|
|
Elder Rights: World
- Archives 2008 -
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: The Rights of Older
People: African Perspectives (November 2008)
The African Union, through its African Charter on Human
and Peoples Rights, has developed a broad and impressive
framework for the protection of rights of older persons in
Africa. At the domestic level, however, most African
countries still have to develop specific policies and
legislation. Although some 25 national constitutions make
provision for rights of older persons in some form, only
three prohibit discrimination on the grounds of age. The
Report suggests developing a specific treaty that provides
a mechanism for implementation and accountability of human
rights for older people which is currently lacking.
Uganda: Case Study on the Older
Persons of Uganda (August 25, 2008)
In this case study, research writers focus on the current
situation of old people living in Uganda. Their report
comments on the issues facing these old people including:
HIV and exclusion income support;AIDS; access to
services and utilities; isolation; lack of political
representation; poor hygiene; elder abuse and lack of
government policy. The writers also give examples of
‘survival strategies’ of elderly Ugandans. The authors
conclude by putting into a context the national and
international policies that affect old people living in
Uganda.
Uganda: Regional Experts Meeting on Social Protection
(April 2008)
Uganda hosted the first meeting led by the African Union
and Help Age International focusing on "Investing in
Social Protection in Africa", April 28-30, 2008. Some 150
participants attended the event, including representatives
from both eastern and southern Africa, as well as UN
experts and regional specialists. Speakers shared their
best practices and noted the need for strong political
will to implement social protection. At the end,
representatives adopted key recommendations.
Articles
Tanzania: No
Country for Old Women (November 24, 2008)
More than 1,000 killings of older women occur in Tanzania
annually. In a country with immense poverty, an escalating
number of HIV/AIDS deaths and famine, murders of older
women are not only tolerated but also accepted. Many older
women are regarded with suspicion for having outlived
their own children due to the AIDS epidemic. Witchcraft
allegations have become a tool to keep women in fear of
men. Widows in Tanzania are particularly voiceless having
low status in a society and no knowledge about their own
rights.
Uganda:
Mukono Retired Teachers Demand Re-Employment (October
19, 2008)
Retired teachers in Uganda’s Mukono region are urging the
government to re-incorporate them into the workforce so
they may earn an additional salary instead of relying
solely on their retirement packages for living expenses.
The retirees claim that 75% of civil servants do not know
how to process their pension and that they have spent a
lot of money and time in the pursuit of attaining their
pension.
South Africa:
Say No to the Abuse of Elderly (October 9, 2008)
“Old people fighting the terrible twins: TB and HIV,” “Age
is Gold,” “Aged demand Action,” “Say no to the abuse of
elderly.” These were the posters carried by hundreds of
pensioners on the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa,
during the march last week. The event was aimed at
honoring senior citizens and creating awareness about the
issues facing them. “We want to see an end to the abuse of
the elderly. We want to see our grannies happy,” says
Ndlanzi, a youth NGO leader.
Uganda: Elderly Want
Parliamentary Seat (October 5, 2008)
Seniors in Uganda have asked President Yoweri Museveni to
allow five elected MPs to represent them in Parliament.
Without proper representation, older persons are not able
to have their concerns addressed and often suffer as the
result of poverty and deprivation.
Mauritius: African Rights Body
Holds Consultative Meeting on Rights of Elderly (October
3, 2008)
The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights is set
to hold a consultative meeting on the “rights of older
persons in Africa” for two days in Mauritius. The
discussion will focus on developing a coordinated approach
to protecting the rights of older persons while also
concentrating on ways to improve the living and working
conditions of seniors.
Reunion Island: An Exhibit for Senior Citizens Opens on
the Harbor (September 18, 2008)
(Article in French)
What is there to do with so much spare time? This is one
of the questions that the Salon for Senior Citizens, held
on September 18 on the Harbor, tried to answer. The Salon
covered a broad range of activities so that everyone could
find something to suit his or her taste. For example,
going to the cinema, hiking, keeping scrapbooks, etc.
Besides providing retirees with ideas for how to occupy
their spare time, the Salon offered ways of reducing their
isolation. Because intergenerational solidarity matters to
the organizers, the Salon was open to all.
