the highest rates ever recorded anywhere.
Europe
- Germany: Report: Multigenerational House Nürnberg
(2007)
The German Government underwrites Multigenerational Houses
(Mehrgenarationenhäuser). The project aims to
increase interaction between the younger generations and
the older generations at the community level. They had
established more than 200 houses by 2007, and 450 houses
will be active in 2012. These houses opened community
drop-in centers, providing a variety of services to all
generations at a low budget, and encouraging honorary and
voluntary participation, using the expertise and
potentials of all generations.
Ireland:
Report: A Social Portrait of Older People in Ireland
(2007)
Older people make up about 11% of the Irish population,
low compared to many other European countries. Population
projections suggest that by 2036, older people will
compose up to 20% to 23% of the population. This
population profile shift will have serious implications,
particularly for pensions and other services that older
people use or rely on, such as health and long-term care.
UK: Report:
Greening the Greys: Climate Change and the Over 50s
(February 2007)
The analysis of the carbon footprint undertaken in this
report provides an approximate account of the contribution
of different demographic groups to the total UK carbon
footprint. It shows that the current lifestyles of the
over 50s result in higher than average CO2 emissions per
capita per annum compared to other age groups. In
particular, the baby boomers, aged 50-64 years old, have
the highest carbon footprint followed by the seniors aged
65-74 years old. An analysis of the attitudes of the over
50s to climate change shows that there is general concern
about the issue and a willingness to take action. However,
the gap between their concern for climate change and the
impact of their current lifestyle needs to be closed if
the UK CO2 target is to be met.
France: The
Development of Care-Giving Services (January 24, 2007)
(Report in French)
This French Economic and Social Council report warns
about the development of the care-giving sector, in the
areas of health, housekeeping, and child care. Due to
changing social conditions, such as women’s work in the
labor force, increased life expectancy, and the fact that
need for care-giving continues, care-giving will figure
significantly in the future economy. With respect to older
persons, a July 26, 2005 law affects care-giving services
to assist frail and aged persons to stay in their homes.
So far the law offers tax exemptions and subsidies for
care-giving. Unfortunately this sector lacks professional
training or standards to assure good quality care-giving
assistance.
Report: Securing
Good Care for Older People (March 2006)
What are the needs of older people in England and what
will they be in the next twenty years? What social health
care system is the most appropriate to meet these needs?
This very large report (344 pages) gives answers to these
questions. As the report is very long, GAA will publish
one part at a time. This week, we publish the Summary,
Part 1: Evidence and Trends and Part 2: Resources
Requirements.
Articles
France: Brives: They Make Elderly
People Dance (December 23, 2007)
(Article in French)
‘Le temps des cerises’, ‘les amants de Saint Jean’, ‘les
Champs Elysées’-- all French elderly people know
the words of these folk songs. That’s why a new
organization, ‘Styl’ Danse 43,’ in Brives, South of
France, enables retirees in nursing homes to sing and
dance with these famous tunes. A good initiative that
merits encouragement.
Spain: A 77 Year Old Retired Man Runs
the San Silvestre Vallecana (December 21, 2007)
(Article
in Spanish)
Angel Iglesias, a Madrid resident who is seventy-seven
years old, will run one last time in the Race of San
Silvestre Vallecana in Madrid. He is the oldest veteran
among the 25,000 runners. He has competed in over ten
marathons and has won awards, certificates, and medals.
Angel Iglesias is full of life!
France:
France is late (December 19, 2007)
(Article in French)
Pascal Champvert, president of the association for older
persons, estimates in an interview with Le Monde
newspaper that France lags behind in taking care of its
elders. According to Champvert, the percentage of French
social security budget now allotted vulnerable elders
(3% of the total budget) is too low. Inadequate finance
is the main problem facing French elders; many of them
cannot afford nursing home care.
United
Kingdom: 'Elderly Routinely Tied Down and Locked up',
Reveals Damning Report on Care Homes (December 18,
2007)
The enquiry reveals the shocking details of the way
elderly citizens are treated in care homes. The violent
acts of strapping the elderly into their beds, keeping
them from using the bathrooms, dragging the seniors
around by the hair or refusing them food are often used
to punish disruptive behavior. The report is a powerful
warning that old people are abused by care home staff
and that the situation requires immediate action.
Over-50s 'Fear Fraud' on
Internet (December 17, 2007)
A fear of scams seems to stop older people from going
online. That’s what a new UK Post Office survey
reveals: 41% of older persons said fear of fraud kept
them from using the internet. Some 31% others claim
that technical online vocabulary blocked their easy
access. This survey invites the younger generation to
help seniors, as the gap between young
internet-enabled and the others widens.
United
Kingdom: Mother-In-Law Nightmare as Ageing
Population Drives More Pensioners to Live With
Their Children (December 16, 2007)
Does an elderly relative in the house disrupt the
relationship of a married couple? The article reveals
that only 17 per cent of couples want their parents to
stay in their homes with only one per cent being ready
to support their elderly parents financially in their
own homes. However, the alarming statistics show that
as the population ages, more older persons will be
forced to live with their children.
France:
The French Government is Unable to Deal With the
Issue of Older Drivers (December 14, 2007)
(Article in French)
How can you tell a senior relative to stop driving?
This question poses a very big issue for friends and
families. It is never easy to stop driving. However,
most European countries have tried to set up limits
and to control access to elder drivers. But France
seems to wait: in 2002, the French government adopted
the idea of a medical check-up for all drivers. In
2005, this law was cancelled for administrative
reasons. The European Union may impose a new rule for
all Members to remedy this situation.
France: Local
Authorities Should Meet the Needs of its Aging
Population (December 13, 2007)
(Article in French)
“Départements”, one of the main administrative
divisions of France (similar to a US county), are the main
architects of local social and health policies. Among
other issues, they have responsibility for the well being
of elderly people. These “départements” develop
policies for the local aging population whose needs may be
very specific. New policy ideas emerge, such as in
Besançon, where a ‘wise council’ gathers older
persons who want to be involved in decision making for
their town.
United Kingdom: The Shocking
Truth about the Care Home Workers who Couldn't Care
Less (December, 11, 2007)
Helen Seymour, an advocate for elders in London, witnessed
the shocking treatment of senior residents in care homes
which “left her shaken”. In this interview she talks about
the seniors who suffer with dementia. She reports that the
nursing home staff strip them of their dignity treating
them with violence and disrespect.
United Kingdom: Half a
Million Older People Eat Christmas Dinner Alone
(December 7, 2007)
Christmas time is not a festive season for everyone. Half
a million of the senior citizens in the UK spent Christmas
alone last year. The research survey also found that
700,000 older persons did not have a Christmas meal at
all. Almost one and a half million older people reported
they felt particularly neglected and forgotten at this
time of year.
France:
Integrating Older People Into Society (December 5, 2007)
French scholars from the Medicine and Science
Academy
gathered in early
December to discuss the theme ‘integration of elderly
people in the society’. For researchers, to be old today
means to be on average between 76 and 78 years. In 2040,
it will be 80 years old. Otherwise, this group
recommended many activities to stay healthy longer. The
most important indicator of successful aging appears to
be ‘subjective age,’the age we feel we are and not the
age we are.
France: What Are We Going To Do With
Our Parents? (December 2, 2007)
(Article in French)
In France, aging isn’t a happy gift of long life.
According to sociologist Emmanuel Ennuyer, French society
has developed a phobia toward the fourth age, as if aging
were a disease. The economic cost of maintaining and
caring for older persons reinforces the negative feelings
against elders in French society. Ennuyer says that French
forget too often that seniors also bring benefits to
society. The recent Laetitia Moreau documentary, ‘what are
we going to do with our parents?’ depicts this troubling
phenomenon.
Ireland: Nursing Home Charges Plan Sparks Backlash
(November 28, 2007)
The Fair Deal scheme calling for nursing home charges
faces tough opposition from Age Action Ireland, under
which nine organizations are united to mount pressure on
politicians to reject the proposed legislation until it is
opened to widespread discussion. The groups worry that
there will be inadequate time for consultation and
consideration of the scheme, and that it will put patients
and families in an unfair financial position. Health
Minister Mary Harney said the legislation would operate
from the start of January 2008. The groups are appealing
to the government to halt these changes.
France: French
Senate Adopts an Amendment Requiring at Least 8% of
Seniors in Companies (November 19, 2007)
(Article
in French)
On November 17, 2007, the French Senate adopted an
amendment to the bill concerning ‘social security
financing for 2008.’ This amendment would require that all
French employers would have to hire at least 8% of people
who are older than 55 years for their staff. The lawmakers
propose a financial penalty if employers don’t respect
this law. The same kind of measure already covers persons
with disabilities. However, the current executive
government did not support this proposal and it may not
get incorporated into the law.
France: Seniors
Share Apartments (November 13, 2007)
(Article
in French)
A new trend in France began after the scorching heat
in 2003. Many seniors decided to share apartments.
Because of the financial, emotional and psychological
advantages of living together, this phenomenon is also
occurring frequently in
Switzerland , Germany and Belgium.
France: Cyclopousse:
Extension of this Service to Three Elderly Homes in
Villeurbanne (November 7, 2007)
(Article in French)
The Cyclopousse Service has spread to three nursing homes
in Villeurbanne, France. This means of transportation was
launched on May 29 this year in two residences for elderly
people and is very popular. This small vehicle with three
or four wheels, and non- polluting thanks to muscle power,
can be driven to locations like the hairdresser, doctor,
post office, supermarket and metro for only 1.50 euros for
members and 3 euros for the full rate. This “door to door”
service is already very popular in municipalities using
this mode of transportation.
France:
It's Finally Time for Qi Gong (November 5, 2007)
(Article in French)
Practicing Qi Gong is very fashionable in
Europe, especially in France. Elderly people are trying it
more and more. It is neither a sport nor a martial art but
an activity that permits people to control their body,
their breathing and their emotions. It’s a traditional
Chinese medical gymnastic exercise. In Germany
, people receive reimbursements from the Social Security
system for costs incurred in Qi Gong.
United Kingdom:
Independence, Respect and Dignity: The Future of Care
for the Elderly (November 2, 2007)
In another example of how the older persons are redefining
old age and aging, we are beginning to see a change in how
care for this community is structured. Traditionally, the
elderly lost their independence and privacy in exchange
for around-the-clock care found in homes for the aging.