Kenya: 88-Year-Old Man is Oldest Primary School Student
in Kenya (August 5, 2008)
It is never too late to study and realize your dreams.
This article is about Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge, 88, who
became the oldest man in Kenya to attend primary school.
Dreaming about becoming a doctor one day, Kimani took
advantage of the government's decision to offer universal
free primary education. Kimani also gave a speech at the
United Nations Headquarters on the importance of free
primary education in Kenya.
Zambia: The Silent Cancer of
Elder Abuse (July 22, 2008)
Abuse of old people is rampant in Zambia, where the
majority of culprits are the abused’s own relatives.
Widows are still forced out of their homes. Old people,
especially women, often fall victim to violence because of
their vulnerability. Many are accused of witchcraft.
Professionals face hurdles in addressing the situation
because most cases are hidden. Poverty has been noted as a
key reason behind abuse. How will the government protect
the human rights of old people in Zambia?
Burkina Faso: Call to End the
Abuse of Older Women in Burkina Faso (July 18, 2008)
In Burkina Faso, older women are often used as scapegoats
to explain crop failure or illness. They are labeled as
witches. Accusations lead to intimidation, banishment,
violence and, in many cases, murder. Customary laws in
Burkina Faso make it difficult for the state to introduce
legislation to protect older women from accusations of
witchcraft and the consequences of the accusation. HelpAge
International has urged the Government of Burkina Faso to
review existing policy and make witchcraft accusations
illegal.
Zimbabwe: 70-Year-Old Woman
Latest Casualty of Zanu PF Brutality (July 9, 2008)
Some 18 Zanu PF youths beat and threw a 70-year-old
Zimbabwean woman into her cooking fire. She was a
well-known activist for the governmental opposition group
(MDC) in Bindura and she died a month after the attack,
due to severe injuries. Old people do not escape
state-sponsored violence and often experience the full
brunt of the crisis. The current political and economic
turmoil has brought severe starvation. Food can only be
bought at exorbitant prices. Some three million
Zimbabweans have already fled the country.
Malawi: Senior Citizens to Get
Social Security (July 1, 2008)
The Malawi government plans to start a pension scheme for
older persons. This will ensure that they will have access
to basic necessities. The government also held a
consultative conference in Blantyre to draft the National
Policy for Elderly Persons. The policy is expected to
protect the human rights of the elderly and help alleviate
problems such as the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Consultative
conferences will also be held in Lilongwe and Mzuzu before
holding a national meeting to finalize the policy proposal
for the government.
South Africa: Four Injured as
Fire Breaks Out at Old Age Home (June 10, 2008)
That a fire broke out in a nursing home in South Africa is
bad enough. But it was a very challenging situation for
the caregivers to protect all of the elderly, especially
when they wanted to go back to their rooms to pick up a
special item or simply because they were cold.
Uganda:
88-Year-Old Man Plants Mega Forest (June 4, 2008)
No one is too old to realize a dream. This reporter
describes an 88-year-old man who dreamed of planting a
mega forest. He knows that it will take almost 15 years
before the trees mature. Why does he spend so much money
for this kind of project? It is his passion. Also, he
receives a government subsidy to encourage this kind of
environmental investment.
Senegal: After
the Student Riots of May 68 in France, ‘Barricades
Grandpa’ Went to Senegal to Breed Crocodiles (May 16,
2008)
(Article in French)
”Barricades Grandpa” is now 65. He came to Casamance, a
region in South Senegal, after the student riots of 1968
and fell in love with it. He now breeds crocodiles and
sells their skins and meats to earn a living. The local
populace has adopted Barricades Grandpa —who still looks
like a hippie-- as one of their own and he is married to a
Senegalese woman. His is a fascinating story.
Senegal:
Social Security and Care of Older Persons: Speech for
the Defense of the Diversification of Services Supply
(April 15, 2008)
(Article in French)
Government officials say that social security for older
persons is not only about pensions. It is also important
to support the needs of these most vulnerable citizens
while diversifying care services. It should be noted that
the Dakar nursing center is equipped with ultramodern
medical technologies.