For example, bathrooms, living rooms and kitchens that
were once private in an older person’s home are now shared
with strangers. This article describes how local UK
governments are providing around-the-clock services to the
person’s home as well as building old age homes that
provide private kitchens and bathrooms for their
residents.
France: SFR Tests out
Communication Solutions for Elderly People (October
20, 2007)
(Article in French)
SFR, a French telecommunication industry, is
currently testing a new communication and monitoring tool
to protect elderly people. Two methods are used. The first
one, called ‘e-care,’ is a pendant with a GPS system that permits
family or doctors to detect falls as well as excessive
periods of inactivity. The second, the ‘e-remind,’ is also
a pendant with a mechanism that reminds the older person
to take medicine or to go to the doctor.
Ireland: Finance
Institutions Criticized for Treatment of Elderly
(October 19, 2007)
Numerous complaints to the Financial
Offices Ombudsman’s Bureau of Ireland demonstrate
financial institutions are taking advantage of older
persons. The article highlights stories of older people
receiving poor advice for investing in long-term bonds and
other inappropriate investments that earn them no returns.
A Bureau representative advises financial institutions to
review the bank accounts of elderly clients to ensure that
they receive the best interest rates possible. Older
people deserve greater care and financial institutions are
strongly discouraged from exploiting them.
Italy and
Spain: Italy and Spain, at the Head of the EU in Healthy
Ageing (October 15, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Some 40% of the Spanish population will live past 65 years
of age. By 2038, more than 40% of the Spanish population
will be over 65 years of age. Old age is as healthy in
Spain as it is in Italy. Citizens of these countries live
a longer and better quality life than elsewhere in Europe.
Norwegian
Elderly People Under the Spanish Sun (October 9,
2007)
(Article in French)
Several Norwegian vacation centers for seniors recently
opened on the coast of Spain. There are many advantages
for seniors. In Scandinavia, winters are hard and
nightfall begins in early afternoon. Norwegians also
benefit from this new experience because treatments in
Spain are less expensive. Some communities are now
thinking about opening nursing homes in Spain.
The World Bank Offends
the International Trade Union Confederation (September,
26, 2007)
(Article
in French)
On Wednesday,
September 26, the World Bank published its annual
report, Doing
Business. This
report provoked many reactions from the International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC). Indeed, the World Bank report is
based on research in 178 countries and evaluated
according to 10 criteria. The indicators show whether
the country is able or not to “reform its work
environment.” It takes into account, for example, the
time to open a company in a particular country. ITUC
denounces some aberrations in the report. Afghanistan and Haiti get, for
example, a better score than Finland or Sweden. However, the
latter have the best human development index in the
world. According to ITUC, the role of the World Bank
is, or should be to fight for social justice. It’s
also the opinion of Global Action on Aging, who
calls on the World Bank to take into account social
criteria, including the situation of older persons.
UK: Elderly
'Addicted' to Nintendo Wii at Care Home (September 14,
2007)
It all started when one nursing home chef brought in a
computer-gaming console he had borrowed from his son to
entertain his staff during breaks. Soon enough, though, it
was the home’s residents, aged between 80 and 103, who
enjoyed playing the games and demanded their own console.
Set up with a whole library of games, the residents now
plan an inter-nursing home tournament. Says 90 year-old
Edgar: “It's fiercely competitive. We're all addicts and
it's really bridged the generation gap. I'm so glad they
got us one of our own.”
Spain:
95-Year-Old Spanish Blogger Gaining Fame (September 10,
2007)
Using a birthday present from her grandson, 95 year old
María Amelia López writes her own highly
popular internet blog. Her wish to bridge the cultural gap
between her grandson and herself soon proved stronger than
her initial skepticism. She learned the basics of internet
navigation. She says: “Elderly people like me - and there
are a lot of old people who are younger than I am - should
all have someone who shows them how to use the Internet.
You have to stay informed.”
UK:
£5.4m Lifeline for Pensioners in Need of Care
(September 6, 2007)
After inspectors highlighted “serious concerns”
over standards at several elderly care homes, “due to
neglect, low staffing levels, medication errors and
administration problems,” authorities shut down many
homes. Now, with financial assistance from the
government, Norfolk county is building a multi-billion
center for older persons with disabilities. The center
will “offer all round quality respite and day services,
and facilitate the ongoing development of new and
innovative services to support older people to remain
living in their own homes.”
UK: Majority 'Back Extra Tax for
Elderly Care' (September 3, 2007)
According to a nation-wide opinion poll, three quarters
of Britons would be willing to pay 1 penny extra on
their income tax if it went toward elderly care
programs. Although the amount seems modest, the company
conducting the poll claims that the increase could cover
about 80% of “care home fees and other domiciliary care
costs.” Other results of the research show that 42% of
Britons believe “care services were worse compared to
five years ago.”
Switzerland:
Report Calls for More Respect for the Aged (August 29,
2007)
A new Swiss government policy document reviews the current
situation of older persons in Switzerland and defines
guidelines for the future. The document, which examines
five areas - health and care, housing and mobility, work
and the transition to retirement, the economic situation,
and participation in society - calls for more recognition
of the positive contributions older persons make in their
societies.
UK: 'Handyman'
Call for Older People (August 21, 2007)
Help the Aged demands that the government subsidize a
program intended to improve accessibility in older
persons’ houses. Help the Aged predicts that older people
will stay at home longer, reducing the need for costly
social or even residential care. Thus, the organization
suggests a network of "handypersons" who reachable through
a call to a central number, would be able to perform
simple tasks such as fitting a bath-rail or a “half-step”
to provide easier access to other areas of the home.
World: Senior Employment:
Recommendations to Recruit and Keep Workers Over 50
Years Old (August 30, 2007)
(Article in French)
Manpower, leading company in the field of temporary
work, polled 28,000 employees in 25 countries for their
research entitled “Senior Workers: Inescapable in the
Work Market.” Manpower proposes solutions to keep active
workers over 50 years old, and to train their successors
quickly. This study denounces the assumption that people
over 50--even 40 years old sometimes--are considered too
old or no longer have the skills to make a positive
contribution to their company. Employers should offer
more flexibility: part-time jobs or flexible time.
Meanwhile, a longer active life requires motivation and
engagement. The company must develop a strong image and
provide vocational training. Countries also have a role
to play; some States subsidize companies that hire
people over 50.
Ireland: Dying Alone
(August 28, 2007)
John Adams, an elderly man, died alone and unnoticed in
his living quarters in a busy apartment building. His
death was discovered three months later as people in the
apartment below him complained about maggots coming
through the ceiling--maggots that had been feasting on Mr.
Adams’ decomposing body. Although Adams’ story is
particularly horrifying, it is not uncommon. Many
pensioners live in similar situations. Isolated and alone,
with no family members or friends to take care of them,
they become increasingly invisible and vulnerable. Social
Services could give a helping hand, but the pensioners, or
someone close to them, would have to ask for help. Sadly,
“It's rarely the people most in need of help that shout
loudest for it.”
Germany: Elderly Rapidly
Increasing in Numbers in Germany (August 26, 2007)
Out of a population of over 82 million in Germany today, 4
million are 80 years of age or older. The population of
those passing the 100-year mark rises steadily.
Gerontologists say that the German health care system is
unprepared for the growing numbers of older persons in
Germany. The demographic change requires a “societal
infrastructure” to accommodate the requirements of older
persons. Older persons need improved public access and
want to have more support and choice when it comes to
senior housing.
UK: Hopes of an
Indian Summer for Relatives in Need of Care (August 26,
2007)
Steve Herzfeld moved with his elderly parents to India to
find cheaper health care. This idea may sound extreme:
Steve Herzfeld organized a staff of six persons to nurse,
massage and care for his parents. In the US, he would have
faced nursing home fees three times what he pays now in
India. Surprisingly, this concept is being regarded with
interest by care charities in the UK; even nursing home
companies and authorities are interested in expanding
their services for older persons abroad.
France: In Nice
and Grasse, the Elderly Can Stay Home Thanks to Internet
(August 6 , 2007)
(Article in French)
On the Cote d’Azur, people over 65 represent 21.5% of the
population. To help keep them at home when they become
infirm, authorities are experimenting with project “M@D”.
Through a webcam installed on the television, older
persons will be able to communicate with a set of
caregiving services in the social and health domains. They
will get assistance for their grocery shopping,
housekeeping, administrative tasks as well as daily health
care. Thanks to this technology, older persons do not need
to get computing knowledge, and it is accessible
24/7.
Sweden: A Swedish
75-Year-Old Has the Fastest Internet Connection in the
World (July 25, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
A 75-year-old Swedish woman enjoys the fastest
Internet connection in the world. Her son, an information
systems expert, installed the 40GB/sec connection for his
elderly mother hoping to teach her to use the Internet and
demonstrate the new technology. However, he said his
mother hardly appreciates the speed – she mainly uses the
Internet to read newspapers online.
UK:
Assembly Seeks Champion for Older People (July 23, 2007)
The Welsh Assembly Government is seeking to hire its first
Commissioner for Older People to advocate for the growing
number of older persons in Wales. The government expects
the commissioner to address older persons’ demands as well
as educate them on issues such as healthier lifestyles.
Professor Judith Phillips of Swansea University points out
that, “the fact we’re living longer is a huge achievement,
yet very often it’s seen as the ‘demographic time bomb’ –
it’s not, it’s a great opportunity; it’s something to be
celebrated.”
Russia:
Kostroma Regional Branch of the Red Cross Signs an
Agreement with Local Government (July 17, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
The regional branch of the Red Cross signed an agreement
of cooperation with the local government and the Russian
Red Cross. The regional organization’s new chief announced
her support for the initiative to create a “University for
Older People.” The institution will help pensioners deal
with difficulties that arise as a result of their
retirement.
Russia: Ulyanovsk Oblast
Government to Assist Pensioners with Gas (July 17, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
The government of Russia’s Ulyanovsk Oblast announced
a plan to help provide gas to homes of local pensioners.
The program targets single or widowed non-working
pensioners or elderly families whose income is below the
Monthly Maintenance Rate for the area. The Pension Fund of
the Russian Federation and other donors disbursed 6.3
million Russian rubles (almost $247,000) for the cause.