Zimbabwe:
Bumhudzo Old Peoples Home Loses 75 Chickens To Thieves
(April 15, 2008)
Especially in times of food crisis it is important to
respect each other. However, someone stole in Zimbabwe 75
chickens from a nursing home. Chickens are rare in this
area. These 75 chickens were given to the nursing home as
a gift for extra revenue. Most of the elders have no
relatives to care for them, so they depend charity for
donations. Many people volunteer their labor at the
nursing home, owned and sponsored by the Salvation Army.
At a time when elders are most vulnerable, in their old
age, the theft was particularly hard to take.
South
Africa: Sick, Elderly at Frail Care Forced to Go Without
Food (April 9, 2008)
In the state-subsidized Gelvan Park Frail Care Centre in
South Africa, older patients had to go without food for
several days due to serious financial problems in the
institution. However, these old people still had to pay
80% of their pensions to the facility. This unfair and
shocking situation happened at the same time the
provincial social development department threatened to
stop funding the institution because of bad financial
management.
Zimbabwe: ‘Older
Persons Need to be Loved’ (April 6, 2008)
(Article in French)
Penny Mharapara is an aging and disability expert from
Zimbabwe. Reporters from Express Mu, a newspaper,
interviewed him during his trip in Mauritius, where he
gave lectures to educate care teams in nursing homes. For
him, the main quality of an aide who helps older or
disabled persons must be someone who loves them.
Uganda: Elderly Persons
Scheme Blocked (April 3, 2008)
The Uganda Parliament has blocked a fund that was supposed
to go to elderly people. Political representatives, as
well as some non-governmental organizations like the Aged
Family Uganda, denounced the plan because of uncertain
funding sources. The NGOs said they couldn’t identify
clearly who would be the beneficiaries of the money. They
also questioned the criteria used for selecting which
districts would benefit from the scheme.
Nigeria: Hungry
and Angry, West Africans Say No to Continuously Rising
Food Prices (April 3, 2008)
As Global Action on Aging reported previously, the food
situation in Africa is getting worse. Demonstrations
against high food and fuel costs will no doubt increase,
especially in West Africa. Many people live near to
starvation. Residents of both urban and rural suffer. In
West Africa, high unemployment and a regression of
democracy have a negative impact on both old people and
young.
Cameroon
: National Forum of Social Protection in Yaounde (March
19, 2008)
(Article in French)
The author, Isabelle Essono, of this article from Cameroon
appeals for respect and solidarity towards older people.
Quoting several African proverbs, the author explains that
care and respect of older persons are essential for a
well-functioning society. The National Forum of Social
Protection began on March 18, 2008, in Yaounde (Cameroon).
The participants took up the topic of social security for
older persons for the first time and treated it as a major
issue.
Uganda:
Elderly Want Parliament Seats (February 15, 2008)
Older persons in Uganda are demanding more representation
in Parliament as well as in other special interest groups.
On a 10 page petition that over 100 older people signed,
older persons argued that the disabled, youth, women and
workers had representation while the elderly were left
unrepresented. The Chairman of the Electoral Commission
refused this argument saying no law required such
representation. Stay tuned for further developments.
Zimbabwe:
Non Profit Organizations Act to Help Older Persons
(January 18, 2008)
(Article in French)
Elderly people in Zimbabwe have trouble providing for
their vital needs. The increased food and fuel prices make
it difficult for older people to have access to supplies.
Even if they have the money, they often are not able to
get enough to eat because of food shortages. The
non-governmental organization SOAP (Supporting Old Aged
People) gives retired people material and financial
support to help them cope with daily life.
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
Argentina: A
Social Look at Vulnerability in Old Age (December 2008)
(Report in Spanish)
This report from Argentina focuses on vulnerability in old
age and the necessity to have alternatives to prevent and
avoid this difficult situation. The writer offers
different definitions, critiques and proposals to conside,
such as the current situation of older persons in
Argentina, social policies to improve their lifestyle and
the programs developed for elders by the office of the
Argentine National Policy Director for Older Adults.
Canada:
Family Relationship Quality after Admission to a
Long-term Facility (September 2008)
When an older person enters a residential care home, a
specific form of long term care facility, family members
often feel a sense of guilt or inadequacy, which may
affect the relationship with their loved one. This study
uses interviews and focus groups to examine the changes in
relationships between the older person entering the home
and their family members. The research also investigates
how policies in these homes can improve relationships
between residents and their family members.
Canada:
Effects of Neighborhood and Individual Change on the
Personal Outcomes of Recent Movers to Low-Income
Senior Housing (September 2008)
This study investigates the role of neighborhood and
individual factors in the residential adjustment of
seniors to Canadian government subsidized senior citizen
apartment buildings (SCAs). Seniors usually move from
housing to an SCA due to widowhood, declining health,
decreases in financial resources and limited availability
of informal caregiving networks. In this totally different
residential environment, the resident’s adjustment to
their new environment depends on amenities and social
supports in the local neighborhood as well as fellow
residents of the SCA. The study is expected to contribute
to the development of more appropriate housing
alternatives for seniors.
Report:
How Much Do State Economic and Other Characteristics
Affect Retirement Behavior? (August 2008)
Labor force participation varies significantly among the
US states. What could be the reasons for such disparities?
The authors demonstrate that the differences in labor
force participation of men age 55-64 can be attributed to
economic conditions, the nature of employment and the
employee characteristics in each state.
Latin America: Project
Related to Older Persons, Dependency and Social Services
in the Iberia-American States (June 6, 2008)
(Report in Spanish)
Participants in the first part of the report related to
older persons are prominent institutions from Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. The objective of the
project is to create space for joint work among the
countries from the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America,
which will play a big role in analyzing the situation of
older persons and identifying their needs.
Canada: Retiring Together, or Not (April, 2008)
Do dual-earning couples synchronize the timing of their
retirements or not? The authors of this study investigated
the changes in spousal patterns of retirement in Canada.
Evidence indicates that since 1990s the retirements have
become increasingly disjointed with husbands and wives
retiring four or more years after their spouse. Why? Such
couples make their decision based on age differences,
health conditions, pension eligibility, job loss and
career aspirations.
Canada:
Special Senate Committee on Aging, Second Interim
Report, Issues and Options for an Aging Population
(March 2008)
This report is the second phase of a three steps study
about aging issues in Canada. The first interim reports
was done in 2007 and focused on four broad questions
(defining seniors; the diversity of seniors and their
needs; promising policy approaches; and the role of the
federal government). This report analyses these issues in
more details. In the next, and final, phase of its study,
the Committee intends to invite experts to testify at
roundtable hearings and to travel throughout Canada to
hear from seniors and to develop a comprehensive set of
final recommendations. In this report, the Committee
reviews public programs and services for seniors and
strategies on aging implemented in other countries. It
also reviews Canada's role and obligations in light of the
2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
Articles
Mexico: Integration and
Recognition of Older People (December 29, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The belief that when a person reaches old age he or she is
no longer useful for work or caring for others is
something the Mexican government is trying to eliminate.
This label separates the older population into a different
group, leading to discrimination and poverty. If treated
equally, they are able to share their talents and
experiences with everyone, and by working they also help
the economy.
Mexico: Older Women in Mexico City
Face Maltreatment and Disposal of Their Belongings
(December 11, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In Mexico City, approximately 36.2% of households have an
older woman more than 60 years of age living there. Older
women are oftentimes the victims of psychological,
financial or physical abuse. Poverty links older women and
abuse. With recurring tension, older people tend to become
targets. Older women who live in these situations rarely
tell anyone or ask for help because they feel embarrassed
and helpless.
Ecuador: Driver Education
Programs Will Include Older Persons (December 4 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In Ecuador, older people are overcome by fear when they
have to cross the street at a busy avenue or intersection.
The truth is that public and private bus drivers urge
older people to cross quickly, often causing them to fall
and hurt themselves. Sometimes drivers do not feel the
need to stop for older persons and end up seriously
hurting or even killing them. A new law under the
Constitution will teach older adults how to drive so that
they can get to places safely and it will also teach the
bus drivers how to be respectful towards older
people.
Ecuador: The Streets Are Not Safe
for Older Adults (November 30, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In Ecuador an older adult who depends on public
transportation to get around faces serious problems.
Catching a bus is not an easy task for an older person
because the bus driver will often ignore them and not
stop. The reason given is that older people are “too slow”
and this will make the bus driver late for his/her other
stops. Older people find it hard not only to get on a bus,
but many times they are rushed and have to pay full fare.