Russia:
St. Petersburg Adopts Demographic Development Plan (July
10, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
The City Council of St. Petersburg adopted a demographic
development plan for 2007-2008. The activities will
encourage the creation of favorable conditions for older
workers, promote a healthy lifestyle and seek to improve
quality of life, and hence life expectancy. The plan is
part of the overarching medium-term strategy intended to
improve the demographic situation in St. Petersburg.
Finland: Finland Seduces its
Older Employees to Work Longer (July 2, 2007)
Finland is
trying to encourage its workers to work longer, thereby
postponing retirement. The Finnish government hopes that
such a move will alleviate some of the pressure on the
state’s pension fund. Some of the incentives offered to
senior citizens are the right to exercise at company
gyms and extended paid vacation time. Although not all
Finnish companies offer these incentives, polls show
that that the Finnish public is in favor of postponing
retirement.
UK: Sessions Designed
to Reduce Elderly Falls (July 1, 2007)
The biggest cause of older people’s accidental death is
falling. To help reduce falls among elderly South
Cheshire residents, a health trust partnered with other
organizations to host sessions designed to reduce falls.
These low-cost sessions teach the elderly that regular
physical activity is the best preventive measure. The
sessions are taking place in various communities to mark
National Falls Awareness Week.
Norway:
Norway Looks After its Elderly - in Spain (June 26,
2007)
In order to provide better care for its elderly,
Norway has been exporting them to southern Spain, in
hopes that the warm weather will allow them to live
longer. The plan is expected to lower the costs of
long-term care in Norway. In order to apply for this
program, Norwegians have to seek the approval of their
doctors and fill out various forms; their stay in Spain
could range from six weeks to a lifetime. "It's warm,
it's delicious, it's everything Norway isn't," said Tor
Slitvold, who came to Spain from a village north of
Trondheim. He said that Norway was too cold and that he
enjoyed going to the beach.
Ukraine: Survey Identifies Biggest Concerns of Today’s
Ukrainians (June 26, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Thirty-four percent of Ukrainians believe the lack of
effective social protection for retirees to be the most
pressing socio-economic problem the country is facing.
Other concerns include rising prices, low salaries,
unemployment and high utility costs. The Ukrainian Center
for Economic and Political Studies conducted the
survey.
Latvia:
Latvian Companies to Build a Village for Wealthy Elderly
(June 26, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Two Latvian companies are planning to build a “perfect
village” for Latvia’s elderly. Anyone older than age 55
will be eligible to buy a house or an apartment in the
village and receive full medical coverage and
comprehensive care. The project, however, is more likely
to target wealthy Latvians. The majority of the pensioners
will continue living alone or in nursing homes.
Russia: Pensioners Turn
to Court to Receive Medication (June 26, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Law-enforcers in Murmansk in northern Russia are
investigating pharmacies regarding violations in providing
local pensioners with free medication. Many retirees have
been waiting for necessary drugs since winter. So far, the
prosecution found more than 40 such violations.
Russia: Repair Works
Start in Elderly Home after Fire (June 26, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Repair work started this Tuesday in a nursing home in
Russia’s Omsk region after a fire that broke out on the
building’s top floor on June 21 killed 10 residents. The
governor disbursed more than $425,000 to cover the
damages. According to the investigators, the fire might
have been caused by carelessness or arson.
Russia: Respect of the
Elderly, not Nuclear Warheads Determine a Country’s
Greatness (June 26, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Russia lacks neither the willingness nor the desire to
improve the fire protection systems in nursing homes for
the elderly and disabled. Four incidents, some of them
deadly, took place already this year. The author of this
article argues that if Russia wishes to consider itself a
prominent nation-state, it should take better care of its
elderly.
UK:
Ageing Workforce Will Challenge Employers (June 25,
2007)
Research by an HR consulting firm suggests that the number
of Britons working past the official retirement age is
expected to treble by 2017, posing some serious challenges
as well as opportunities for employers. "There is a vast
pool of mentally agile people, with great work and life
experience over the age of 60 and industries will be
missing a trick if they do not capitalize on their
productive potential,” points HR consultant Jon Beaumont.
Malta:
Elderly in Govt Homes without Air Conditioning (June 25,
2007)
Residents of Malta’s largest elderly home are suffering in
the excessive heat wave due to the absence of air
conditioning in their rooms. Temperatures in Malta have
reached over 35 degrees Celsius (95 F) in the past few
days. Spokespersons for social solidarity and elderly
persons of the Maltese Labor Party said the government
retains 80% of older people’s pensions as payment for
residing in such homes.
UK: Rights
Blow to Elderly in Private Care (June 21, 2007)
The Law Lords in the United Kingdom ruled that private
nursing homes are outside the scope of the Human Rights
Act. Liberty, a human rights group, said that the ruling
“seems to have been largely that private care providers
are motivated by profit and governed by contract rather
than public service values. The Alzheimer’s Society added:
“All care home residents should be protected by the Act.
This is a basic entitlement, which should not be
compromised by the type of home they live in or the source
of funding. We urgently need legislation to close this
glaring loophole.”
Russia:
Fire in Russian Elderly Home Kills 10 (June 21, 2007)
(Article in Russian; also available in English)
A fire broke out in an elderly home in a Siberian
village, killing 10 people and injuring four. Although
the rescue teams arrived shortly after the fire alarm
went off, the elderly staying on the top floor of the
three-story building were unable to escape. The
prosecutor’s office is considering several possible
causes of the fire, from careless smoking to arson. In
March of this year, a similar tragedy took
the lives of 62 nursing home residents in a small
village near the Azov Sea.
Russia:
Dagestan Takes Care of its Elderly (June 19, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
According to a news agency, several programs and benefits
are available for the elderly in Dagestan (North
Caucasus). In the republic’s capital, World War II
veterans can apply for special services to have their
apartments repaired free of charge. The Ministry of
Culture provides the veterans with free admission to
theaters. The article fails to specify how many people are
using these services.
Czech
Republic: Number of Elderly People in Czech Rep May
Double by 2050 (June 10, 2007)
The number of elderly people may double in the Czech
Republic by 2050 to almost 3 million, the Czech
Statistical Office said. Demographers point out that
population aging is the most fundamental social change to
take place in the Czech Republic. Adapting not only social
and pension systems, but also production, services and
entertainment to meet elderly people’s needs will become
necessary in the near future.
Germany:
German Pensioner Rides around the World to Live His
Dream (June 9, 2007)
When Dankmar Hugo Scheuchl turned 66, he decided it was
time to hit the road for the adventure of a lifetime. For
two years he’s been riding around the globe on his BMW
motorcycle, touring the war-torn mountain ranges of
Afghanistan, the crowded streets of Calcutta, the
Australian outback and wide African savannahs. As he is
preparing to ride through North Africa and the Middle East
on his way back home, Scheuchl invites other people his
age contemplating a seemingly outlandish experience to
“just do it.”
Russia:
Internet Café for Pensioners Opens in Moscow
(June 9, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
An Internet café for pensioners and World War II
veterans opened in Moscow. The elderly can access public
information from there, as well as learn basic computer
skills and check e-mail.
UK:
Elderly Rockers the Zimmers Storm British Top 40 Chart
(June 5, 2007)
A group of 40 pensioners, the Zimmers, whose average age
is 78, entered the British Top 40 chart Monday at No. 26
with a remake of “Who's My Generation.” The band—which
takes its name from the Zimmer frame, the British term for
a walker—is intended to combat the victim status of the
elderly.
Russia:
66-Year-Old Cyclist Seeks to Set Record (June 5, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
A former schoolteacher from Tver, Russia, seeks to set a
record as the oldest traveler in Russia. Riding her
bicycle, she has already covered 5,500 kilometers (more
than 3,400 miles) out of her intended 21,000-kilometer
Tver-Sakhalin-Tver journey.
Russia: Profile: Russian
Hopes to Find Samantha Smith’s Relatives (May 31, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
For some in Voronezh city, western Russia, 70-year-old
Valery Vaulin is known as an inspiring character—a
truth-seeker who fights for better utility services for
Voronezh residents. Others find him simply importunate.
Vaulin’s dream is to find relatives of Samantha Smith
(1972-1985) - who in 1982 became America’s youngest
Goodwill Ambassador to the Soviet Union - and invite them
to visit Russia.
Russia:
“Honey” Swindler Cheated Nine Pensioners (May 28, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
A court in the Siberian city of Yalutorovsk sentenced
a woman who cheated nine pensioners of 25,000 rubles
(almost $1,000) to two years in prison. The 35-year-old
sought to earn older people’s trust by finding out
beforehand their names and whether they had any relatives,
and then sold them sugar syrup as honey. She also borrowed
seniors’ money, leaving the “honey” as collateral.
Lithuania:
First Nursing Home for Elderly Priests Opens in
Lithuania (May 28, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Lithuania opened its first nursing home for elderly
Catholic priests. The building with single- and
double-rooms, a chapel and a library is designed to host
45 people. According to the nursing home’s director,
Viduta Backieriene, the first eight residents, aged 70 to
90, have already moved in. “More and more priests are
aging,” Backieriene said. “As elderly persons, they have
specific needs, but no children or relatives to take care
of them.”
UK: Hi-Tech Help for
the Elderly (May 24, 2007)
Wigan borough in Greater Manchester, UK, will launch a
new council service for vulnerable older people. The
Assistive Technology Service (ATS) will provide elderly
people with an early warning of when they might be at
risk to make sure they receive help quickly. Detectors
linked to a telephone alarm unit will allow a 24-hour
control center to check on, for instance, whether the
client got up in the morning or if they've left the gas
on.
Azerbaijan:
Baku Mosques to Stop Using Sound Amplifiers (May 23,
2007)
(Article in Russian)
Muslims of Caucasus Management decided to ban using sound
amplifiers to announce the call to prayer in Baku mosques.
Elderly people living close to the mosques complained that
the sound disturbed them.
Russia:
Pensioners Get in Trouble with Police for Selling
Flowers (May 23, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Tula City police forbids the sale of flowers outside
specifically designated areas. The majority of those
considered troublemakers are elderly gardeners seeking
additional income for meager pensions. The police said the
pensioners’ actions are illegal and promised to patrol the
area every day.