Sometimes they fall when getting off the bus and receive
no assistance. In 2007, approximately 4,574 accidents that
were reported by the transit commission were of adults
older than 65 years of age.
Mexico: Happy Birthday to Older
Adults (November 19, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
A lovely recognition of older adults is celebrating their
birthdays. In Mexico, the older adults from a school for
older persons celebrate their birthdays with a party,
music and birthday cake. Older people who do not have
someone to provide care for their needs nevertheless
appreciate being recognized on their birthdays. It is for
this reason that the school has decided to honor them on
their special day. Apart from their birthday celebration,
they each receive a watch as a gift. Simple gestures such
as this can make their days a little brighter and happier.
Colombia: Grandparents Will
Get Better Attention (November 14, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The council of Cali in Colombia approved a new project
that will provide centers such as nursing homes and
geriatric centers designed to benefit older persons. In
the next ten years it is estimated that the senior
population will increase, and the activities at the
centers will help older people learn about their rights
and live a better quality of life in the future.
Canada: Banks Urged To Help Stop
Financial Abuse of Seniors (November 14, 2008)
The Canadian Center for Elder Law hosts the Canadian Elder
Care conference. This year's lecture topics included
predatory lending, seniors' sexuality, guardianship
monitoring and end-of-life decisions. Financial abuse of
seniors quickly emerged as a hot topic at the conference.
"It's one of the biggest issues we are hearing about,"
commented Joan Braun, executive director of the BC Centre
for Elder Advocacy Support. Experts urged for more
training of bank workers, who are often in a position to
help seniors better understand the advice of family
members or caregivers.
Canada: Welcoming the Approach of
the Golden Years (November 13, 2008)
This
article examines commonly-held fears of aging, such
as dementia, physical debilitation and the stigma of
becoming “old.” The author, however, distinguished
between being “elderly” and being an “elder.” In his
book, From Age-ing to Sageing: A Profound New
Vision of Growing Older, Rabbi Zalman
Schachter-Shalomi argues that the former term
describes an older person who merely acquiesces to
life's final passage, whereas the latter term
describes an older person who confronts aging with
“intention, determination and purpose.”
Canada: Why They Do It
(November 10, 2008)
Reading this article provides an informative insight into
what motivates specialists to go into the career of
geriatrics. The overwhelming reason was because of a close
relationship with a grandparent or older relative during
childhood. Neena Chappell, a gerontologist who set up
centers on aging at the University of Manitoba, comments
on her own motivation; "People who have lived so many
years have wisdom; they've learned a lot."
Honduras: Older Persons Living in
Loneliness and Abandonment (November 3, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
“I used to be a flirtatious dancer,” says Corina Bogran, a
99-year-old woman. Many older persons like Corina can be
found in nursing homes around Honduras. Many of them have
been taken to these homes involuntarily or in some cases
they have been found in their home alone, neglected by
their family. Many do not receive visits from family
members, but at the nursing home they feel secure because
they receive enough care to live happily for their
remaining years.
Costa Rica: One of Every Four Older
Adults Lives in Poverty (October 29, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Rapid aging is a growing problem that many countries are
facing. In Costa Rica, for example, statistics show that
many older people are living in poverty, even those who
live with their families. The problem lies in the small
amount they receive in pensions, giving them minimal help
with expenses around the house and not enough to improve
their quality of life. In the next twenty years, the
number of older persons living in Costa Rica is predicted
to triple, making it critical for the country to prepare
and provide more resources to help retirees achieve the
life they deserve.
Ecuador: Recreation, A New Right
for Older Persons (October 20, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Under the new Constitution, the state is required to
create programs that will aid in the growth and enrichment
of older adults. Once they reach the age of 65, retirees
need something to do to occupy their time and to feel
useful and live happily in their last years. These centers
offer a variety of enriching activities such as painting
and tai chi, among others. At this time there is a waiting
list to get into some of these centers, making it even
more important for the government to open more facilities
throughout the country.
Canada:
Cash-Strapped Boomers a Gift to Employers (October 18,
2008)
As baby boomers retire, so does their experience,
knowledge and expertise. Yet older workers who choose to
postpone their retirement may actually help the
‘knowledge’ gap anticipated by employers in coming
years. Companies are urged to provide sabbaticals or
shorter working hours to its employees in order to
discourage early retirement.