Russia:
Omsk Elderly Pleased with Social Services Quality (May
22, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
A study by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of
the Omsk region in Russia revealed that almost 29,000
elderly and disabled receive social services at home. The
majority of them (94%) said they are satisfied with the
professional and human qualities of their respective
social workers. For more than half of the polled elderly,
being able to receive social services at home is vital.
Uzbekistan:
State Revokes Labor Veterans’ Right to Free Medicine
(May 21, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Uzbekistan’s health ministry excluded labor
veterans—people who during World War II worked to provide
soldiers with clothing, food and weapons—from receiving
free medications. The country is in the process of
abolishing most of its social benefits programs.
Germany: Germany’s Silver
Workers Are Back on the Job (May 21, 2007)
Given a lack of skilled employees, some German companies
are rehiring some of the graying former workers they sent
into early retirement a few years ago. Professor
Jürgen Deller called these post-pension employees the
“silver seniors,” making a point that “older people are
needed in all areas and on all levels. Every level of
complexity is in demand.” One concern is to make sure that
working longer is a free choice, not an economically
pressured non-choice.
Ukraine:
Time for New Trends in Labor Market (May 19, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
As society grows older, sociologists predict significant
changes in the labor market. The typical job description
“from 20 to 35” is becoming increasingly irrelevant. The
article looks at stereotypes held by Ukrainian employers
with regard to hiring older workers, and argues that only
those businesses that include older employees will
succeed.
Ukraine:
Elder Women Hired as Baby-sitters and Nurses (May 18,
2007)
(Article in Russian)
According to employment agencies in Kiev, Ukraine, richer
families prefer to hire women pensioners as baby-sitters
and nurses. Potential employers say elder women are more
responsible and have lower demands than younger job
seekers.
Russia:
Pensioner Wins Law Suit against Federal Health Agency
(May 17, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
A pensioner won a law suit against Russia’s Federal Health
Agency. The court obliged the officials to award Alexander
Zhdanov, a World War II veteran, a car designed for people
with physical disabilities. According to the Russian law,
as a reward for Zhdanov’s service to the country and due
to his disability, the agency was required to provide him
with a car in 2004, but blamed the delay on alleged lack
of funds.
Uzbekistan: Taking away War
Veterans’ Day (May 15, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Uzbeks paid less attention to World War II veterans on May
9 (Victory Day) in Uzbekistan than last year. Veterans
complained about increasing neglect. Although President
Islam Karimov proclaimed 2007 as the Year of Social
Security, the veterans only received a one-time allowance
of $10 to compensate for their meager pensions. This
year’s celebrations also focused on prominent teachers,
artists and public figures of the past, with little
attention for Uzbek soldiers who contributed to defeating
fascism in 1945.
France: French People
Dissatisfied with Older Persons’ Care and Nursing Homes
(May 14, 2007)
(Article in French)
According to a French Hospital Federation survey, more
than two-thirds of French people appear to be dissatisfied
with the care older persons receive and almost one out of
two has a negative view of nursing homes. Mostly, they
raise concerns such as high costs and lack of facilities.
The new President will not be able to ignore this tricky
question.
Spain: More than 100
Geriatricians Say that Health Services for the Elderly
Need Improvement (May 11, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In Spain 16.8% of its population is older than 65 years
(1.9% are older than 85 years). Although Spain has a high
proportion of older people, it doesn’t have extensive
resources for older persons, such as specialized nursing
homes. To improve this situation, the Spanish Society of
Geriatrics and Gerontology published a study about how to
increase elders’ access to health care and how to improve
the assistance and quality of Spanish nursing homes.
Russia: Novosibirsk City
Presents a New Program to Support the Elderly (May 11,
2007)
(Article in Russian)
The Department of Labor and Social Development and several
NGOs in Novosibirsk city, Russia, presented a new program
offering the elderly qualified legal aid in selling their
property. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many
pensioners fell prey to fraud due to ignorance of the new
laws and high lawyer fees. The Department’s Social
Associations Council commissioned the development of the
program in September 2006.
UK: Older People
Missing Out in IT Skills Training for the Workplace (May
4, 2007)
Despite government figures from the UK that show two out
of three existing jobs and nine out of ten new jobs ask
for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), some
employers deny senior citizens opportunities to learn how
to use the technology. Recognizing that Internet usage can
increase independence and empower people, the UK-wide
Digital Inclusion Network helps older people broaden their
ICT skills by encouraging peer learning environment and
one-to-one training.
Germany: German
Supermarkets Cater to Elderly (April 29, 2007)
In Germany, supermarkets have been transformed into senior
markets. The special focus on older people covers a wide
range of little adaptations such as putting products at
easy reach, larger price labels and relaxation zones!
Already showing a profit, these grey supermarkets have
quickly demonstrated that the store chain made a very good
business calculation.
France: A
Rich and Old Country is Looking for Immigrants (April
28, 2007)
(Article in French)
According to a report recently published by the U
N, by the year 2050 France and most
European countries will need two times more immigrants
than in the 90’s in order to cope with a low population
growth and a decreasing number of workers. But
historically, the author points out, today's level of
immigrants remains relatively low, at only 3.1 % of the
global population.
France: The Two Candidates to
the Second Round of the Presidential Elections Present
Their Program Concerning the Older Persons (April 26,
2007)
(Articles in French)
French Presidential candidates Segolene Royal and
Nicolas Sarkozy both clarified their positions about how
to confront an aging population.
Segolene Royal talks about “lengthening of life
expectancy” instead of “aging population,” which shows
society progresses. She favors increasing the level of
small pensions as well as adapting the health care system
to the needs of dependent older persons. As a result, she
proposes a plan that would rely on intergenerational
solidarity: a recruitment plan to encourage young people
to work in the health sector. Nicolas Sarkozy is more
interested in the third age situation: seniors are,
nowadays, able to stay longer in the labor force. He
proposes to change the pension system and to implement,
among others, progressive pensions. His program also
offers pension perks to volunteers or families taking care
of older persons.
Germany: In Germany, Retirement Age Increases
to 67 Years Old
(April 2, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Last Friday, the German Parliament
passed a law to increase the retirement age from 65 to 67
years old in response to changing demographics. This
change will be effective in 2012. According to the
Minister of Labor, this measure will allow more job
availability for people over 55 years old.
France: Francois Bayrou Presents his Program for the
Retirees (March 20, 2007)
(Article in French)
Facing an increasing risk of a generational rupture,
Francois Bayrou, the UDF candidate in the French
Presidential elections, gives us his thinking. He would
give priority to changing retirement plans as well as
caring for the elderly. But firstly, he insists on the
fact that this question “is not a question for experts,
but rather a primary question for citizens.”
Russia: Fire at Russian
Nursing Home Kills 62 (March 20, 2007)
Several elderly and disabled individuals died in a fire
that swept through a nursing home in Kamyshevatskaya,
Russia. This tragedy highlights the lax safety standards
and enforcement as well as the strains on emergency rescue
services. According to senior emergency official Mr.
Sergei S. Salov, “The alarm system was incomplete. The
personnel did not have equipment to protect against smoke.
The bedrooms’ wooden panels were not made flame
resistant.” The closest fire station was located more than
30 miles away and it took nearly an hour for firefighters
to arrive.
UK: Councils 'Fail' Vulnerable
Adults (March 20, 2007)
The BBC has discovered that one in six councils is failing
to protect vulnerable adults in their care. The Commission
for Social Care Inspection found that a sixth of all 150
councils in England were failing; even some councils which
received the highest government rating for their social
services have fallen short in their protection of
vulnerable adults. Campaigners for the elderly are also
concerned at the lack of protection for elderly people.
The government and the charity Comic Relief are spending
£650,000 to research the level of abuse on older
people, due to be published in the summer.
France:
By 2050, the Number of Older Persons Aged 60 and Older
Should Go Through an 80% Increase (March 20, 2007)
(Article in French)
In France, by 2050, the number of older persons aged 60
and older should rise from 12.6 million persons to 22.3
million--an 80% increase! The French government created a
Solidarity Plan in 2006 to tackle rising needs of older
persons and the families charged with their care. But the
cost of caring for dependent persons is great and adequate
political answers are expected. Thus far, in the
presidential election campaign, this question seems to be
neglected.
France: Presidential
Candidates Neglecting Aging issues (March 20, 2007)
(Article in French)
Are candidates to the presidential elections neglecting
the aging population in France and the consequent
challenges? This question may be relevant regarding the
presidential campaign and the perceptible hesitation
candidates have toward tackling issues such as old age and
dependence.
France: Social
Inequalities Happen Again in the Third Age (February 15,
2007)
(Article in French)
In this study from the French Institute on Statistics,
we get solid proof of seemingly obvious facts: “health
state and social class go hand in hand.” The study
portrays an “over-mortality” for those who did manual work
in their lives. However at the age of 86, more educated
workers can hope to live 20% longer than the less
qualified. Interestingly, from 92 years old, social
differences disappear: the poor and the rich become equal
with respect to age of death. Mortality gaps are also
related to the persons’ surroundings: people living in
nursing homes are more likely to die earlier, showing that
a nursing home is more endured than chosen as a
residence.
France: Old
Immigrants: A Device of Reintegration Aims at
Facilitating the Long-Lasting Stays in the Country of
Origin (February 14, 2007)
(Article in French)
The French government has created a law calling for the
“reinsertion” of older persons from abroad back to their
country of origin. Today, 70,195 people, age 65 and above,
live in France and are trying to find housing. Away from
their families, these old people are still in France, and
“the preservation of their right to the general regime of
the health insurance is conditioned on a residence of more
than six months in France.” Now, the French government
intends to allow them to return to their home countries
with sufficient funds to support health care in their
country of origin. (The amount will be based on the length
of their residency in France.). Is this policy
discriminatory against seniors in France?
Russia: Every
Sane Person Worries About Reaching Retirement Age
(January 31, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Russians don’t worry so much about their health in
retirement but rather for the dignity of housing in old
age. Just a few years ago, housing “sharks” targeted old
persons in Russia, victimizing them in housing frauds.
Various agencies offered “life long care” for a pensioner
in exchange for his or her apartment. Then the agencies
forgot about their obligations as soon as the agreement
was signed. Today the State itself offers a similar deal
and older persons can only hope that they will not suffer
the same abandonment after giving up their housing.