Ecuador: Abandoned Seniors Have
Hope (October 5, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
“Loneliness is the only thing that accompanies me” are the
words of Angel Guillermo Rodriguez, a 96-year-old
Ecuadorian man who finds himself alone and waiting for
death to free him from his loneliness. In Ecuador the new
Constitution will make it possible for older persons to
receive better care at home as well as in other
institutions. The new Constitution will also forbid the
abandonment of old people by family members and by nursing
homes and will grant them universal retirement. These
changes will be beneficial to older people, since most of
them are not covered by social security and are forced to
take care of themselves until their death.
Nicaragua: Serious Difficulties
in Nursing Homes (October 1, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Agustín Sánchez Vigil nursing home houses 28
older people including, Juanita Cerda, who is 106 years of
age. Old women such as Juanita cry with emotion at the
sight of a rare visitor at the home since not many of them
receive visits from family members. The nursing home is
currently in need of governmental help and funding to
remain open and in good condition.
Canada: Half of Elderly
Canadians Online; Nearly 1 in 5 of Those Social
Networking (September 24, 2008)
Nearly half of Canadian seniors use the Internet for
e-mailing or research purposes. Out of those users, a
study shows that 1 in 5 also use the Internet for social
networking. There has also been a decline in traditional
media usage, such as television since 2004, yet figures
suggest that the Internet does not replace traditional
media usage, but supplements it instead.
Canada: Kensington Health Centre Partners with
University Health Network to Establish World-Class
Community-Based Residential Hospice Home in Toronto,
Ontario (September 18, 2008)
Scheduled to open in late 2009, Kensington's new Hospice
Home will be available to provide end-of-life care to
people who reside in the Toronto area. The collaboration
with the University Health Network and the palliative team
at Princess Margaret Hospital will provide the Kensington
health care team with an opportunity to work with
internationally renowned experts in the field of
palliative care, education and research. Key areas of
focus include mentoring medical, nursing and other health
professionals in the palliative care model, development
and application of comfort measures and pain management
and bereavement counseling techniques.
Canada: Women, Baby Boomers
Swell Ranks of Vancouver’s Homeless (September 18, 2008)
Homelessness among Canadian baby boomers has increased,
especially among women over the age of 55. Although
researchers have not determined a direct cause, they still
warn that with increasing older age demographics, elderly
homelessness will remain a significant issue. The duration
of homelessness among older women, however, is often not
permanent and is relatively short-lived.
Canada: Retired
Miner Keeps Mining History Alive (September 15, 2008)
Hans Brasch, a retired German immigrant, has completed
three books dedicated to his experience as a miner in
the Sudbury basin. Through semi-clandestine photography,
Brasch has documented the development and evolution of
the mining company Inco, from a miner’s perspective.
Although retired, Brasch continues to work with Inco by
lecturing students on the history of mining.
Bahamas: Adult Day Care
(September 15, 2008)
While daycare has traditionally catered to working
parents with young children, it has recently begun to
serve as a care center for seniors as well. Not only
does elderly daycare provide daytime relief for working
families, it also allows seniors to remain in a social
and interactive setting that doesn’t require the
commitment and isolation that is often associated with
nursing homes.
Canada: New Plan for Seniors
Outlined (September 13, 2008)
The province of British Columbia, Canada,
is expanding home care to avoid forcing the elderly into
nursing homes. The plan has four cornerstones:
developing "age-friendly communities," supporting
volunteerism, promoting healthy lifestyles and
supporting older workers. Expanding the availability of
home support is expected to cost money, but much more
will be saved by reducing the heavier burden of funding
long-term care facilities.
Antigua and Barbuda:
Government Introduces New Elderly Care Programme
(September 12, 2008)
The government of Antigua and Barbuda has launched a new
initiative called the Government’s Residential
Assistance and Care Program for the Elderly (GRACE), in
an attempt to revitalize the current social
infrastructure for elderly care. Replacing the
government’s former Home Help program, the Minister of
Social Transformation said that the new initiative will
be all-encompassing and hopefully will remain unaffected
by local politics.
Canada: Baby
Boomers’ Housing Needs Hard to Pinpoint (September 11,
2008)
The Calgary housing market will have to consider
age-specific factors to accommodate the city’s baby
boomer population. With the onset of retirement for
younger baby boomers, builders must realize that the
needs and demands of a 55-year-old differ from that of a
75-year-old. While terms like “senior” and “elderly”
might attract the latter group, it could also frighten
away the former group.
Jamaica: Seniors to be
Recognized for Contribution to Nation-Building
(September 5, 2008)
The commencement of Jamaica’s 37th senior citizens week
will begin on September 7. This year’s theme will focus
on elders who have contributed to the development of the
nation. An array of programs has been planned, including
debates, a senior talent show and other cultural
events.
Canada: Fighting `Invisible
Discrimination' Against Age (September 3, 2008)
The ninth annual Global Conference on Aging will be held
in Montreal. The objective is to discuss what has been
called “invisible discrimination” against older persons.
Considerations that normally go unnoticed, such as
fast-paced cross-walk signals, are key items that will
be discussed. About 40 cities have already embraced the
“global age-friendly cities” initiative, whose
characteristics have been outlined by the World Health
Organization.
Canada: Canada Offers to
Compensate Nuclear Test Veterans (September 2, 2008)
Canada has offered compensation to veterans exposed to
nuclear radiation for up to $22.4 million. Defense
Minister Gordon O'Connor launched a report in 2006 to
calculate how many Canadians exposed to nuclear
radiation have not been recognized. Although the exact
number of recipients is not final, estimates are around
1,000. Veterans have already initiated a class-action
lawsuit against Ottawa, where military personnel
decontaminated a nuclear plant in the 1950s.
Canada: Seniors' Federation
Holds 33rd Convention (August 12, 2008)
“No fun – No Life,” says the motto of the Newfoundland and
Labrador Pensioners & Senior Citizens 50+ Federation
hosting its annual convention this year. The Federation
allows seniors to voice their concerns to the government
and, what is more important, government has always been
receptive to the proposed changes. “Seniors care about
themselves and their families and only through
interactions between each other, and our government, can
we ameliorate harshness,” stressed the Federation
President Don Holloway.
Canada: Give
Them Shelters (July 29, 2008)
For many older adults, living at home is a challenge
because of abuse by their own immediate family. Bernice
Sewell has set up two apartments in secret locations for
old people fleeing this situation in Toronto, Canada. The
victims may stay in the apartment for 60 days and receive
counseling and support. The idea has already been around
for ten years, but it is only becoming popular today. At a
time when it is estimated that 10 percent of the elderly
are experiencing abuse, homes such as these are truly
making a difference.
Latin
America: From Washington: the Challenges the Elderly
Face in Latin America (July 27, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
This article describes the treatment of elderly people in
Latin America and compares it to treatment in the United
States. In many Latin American countries, the level of
poverty among older people is higher than the national
average. This is why it is so important that they receive
health coverage and pensions; however, only a small
percent do. Many don’t work in the formal sector, making
it impossible for them to receive the benefits they need
to improve their quality of life.
Argentina:
Only One Person in Charge of Deceased Elderly in
Geriatric Facility (July 24, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
On Wednesday, a geriatric facility in Castelar, Buenos
Aires, caught on fire. Out of the 17 elderly people there,
7 died. Even though 70 to 80% of them had motor or mental
problems, there was only one employee available to care
for them. As a result, it was impossible to evacuate all
the older persons, leaving some dead in their beds while
others died trying to escape.
Cuba: Cuba Plans to Delay
Retirement By 5 Years (July 11, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Due to worries about the country's aging, Cuba hopes to
delay the retirement age by five years. This will occur
between 2009 and 2015. From then on, men will retire at 65
years of age and women at 60 years. Cuba will become one
of the countries with the most elders in Latin America.
Retirement is voluntary in Cuba
Uruguay:
Closure of 38 Elder Homes (July 7, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Since 2005, 32 elder homes have closed throughout the
country. The MSP (Ministry of Public Health) closed 38
homes due to non-compliance with standard requirements
such as cleanliness, adequate diet, living space and
healthcare service for the residents. The MSP will put
forth a plan to establish an alternative to elder homes.