Russia: Three
New Clubs for Older Persons (January 30, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Senior clubs opened their doors in three villages in the
Tver Region, thanks to the hard work of volunteers from
the organization, “Good Action.” The volunteers are
planning to hold a series of special evenings for
pensioners showing their movies, dancing and meeting each
other.
France: Older Persons
Dependant: a Forgotten Issue for the Coming Presidential
Elections (January 25, 2007)
(Article in French)
By 2040 in France, persons aged over 60 years old will
compose one third of the population and 7 million people
will be over 80 years old. Despite these figures,
candidates running in the presidential elections appear to
ignore the aging issue. This article lists some of the
ideas and programs for touching the needs of older French
that have emerged thus far in the campaign.
Russia: Legal Aid on Wheels
(January 23, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Nina Ivanovna decided to go to the nearby village, got on
the bus and almost paid the transportation fee. But the
other passengers surprised her. They were lawyers who came
to the local villages to provide pensioners with free
legal aid. The local organization of pensioners organized
this “Legal Aid on Wheels” project. Lawyers provide legal
advice on the bus to those pensioners who cannot go to the
nearest city to get legal help.
UK: Minister Admits: Our
Elderly are Being Starved (January 22, 2007)
The London Daily Mail article entitled, “Our Elderly are
Being Starved,” depicts a frightful situation that older
persons experience in some nursing homes and hospitals in
the United Kingdom. Older persons go hungry on a daily
basis. Some are given a single scoop of mash as a meal. As
the health minister Ivan Lewis said, “We wouldn't put up
with this happening to our children, so why should we find
it acceptable for our older people?”
Poland: Progress Made in
Mainstreaming Gender Equality into Poland’s National
Legislation, Women’s Anti-Discrimination Committee
Told (January 16, 2007)
The Under-Secretary of State of the Polish Ministry of
Labor and Social Policy told the UN Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women that Poland
had made noticeable progress in mainstreaming gender
equality into national legislation. Also, it focused
specifically on the eradication of discriminatory labor
practices, which face older Polish women in particular.
France: With More than
830,000 births, France Experiences the Highest Birth
Rate of European Countries (January 16, 2007)
(Article in French)
This year French demographics, with a rate of two children
per woman, makes the nation an “exception,” in comparison
with the low-fecundity rate of its European neighbors.
Nevertheless, this relatively high birthrate during 2006
does not materially change the general situation of
population aging as baby-boomers reach retirement age.
Russia: No Compensation
for Moral Damages (January 15, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation rendered a
decision denying compensation for the moral damages to a
pensioner who had not received a pension for 13 months due
to the Federal Pension Fund’s mistake. The court explained
that because there is no specific law allowing
compensation of the moral damages in a case when the
Pension fund fails to pay the pension, all such claims
should be denied. Must we believe that the highest
judicial body considers it to be justice when a person
tries to survive for a year without any money for living
and cannot recover moral damages after the Court has
substantiated the gross violation of his rights?
Russia: Popularity of the
Social Cafes Is Growing (January 15, 2007)
(Article
in Russian)
About 2000 older persons in Volgograd have so far
visited the social cafes. The city administration opened
the cafes last year for lonely older people whose income
does not exceed the minimum budget. Every month the cafes
become more popular and the city authorities are thinking
about expanding this initiative.
UK: Pensioner Parents Still
Funding their “Coat-Tail” Children (January 12, 2007)
Recent research reveals to what extent adult children are
still a financial responsibility for their parents. In now
seems widespread that older parents, over 55 years old or
in their early sixties, are still supporting their
children’s educational or housing costs. Adding to the
crises that affect their personal retirement
funding—falling pension expectations or rising taxes—their
adult children pull their savings away. “I sometimes joke
that I will never retire but it may turn out not to be a
joke,” said Mr Millican, a pensioner parent.
Germany: Munich Hunts
Bank Robbing Pensioners (January 11, 2007)
Since 2004 a senior German citizen has
conducted armed robbery against banks and supermarkets
and the police are still tracking him. “As the
population gradually ages, so do the villains, it seems.
Or maybe recent pension cuts in Germany have simply gone
too far,” the article explains.
UK: Families Told
Elderly Care Crisis Looming (January 10, 2007)
In the UK a major shift concerning the Welfare State is
occurring. The Commission for Social Care Inspection
plans to give attention to fewer people with greater
needs and will not help people until their needs are
judged “critical”. The shrinkage of the State’s
responsibility implies automatically a growing burden of
care on families of older persons. Or, simply less care
and earlier deaths of frail and vulnerable older
persons.
Ukraine:
Pension Increase Will Deprive Pensioners from
Government Subsidies (January 9, 2007)
(Article
in Russian)
Many
pensioners in Krym will not be able to cover their
utility bills any more. The government decided to
slightly increase their pensions. At the same time, the
increased pension makes many pensioners ineligible for a
governmental subsidy to cover utilities.
Ukraine: Charity or Joke
(January 4, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Older men and women, 70-80 years old, stayed on line for
hours in order to become the happy owners of a pack of
sugar and rice, a bottle of oil, a bar of chocolate and
two cans of potted meat. There were no places to sit
down or warm up. One of the political groups held this
“organized charity invent” to raise its rating with
older people, who face very difficult lives.
Turkmen
Republic: Big Changes Promised to People (January 4,
2007)
(Article in Russian)
Less than a month after the death of the Turkmen dictator,
the Republic’s new leader has vaguely promised some
changes in the country. The new government will examine
the key decisions of the past and will likely restore free
Internet access, as well as pensions and an educational
system.
France: Precariousness as the
Side Effect of Elderly Care-Taking Jobs (January 3,
2007)
(Article in French)
This article reveals how elder care-giving jobs will
affect the French employment market in the long term. In
fact, by 2015, experts expect creation of over 400,000 new
jobs in this field. But, beyond the number of jobs
created, the author questions their quality. A rise in
instability in terms of hours or wages and benefits may
harm the care-givers. And, GAA would ask, will the
precarious nature of these care-giving jobs get reflected
in higher neglect and abuse of those in their care, as has
happened in other countries?
Russia,
Buryatia: The Republic of Buryatiya Will Accept
Nationals from Abroad (January 3, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
The government of Buryatia has asked the Federal
government for more time to develop the rules governing
the migration of Russian nationals, mainly pensioners,
from abroad. The government is going to take on the
migration project within the framework of the President’s
proposed Federal migration program. Now the regions face a
difficult task: to accept pensioners who would like to
move to Russia from other countries and provide them with
all necessary means, yet not deprive the local population
of their “fair share” of the country’s resources.
London:
Aging population? (November 15, 2005)
Access to older services is narrowing as baby boomers age
in London, where over 100,000 people are 85 years or
older. The cuts are devastating, leaving many of the
elderly isolated and helpless. London councils have
significantly decreased home help services for the
elderly. In response to this reduction, charities now seek
to facilitate projects for the isolated elderly. RISE
(Reaching the Isolated Elderly), for example, reaches out
to this population. While providing more funding for
physical activities and programs is commendable, general
mental and home help services cannot be compromised.
Return to Top of Page
Middle East and North Africa
Articles
Israel: A Fifth of Elderly
People in Israel are Abused (December 10, 2007)
Some 18.4% of Israeli older persons say they have
already been abused. This shocking finding comes from
the first national survey on old persons in Israel. This
rate is one of the highest in the world. Elders suffer
different kinds of violence, such as verbal, physical,
limitation of freedom or economic exploitation. For now,
the government has installed a free phone line to report
abuse but has promised reforms to protect the older
persons.
Israel: Hundreds of Elderly Protest Cabinet's Cut for
Nursing Care (December 5, 2007)
The Israeli government wants to change the public elder
nursing care system. Representatives from the finance
minister said last month that the State is no longer going
to pay for all hospitalization costs. Sick elderly will
have to augment state funds with private funds. But the
citizens say that the middle and lower classes don’t have
sufficient money to to make up the difference.
Israel: One Billion
and a Half Shekels for Elderly People (October 15, 2007)
(Article in French)
In Israel, older persons’ situation is extremely
precarious. That’s why, for months, elders, including
Shoah survivors have been fighting for additional rights,
especially the right for monetary compensation. The
government seems to have heard their voices. On October
15, the prime minister announced that one billion and a
half shekels will be designated to the poorest elders. It
is a first step.
Israel: Screening
Might Catch More Cases of Elder Abuse (September 5,
2007)
Israeli researchers found that while only “6 percent of
older adults in their study admitted to being abused by a
family caregiver when asked directly, many more had
evident signs of abuse or were at high risk of abuse.” The
study, which involved 730 men and women age 70 and older
who were hospitalized in two major Israeli medical
centers, points to the need for routine screening of
elderly adults to "rule out the possibility of abuse." The
study didn’t mention giving training to family members who
act as caretakers to address the roots of abuse.
Israel: The Age
of 'Ageism' (August 27, 2007)
While many older persons experience neglect of their
needs, others may get too much attention and are
over-protected. This story of an 83-year old woman, for
whom the courts forcibly appointed a legal guardian,
exemplifies the "mixture of paternalism, exclusion and
silencing" of older persons that some see in the Israeli
legal system. A new book, entitled "Law, Justice and Old
Age," by Dr. Israel Doron, an attorney who devoted his
career to rights of older persons in legal affairs,
explores this difficult subject.
Palestine:
Arab Idol Star Holds a Benefit Concert for the Elderly
(June 20, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Arab Idol Star Ammar Hassan will hold a benefit
concert in which all proceeds will go to an Elderly home
in his hometown of Salfit. Hassan, a Palestinian, said he
was looking forward to giving back to his community.
Qatar:
Violence Against Elder Persons is a Silent Phenomenon;
Children are Often the Culprit (July 18, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Researchers have been tracking Elder Abuse worldwide
for some time now. In response, Qatar has undertaken many
initiatives for Elderly persons: the Institute for For
Elderly Care was established in 2002, and aimed at
educating the public about elder rights. It also sought to
provide various services for elder persons and educate
them about their rights and how to better care for
themselves. Finally, the also seek to encourage the
incorporation of senior citizens into all aspects of
social life.
Jordan:
National Strategy for Elder Persons…a Cooperative Effort
to Improve the Quality of Life (July 17, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
In Jordan, the National Committee for Family Affairs
has been working with the Ministry of Social Development
as well as the Ministries of health and representatives
from various sectors in an effort to develop a national
strategy for elder persons. In a more specific sense, this
partnership hopes to ensure a better life for senior
citizens. Elder persons in Jordan (those over 65)
constitute roughly 3.3 percent of the current population;
this number is expected to rise to 4% by the year 2020.
Kuwait:
The Al-Balghy Organization for Elderly Care Launches
Competition (June 22, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A competition is underway in Kuwait for who can take
better care of their aging parents. The goal of the
competition is to spread awareness about the elderly and
how to treat them. Prizes range from 250 to 1,500
Kuwaiti Dinars, in addition to other non-cash
prizes.
Algeria: Caring for One’s
Parents…Under the Rule of Law (June 18, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
This article debates the best method for taking care
of the elderly, given the fact that Algeria recently
passed a law deeming it illegal for anyone to place
their parents in a nursing home. One Algerian
parliamentarian, though agreeing with the principle of
the law, thinks that real change will come from society
itself, via social institutions, awareness, community
organization and overall family values. Other experts
from around the Arab world have entered the debate,
stating that drafting such laws wastes time because such
measures do not tackle the aging challenge adequately.
Jordan:
Fakhoury: the Establishment of a Day Club for Seniors
(June 13, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A non-profit organization in Amman, Jordan, called
Friends of the Elderly recently opened a day club for
seniors. The club is expected to provide health and
social services. The president of the organization,
Samira Al-Fakhoury, said that a lot more had to be done
in order to help senior citizens in the Hashemite
Kingdom. The organization, which is based largely on the
help of volunteers, opened its doors in 2003; since then
it has accomplished a lot for elder rights. Al-Fakhoury
also called on the Jordanian government to do more for
elder rights.
Bahrain: Gulf Air Launches
Discount for Seniors in Bahrain (June 13, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Gulf Air announced new discounts for senior
citizens. Those over the age of 65 and flying economy
class will be eligible for the discount. A
spokesperson said that it was “only natural” that the
airline would offer a deal like this.
Palestine
: A Demonstration on World Elder Abuse Day in Kefr Qana
(June 8, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A group of Palestinians took to the streets last week
in anticipation of World Elder Abuse Day. Protestors
denounced violence directed at elder citizens and called
for more respect towards elder persons. (Click on the link
to see photos).
Qatar:
Qatar’s Programming Committee Discusses Action for the
Elderly (June 7, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
The Organization for Elderly Care met with Qatar’s
programming committee to discuss strategies for protecting
elder rights vis-à-vis the law and the economy. The
meeting resulted in setting various benchmarks that would
allow the organization to protect the rights of the
elderly fully. They also agreed on greater participation
from all sectors of the government.
Syria:
A Social Welfare Fund Launches in Syria (June 4, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A social welfare fund was established in Syria with
the help of various UN agencies and ministries of
government. The fund is aimed primarily at the most
vulnerable members of society, such as the elderly,
disabled, orphans, widows and divorcees.
Yemen:
Official Report Calls for Bill of Rights for Elderly
Yemenis (June 3, 2007)
(Article in Arabic - full
report also available in Arabic)
“The Elderly in Yemen
” is the name of a new report released last week by the
Yemeni government that highlights various elderly rights
issues such as access to social welfare and healthcare.
The report, the first of its kind and conducted over a
time span of five years, surveyed access to social
pensions in cities and rural areas. The law in Yemen
currently states that pensions are the responsibility of
companies who hire five or more workers. The government,
on its part, has successfully granted social pensions to
former employees. In this light, the report makes
several extensive recommendations on how to improve
access to social welfare. The report also found that
older women were most vulnerable.
Qatar: Call to Involve Elderly in Various
Community Activities (May 25, 2007)
"If we can have a club for the youth, why not for the
elderly as well?" asks Khalifa Al Muslemani, a
businessman. Al Muslemani is among a growing number of
Qataris calling on various institutions to further
incorporate the elderly into society and protect their
rights. They argue that the subject of elderly rights is
often overshadowed by more common campaigns such as
children and women’s rights. Qatar has recently taken
numerous initiatives to protect senior citizens. Last
month a three-day conference resulted in numerous
resolutions aimed at further protecting the rights of
elder persons.
Saudi Arabia: Police Solve the
Murder of an Elderly Man by Arresting his Son (May 21,
2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Police arrested a young man and charged him with the
murder of his elderly father. The father had been shot
twice by his son as he was making his way to early
morning prayers. The son, who is said to be mentally
unstable, confessed and cited family problems as his
main motive.
Saudi
Arabia: Senior Citizens’ Council to Address the Needs
of the Elderly and Retired (May 16, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A council for senior citizens recently opened in the
city of Hael, Saudia Arabia. It is expected that the
council will provide the opportunity for the elderly and
retired to meet and voice their concerns regarding elder
rights.
Israel:
Police: Doctors Used the Elderly in Illegal Experiments
(May 15, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
Hadera City Police issued a statement voicing suspicion
that doctors at a local geriatric center were using the
elderly in medical experiments without the patients’
knowledge or consent. An 84-year-old died in 2004
allegedly as a result of these experiments. Police have
passed on all documents to the Prosecutor General’s
office.
Qatar: National
Discussion on Elder Rights Strategy a Success (May 12,
2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A Qatari National conference brought together experts
from various fields to discuss strategies for Elder
rights. The conference focused on raising the official
retirement age to 65 and making retirement voluntary.
Recognizing that Qatari society is need of further
education on elder rights, participants agreed to take
concrete steps to include senior citizens into society
in an effort to bridge the generation gap. Future plans
include a 300-bed hospital for older persons, an
increase in social pensions, as well as drafting laws
aimed at enhancing the rights of elder citizens in
Qatar.
Tunisia: Deputies Chamber: Study
of Demographic Policies (May 10, 2007)
(Article in French)
In Tunisia, several factors such as the decline in both
births and deaths, or the rise in life expectancy because
of progressive health policies, have led to population
aging. As University professor Mohamed Saklani said,
“nowadays we are experiencing a golden time because more
than 60% of inhabitants are working, which is conducive to
the economic dynamism; nevertheless we will have to find
some answers to our aging population.”
Jordan : Towards Drafting a
National Comprehensive Plan for the Elderly (May 9 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
Amman: The National Council on Family Affairs announced
plans yesterday to launch a new strategy for elderly care
in the Hashemite Kingdom. This is new strategy is the
first of its kind in Jordan and is expected to take effect
on the International Day for the Elderly. The endeavor
will bring together the Ministries of Health, Development,
and Social Affairs as well as other governmental and
non-governmental organizations in an effort to further
incorporate senior citizens into society. The plan will
also work on preventing all types of violence and
discrimination against senior citizens.
Saudi Arabia: 3% of all
Elderly Persons are Subject to Violence (May 8, 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A Saudi study recently by the Ministry of Social Affairs
revealed that violence against the elderly is on the rise
in Saudi Arabia. The study, which surveyed the entire
kingdom,, found that aged persons experienced various
types of violence. The study also stated that many of the
problems senior citizens face in Saudi Arabia are
associated with the loss of financial and social
stability.
Israel: Relatives Jeer at Israeli
Elders (May 2, 2007)
(Article in Russian)
According to Haifa University research along with the
centers of medicine, one out of four Israeli elders who
are taken care of by their relatives experience
humiliation, either verbally or physically. Scientists
also found out that only 6.5% of aged people inform others
about such abuse.
Algeria: Aging Population by
2040 (April 28, 2007)
(Article in French)
As part of the Algerian national day for older persons,
the issue of older persons’ care emerged. The Algerian
organization “Ihsan” called the Popular National Assembly
to adopt a bill protecting elder rights. Response to this
question is even more crucial in light of Algerian
demographics calculations predicting an aging population
by 2040.
Yemen: Sana’a
Hosting the “Third Arab Statistical Forum" (April
2007)
A convention hosted in Sana’a met to consider
initiatives for implementing recommendations made by the
National Strategies for the Development of Statistics.
This is the third convention of its kind in the Arab
world, in cooperation with Paris 21, the World Bank and
other organizations. Arab countries participated in the
Accelerated Data Program and International Household
Survey Network to examine ways to organize future joint
activities and workshops
Lebanon: New Center to Care
for Elderly Palestinians (March 29, 2007)
Caritas Lebanon inaugurated the Love and Charity Center
for the Support of Elderly Palestinian Refugees on
Wednesday in the town of Taalabeya, Bekaa. The center is
the first in a series of nine centers that will offer
moral and healthcare support to elderly Palestinian
refugees across Lebanon. The president of Caritas Lebanon,
Father Louis Samaha, said that the center was meant to
assist "each and every" elderly Palestinian here,
especially in the absence of minimum social and healthcare
insurance.
Palestine: Palestinian Invents
Queuing Socks (March 20, 2007)
A West Bank woman has developed special socks to help
Palestinians suffering from swollen feet as they wait at
Israeli military checkpoints. Ms. Latif, who cares for
people at a home for the elderly, says she got the idea
after facing long waits at Israeli checkpoints in the
occupied West Bank. The socks are ideal for pregnant women
and the elderly.
Upon Boutflika’s Request:
Fine or Jail time for Those Who Throw Their Parents in
Nursing Homes (March 6 2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A new Algerian law now prohibits sons and daughters of
senior citizens from placing them in nursing homes. The
law passed after a ‘personal request’ from president
Boutaflika who declared that those who choose to do away
with the responsibility of caring for one’s parents should
be thrown in jail. To compensate for this new law, there
will be an expansion of home care programs for the
elderly. However, the financial burden of carrying through
such programs will most likely fall on household family
members rather than the government. Though enrollment
numbers in nursing homes are expected to decrease
significantly, the government does not to expect to shut
them down completely, citing a few cases in which senior
citizens have no one to care for them.
Middle
East: Population Ageing in Arab Countries (February
2007)
This report by the Economic and Social Commission of
Western Asia (ESCWA) updates materials on the condition of
elderly in Arab countries, the progress of the Arab Plan
of Action on Ageing, the changing demographics, and the
vulnerable elderly populations in the region. The report
also follows up on new legislation passed in the region
protecting older persons.
Arab Plan of
Action on Aging (2002)
(Report also available in Arabic)
The situation and condition of older persons and the
opportunities available to them vary from one Arab country
to another. This 2002 Plan that was adopted in preparation
for the Second World Assembly on Ageing. It focuses on the
basic, common components of ageing-related issues in the
region, taking into consideration special circumstances
and particularities.
Israel: We Should Employ the
Wisdom of the Elderly (February 16, 2007)
According to this article, a manufacturer in Israel
employs workers who are in their 80’s and 90’s! The idea
is to take advantage of the experience and the wisdom of
the elderly. As Meil Ellat, an 83-year-old supervisor of
younger employees said “I’m thankful that I can still
work! All work is sacred, isn’t it?” In other countries,
demographers are comparing the shock that aging societies
will have on the world economy to an earthquake, when they
say the world economy will be shaken to its core by an
“age-quake.” One concern is to make sure that older
workers themselves choose to continue working.
UAE: Scheme to Rehire
Retired Nationals (February 22, 2007)
(Article also available in Arabic)
Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of
Presidential Affairs, announced plans to launch a national
plan to rehire retired national employees. The initiative
is in line with the national agenda to attract national
talent and prepare them for participation in the ambitious
development drive.
Algeria: Spotlight interview with
Souad Belaidi (Algeria - UGTA) (January 27, 2007)
This article is an interview with Souad Belaidi, the first
woman to enter the regional leadership structure of the
occupational training trade union. Belaidi now also heads
the women’s committee for her region and has succeeded in
placing women’s issues on the agenda, giving women a taste
for asserting their rights. She discusses the role of
women and the younger generation relative to their
leadership positions in unions. She also talks about her
parents’ role as caregivers to her children, allowing her
to dedicate time to her work and cause.
Israel: Poverty Report
Expected to Show Decline in Elderly Poor (January 25,
2007)
The National Insurance Institute reports that the
number of elderly Israelis - who are defined as poor -
decreased. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expected such
results, which are the obvious consequence of the increase
to old-age stipends. In mid-2005, the National Insurance
Institute adjusted all its subsidies, especially those
concerning the elderly and the widows. Since then, the
poverty rate among the elderly dropped from 25.1 to 24.4
percent.
Egypt: 5
million Elderly Egyptians Dream of a Decent
Life (January 6 2007)
(Article in
Arabic)
Elderly Egyptians have formally requested a national
council which will support elder rights in the
country. Still others have asked for concrete laws
to protect senior citizens from elderly abuse. One
example of such abuse, the growing trend of family
members to expel the elderly from their homes and
onto the streets, demonstrates the need for legal
protection. The government on its part has said that
it is investigating the issue of a national council
to serve elder Egyptians. However, activists say
that over a period of seven years, nothing much has
been done to protect the rights of senior citizens.
Currently 5 million senior citizens live in Egypt;
this number is expected to increase to 13 million by
the year 2030.
Palestine:
Report: 117,000 Senior Citizens - Many Live in Poverty
(October 15th 2006)
(Article in Arabic)
A recent report has showed that of the 117,000 elderly
persons currently living in the occupied Palestinian
territories, 36.7% of them live in poverty. The report
reveals that older persons are somewhat satisfied with the
quantity and quality of food they can access, but
unsatisfied with the amount of pension income support they
receive. Though researchers expect the number of aged
persons in Palestine to increase to 172,000 by the year
2020, they do not expect that their percentages will
increase relative to the entire Palestinian population in
Gaza and the West Bank.
Egypt:
Children, Along with Poverty, Loneliness, and Government
Bureaucracy Drive Older Persons into the Streets
(2005)
(Article in Arabic)
Egyptian people see more and more elderly beggars in the
street. In many situations, the adult children have forced
their parents out of their homes. They do not wish to take
care of them any longer. “The wife of my only son kicked
me out of the house and I found myself on the street
unprotected and with no money,” said one elderly woman. “I
never imagined that I’d be begging on the street after
wasting my life on my only son who supported his wife as
she kicked me out. I would rather die here than go back to
my son.” An elderly man said he ran away because it pained
him to see his son struggling to support the entire
family. “I would die every day when I’d see my son unable
to meet the demands of his wife and five children and my
own demands. I wanted to run away and depend on myself.”
Government support services for old people, such as home
care, are lacking due to bureaucratic problems. In the
case where services are available, they are limited and
difficult to access, especially for small villagers
Return to Top of Page
Global
Reports
World:
Report on an Inter-Agency Review Conducted by HelpAge
International (November 2007)
HelpAge International prepared this report for the
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), a unique forum
involving key UN and non-UN humanitarian partners, in
order to “facilitate an inter-agency review of proposed
IASC actions in relation to meeting the needs of older
people in humanitarian response.” The overall conclusion
is that there are several aspects of current practice,
which do not adequately meet the needs of this particular
vulnerable group, and a wide-ranging recognition on the
part of government, IASC and NGO partners that change is
required.
World:
Intergenerational Solidarity and Conflict (October 2007)
According to this report, two criteria influence
intergenerational relations. First, ‘macrogens’ that
refers to the macro level of a society and how different
generations perceive each other. On the other hand,
‘microgens’ is the micro level of a society, the level of
individuals in their own family. Contrary to many
researchers, the authors argue that intergenerational
solidarity will remain present and that a ‘war between
generations’ is a fiction. A relief!
World: Baby Boomers and Adult Ageing: Issues for Social
and Public Policy (September 2007)
Will baby boomers put more pressure on social policy to
influence positive and healthy ageing than did earlier
generations of older people? Yes. Given the increasing
number of older persons in the world due to advances in
technology and medicine, baby boomers are redefining what
old age and ageing mean. Inevitably, this population will
have more control over policy issues that concern their
quality of life. Authors of this short study advise
current policy makers to respond to the interests of this
group and to create new directions for future research on
health and care services for older people.
World:
Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide (September 2007)
The purpose of this World Health Organization Guide is
to encourage cities to become more age-friendly. Based on
consultations with older people in 33 cities in 22
countries, the Guide identifies the key physical, social
and services attributes of age-friendly urban settings.
The checklist of age-friendly features includes such
specific items as sufficient public benches that are
well-situated, well-maintained and safe. It also shows the
need for sufficient public toilets that are clean, secure,
and accessible by people with disabilities, and such
general items as a civic culture that respects and
includes older persons.
World: Report:
Wages and Ageing: Is There Evidence for the “Inverse-U”
Profile? (August 2007)
(PDF Format, 30 p.)
The report assessed how the wages of employees change as
individuals grow older. For a long time it was assumed
that individual wages have an “inverse-U” shape without
specific documented proof. The paper analyzes the movement
of wages according to age variables, presenting the
analysis in a comparative context for Britain and Germany
for the period 1995-2004. The report finds that there is a
little evidence that wages fall with age.
Briefing
Paper: The UK Study of Abuse and Neglect of Older People
2007 (June 2007)
(PDF Format, 39 p.)
Following the Second Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day (June 15, 2007), GAA features a survey conducted by
London-based Action on Elder Abuse to identify elder abuse
in the UK. According to the study, elder abuse often
happens within older people’s own homes. Partners neglect
the sick partners (62%), and family members, neighbors or
domiciliary care workers are most likely to steal from the
older person. To learn more about the elder abuse in UK,
see Report
Highlights 'Elder Abuse' (Scotland) and Wales Elderly are the
Most Abused (Wales). For the situation in
India, see Message of
Hope for 77 Million Elderly People in India;
for the situation in the Czech Republic, see One in Eight Czech
Elderly People Maltreated.
Report: Olympics Displace 2 Million (June 5, 2007)
In preparing for the Olympic games every four years, host
countries have displaced many minorities--mainly the
homeless, the poor, and the elderly. The report highlights
the effects of the Olympics in Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta,
Sydney and Athens. More than 2 million people have been
displaced in the past 20 years. The report also stated
that 1.25 million people have already been displaced in
preparation for the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing,
although the Chinese government denies the figures as
groundless. (For the full report, click here.)
World:
Report of the Independent Expert on the Question of
Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, Arjun Sengupta (May
2007)
(PDF Format, 24 p.)
This report “analyses the different characteristics of the
conditions of extreme poverty, namely income poverty,
human development poverty and social exclusion, so that
they can be linked to the conditions of deprivation of
human rights.” The report notes several positive
approaches to fight poverty, including social safety nets
targeting vulnerable populations, such as older persons in
countries like Bangladesh and Nepal - two countries which
have implemented social pensions. In addition, the report
looks at poverty reduction in the European Union through
social protection and social inclusion. While it applauds
the efforts of modernizing and strengthening social
protection measures, the report warns that the EU’s health
system remains ill equipped for their ageing populations,
particularly in terms of long-term care.
World: The New Agenda for an
Older Workforce (April 2007)
Between 2025 and 2030, 12 million people a year will
exit the global workforce. While employers have done much
in recent years to provide better work-life balance for
working parents, they have not yet gained a full
understanding of what work-life balance means to the older
worker. National governments need to become an instrument
of change and require employers to take action to address
the recruitment and retention of older workers through new
incentives and stronger requirements.
World: Demographic
Influences on Saving-Investment Balances in Developing
and Developed Economies (April 2007)
This report studies the demographic trends to understand
the evolution of saving-investment imbalances, exchange
rates, and capital flows between “North” and “South.”
Northern economies face difficulties due to their aging
population while lower-income Southern nations are living
through their demographic transition. On one hand, the
proportion of older persons rises sharply and on the other
hand, children become more numerous, which changes the
ratio of people of working age. Demographics also have an
impact on Northern economies that are affected by a drop
in savings; this threatens the growth of Southern
economies since they depend a lot on importing Northern
savings.
Report: Why Population Aging
Matters: A Global Perspective (March 2007)
Growing numbers of older persons are transforming the
global population. Global aging affects on economic
growth, sustainability of families and the ability of
states to provide resources and international relations.
Moreover, researchers predict a large increase in
disability caused by age-related diseases around the
world. The global community needs to take on the challenge
of planning for this transformation sooner rather than
later.
Report: Voluntary and
Involuntary Early Retirement: An International Analysis
(March 2007)
Over the past fifty years, people have begun to choose
earlier retirement, making it one of the major
developments in labor markets. Researchers conducted an
international analysis about early retirement, looking at
whether it was voluntary or an involuntary decision. In
the main, they found that most workers did not want to
retire early. According to this analysis, strong
discrimination against older workers, particularly in
Europe, pushed older workers out of the workforce.
Report: Trends in Severe
Disability among Elderly People: Assessing
the Evidence in 12 OECD Countries and the Future
Implications (March 30, 2007)
This study investigates the rate of dependency of elder
persons in 12 OECD countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,
Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
study found that Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands
and the United States are experiencing a decline in
disability of elder people, while Belgium, Japan, and
Sweden are witnessing an increase in elderly disability.
However, policymakers should be wary not to count on a
potential decrease in dependency rates because as the
population continues to age, healthcare expenditures -
specifically long term care costs - will continue to
increase.
World: Saving and
Demographic Change: The Global Dimension (February 2007)
This report studies the correlation between the age
composition of the population and nations’ rates of saving
and investment. In 2005, Bernanke (who is now the head of
the US Federal Reserve Board) declared that demographic
change would exert a positive effect on saving in
industrial countries. The authors disprove this analysis
with a large international study that finds that
population aging is and will have a negative influence on
saving.
World: UN Report Predicts Older
People to Triple by 2050 (March 13, 2007)
The 2006 revision of "World Population Prospects" by the
U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population
Division predicts that the number of people aged 60 and
older may nearly triple to 2 billion by 2050. According to
this calculation, only the populations of the less
developed regions will still grow. While some populations
in countries as Germany, Japan, or South Korea will be
lower than they are now, the populations in Afghanistan,
Ethiopia, or the US are expected to triple by 2050. Find
below complementary information.
UN Report: World
Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision – Population
Ageing (March 2007)
This UN report on prospects for the world population
highlights worldwide ageing. The authors lay out some of
the challenges that will face societies as their citizens
get older.
World: Why Population
Aging Matters, a Global Perspective (March 2007)
The current aging population shows the progress of our
societies. People are now living longer and generally
healthier lives. For the first time, people age 65 and
over will outnumber children under age 5. This report
studies this phenomenon through nine emerging trends in
global aging. These include the rising number of oldest
old, the emergence of new chronic diseases, the changing
family structures, the evolution of social insurance
systems to make them sustainable. As is often said, aging
may cause changes in the economy, but as the report points
out, aging brings “exciting opportunities for economic
expansion and cross-national collaboration.”
World: HelpAge
International: Equal Treatments, Equal Rights,
Realising Older People’s Rights (February 9, 2007)
This HelpAge International
presentation demonstrates how advocating for older
people’s rights is essential to tackling poverty.
In fact, the rights of millions of older people
across the world are still denied. They experience
isolation, poverty, violence and abuse and have limited
access to health services, education and legal
protection. Facing this situation, governments, development partners, civil society and
older people themselves can contribute to the
realisation of older people’s rights.
World:
Commission on Population and Development: Report of
the Secretary General: World Population Monitoring,
Focusing on the Changing Age Structures and their
Implications for Development (January 18, 2007)
In April 2007, the Commission on Population and
Development gathered to discuss changes in the
demographics of aging and their impact on development.
GAA posts here the report of the Secretary General.
After depicting the changing population age structures,
his report highlights some of the economic impacts and
policy responses. The report also notes the importance
of inter-generational transfers. Please click here to
read the Arabic,
the French
and the Spanish
versions.
Articles
World: Migrant
Money Flow: A $300 Billion Current (November 18, 2007)
Migrants from poor countries send home about $300 billion
a year, according to a new study from the World Bank. It
is difficult to say exactly how much money is flowing and
where. Migrants try to help their families, including
their aged parents, with financial support. Donald F.
Terry, an official at the Inter American Development Bank,
has tried to publicize the importance of remittances. He
wants policies that would reduce the costs of sending
money, help migrants open bank accounts in their home
countries, and more.
World: Elderly
Get to Grips with Gadgets (September 6, 2007)
With populations aging everywhere in the world,
technologies that work well with older persons become
increasingly important. Instead of inventing “smart
houses” for older persons, simple changes or additions to
household items can benefit the elderly significantly.
Older persons have fairly basic technological needs,
concentrated on items they use daily, such as a can
opener. Unfortunately, older persons don’t have much input
into the design of such objects.
World: Designing for the
Elderly: Targeting the Wallet of the Voice of Experience
(September 1, 2007)
This article urges designers not to limit themselves to
“products specifically marketed to the aged or elderly,”
but instead, design products universally to avoid
stereotyping. Designers have to re-think what they used to
consider traditional design for the elderly as “the taste
of recent retirees is much more similar to that of 30-year
olds.”
World: Inadequate
Data Affecting Flow of Aid to Elderly HIV/AIDS Care
Givers (July 31, 2007)
HelpAge International, a London-based NGO, recently
organized a forum to discuss the issue of elderly
caregivers in areas ravaged by HIV. Jo Mayer, HIV and AIDS
Coordinator at HelpAge, says that older persons often
“feel depressed because they have little or no information
about HIV (and) so cannot communicate effectively to their
grandchildren to help protect them.” Participants
recommended including older persons and the particular
needs of older caregivers in existing policies.
World : Nissan Must Adapt to the
Aging Market, According to its CEO Carlos Ghosn (July
23, 2007)
(Article in French)
Nissan’s CEO, Carlos Ghosn, announced to the engineers
that, henceforth, cars should meet older persons’ needs.
He’s focusing on older persons because the aging
population is growing fast, and they have strong
purchasing power. Vehicles will have to be progressively
equipped with “driving assistance,” such as oval steering
wheels that will be easier to handle, electronic braking
systems and assistance for getting into or out of the car.
World: Granny Power for
Development (June 18, 2007)
FAO Nutrition Expert William Clay says that grandmothers
represent “an abundant resource for development in all
countries that is vastly under-utilized.” Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
acknowledged the role grandmothers play in communal
development. The organization calls for greater inclusion
of older women in growth strategies.
World:
Elder Persons Seen as an Economic Blessing (May 25,
2007)
(Article in Arabic)
A report published by the Oxford Institute of Aging
found that elder persons are an economic and social
blessing, contrary to the notion that they are a burden.
The study surveyed 21,000 senior citizens in 21
countries. Results showed that elder persons contributed
millions of dollars to the economy, unrecognized by many
members of society. In the United States, for example,
people over 60 volunteer for a total of 3.67 million
hours, a value of around $19,000,000.
World: Shaping the Social Dimension of Globalisation
(May 8, 2007)
Prior to the G8 meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany,
the G8 Labour and Employment Ministers, along with ILO
and the OECD representatives, discussed the social
effects of globalization. The Ministers urged
governments to give special attention to older age
groups “to promote longer labour market attachment and
ensure that they have the knowledge and tools they need
to contribute to the workforce.” In addition, the
Ministers called for strengthened and broadened social
protection to safeguard workers and their families in
the midst of a globalized economy. The Ministers want to
find ways to help poor countries “to broaden, strengthen
and implement effective social protection systems,” as a
means to reduce poverty. Also see the G8 summit
Declaration on “Growth
and Responsibility in the World Economy.”
World: Aging but not Obsolete
(April 11, 2007)
The global number of persons aged 60 and over is expected
to triple by 2050 to reach about 2 billion. Last week, the
UN Commission on Population and Development gathered in
order to highlight the stakes raised as populations age.
This article reports several statements of many speakers,
dealing with older workers, later retirement and
challenges related to pensions and health care in both
developing and developed countries.
World: People Living Longer
in Poor Countries (April 11, 2007)
During the Commission on Population and Development
conference occurring at the UN this week, an increasing
trend was noted: people are living longer in developing
countries. This means that these countries must cope with
health challenges common to an aging population. Dr.
Somnath Chatterji, team leader of WHO’s Multi-Country
Studies Unit, concluded that some countries “will grow
older before they grow richer.”
World: States Should Promote
Jobs and Education for Older People- UN Commission
(April 3, 2007)
The United Nations Commission on Population and
Development calls on governments to tackle the
consequences of global population aging. States should
encourage older persons to stay in the workforce as well
as obtaining more education. In short, older persons will
gain greater self-reliance if they have a chance to learn
and to get a decent job.
World: The Fine Art of Dying
Well (March 1, 2007)
Dying well may be a question of timing. It may also be a
question of luck. The death of Princess Diana overshadowed
the death of a great saint of our time, Mother Theresa.
Death may also be stolen. In 1964, Kitty Genovese was
murdered in her street. Many neighbors heard her scream,
no one helped. At 28 years of age, her death led to a
notoriety of her name, symbolizing pitiless American
cities and the great loss of moral responsibility that
results from living in anonymous cities. Death may also be
a great tool of fanaticism. The suicide bomber gives his
death the worst motives: self-creation through the
alienation of others. He has this great power of owning
his own death and the even greater power of dispossessing
his victims of theirs.
World: Job Creation and
Job Destruction over the Life Cycle: The Older Workers
in the Spotlight (February 2007)
This
paper extends the job creation - job destruction
approach to the labor market to take into account of the
life-cycle of workers. Forward looking decisions about
hiring and firing depend on the time over which the
workers can recoup adjustment costs. By putting the
emphasis on a life cycle view of the labor market, both
for understanding supply and demand characteristics, and
for implementing welfare-improving policies, this paper
finds that “firing taxes” and unemployment benefits
introduce a bias in favor of older workers.
World: Davos
- Union Delegation Attacks "Buy it, Strip it, Flip it"
Private Equity Behaviour (January 2007)
A delegation of twelve union leaders at the World Economic
Forum’s annual meeting in Davos launched an attack on
private equity firms and hedge funds claiming that they
undermine decent employment, sustainable business and
proper pensions. The delegation represents the
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which has
also criticized the lack of initiative by businesses to
curb global warming.
World: World Economic Forum -
Trade Unions Challenge Business Leaders on Company
Tax, Private Equity and Corporate Responsibility
(January 23, 2007)
A delegation of twelve union leaders will address the
World Economic Forum this week in their annual meeting in
Davos discussing corporate taxation, the role of private
equity investment and the social and environmental
responsibilities of business. The delegation will also
launch the “Decent Work, Decent Life” campaign that calls
on companies to take the initiative on environmental
issues as well as offering decent jobs to help alleviate
poverty. Part of the campaign is to assure proper
compensation and pensions for their workers.
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