Elders over 65 years make up 13% of Uruguay's population.
Almost half of the old people are institutionalized.
Mexico:
Euthanasia Tourists Snap Up Pet Shop Drug in Mexico
(July 2, 2008)
With $35-$50, older tourists to Mexico can purchase drugs
in pet shops that are used to euthanize animals. The drug
pentobarbital provides a painless method for suicide. ‘… I
don't want to die with a total loss of dignity…” said Bron
Norman, a 65 year old Australian tourist. Aging has
sparked interest in euthanasia. Anti-euthanasia advocates
stress economics as the reason behind euthanasia. “…It is
cheaper to get rid of someone than to treat them well
until the day they die," said Lori Kehoe of the National
Right to Life movement. However, many persons with
terminally ill diseases want the choice of ending their
lives painlessly
Cuba: In 2020
Cuba Will Have More Elders than Children (July 1, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Experts affirm that in 12 years Cuba will have more elders
than children. Only 11.3 percent of the population was
over 60 years in 1985. Because of a longer life
expectancy—with life expectancy expected to reach 78
years--Cuba could possibly become the country with the
oldest population.
Costa
Rica: An Adolescent Kills His Great-Grandfather (July 1,
2008)
(Article in Spanish)
A grandson killed his great-grandfather, 87-year-old
Alfredo Quirós Barrientos, because he refused to
give him money. The adolescent also injured his
great-grandmother, 86-year-old Adela Loaiza Brenes, before
escaping. The great-grandmother remained at the Max
Peralta Hospital. The adolescent was found. He denied
having killed his great-grandfather but soon after, family
members of the victim identified him as the killer. The
adolescent has been placed in jail as a precaution for two
months until his sentence is determined.
Canada: Critical News from
the East Side of Montreal (June 30, 2008)
(Article in French)
This account spotlights three aged persons sitting in a
park in Montreal absorbed in their own lives. Old and
unemployed, they feel empty and deprived of any pleasures
in life. These three homeless and unemployed older persons
reveal the effect of unemployment in Canada.
Canada: Each Year, We Get Older
(June 25, 2008)
(Article in French)
More and more, the Quebec population is aging...Statistics
show that, on average, one citizen in four will be more
than 65 years old in 2015. The elderly are living longer:
life expectancy has increased by 7 years for men and 13
years for women since the beginning of the century.
Furthermore, at 65, old people seek stability, security,
comfort and health and so become more calm and peaceful.
On the other hand, there are some who report that the
elderly in Quebec become increasingly demanding and
conservative as they age.
Argentina: Nearsighted Views
About Ageing (June 23, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The UN has created a day, June 15, to highlight elder
abuse. Most news stories focus on robberies, murders, and
gross mistreatment in hospitals. However, families often
abuse and discriminate against older persons in the
household. Ageism, a more concealed form of mistreatment,
creates segregation within families by isolating older
people.
Peru: Elderly
Mistreatment Generally Caused by Families (June 22,
2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In 2005, the Ministry of Women and Social Issues (MWSI)
presented a report on "Domestic Violence in the Elderly in
Peru." Following the report the government started the
National Program against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
MWSI identifies two types of elderly violence: domestic
violence and sexual violence. Domestic violence includes
both physical and psychological issues. Between January
2002 and May 2008, 7,449 elders have been treated
throughout the country. During 2002-2007, some 6,738 cases
of general mistreatment were treated in the country.
Ecuador:
Voluntary Retirement (June 30, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Teachers are continuing the process of voluntary
retirement at the national level. Schools will coordinate
to begin the retirement process in July. Teachers who
choose voluntary retirement will receive a license with a
salary for 70 days and a bonus of $24,000 if they are
older than 80 years. The schools will give $12, 000 to
those who have completed 65 years as teachers.
Paraguay:
Warning about Ageing in Latin America (June 13, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In 40 years the number of elders in Latin America will
make up a fourth of its population. Ageing will accelerate
at a faster rate than in the past. During the last 50
years, the population has increased by 24%. The number of
children and teenagers will decrease by 17%. The older
population will surpass that of children and teenagers by
30%.
Canada: 'Too
Old' or 'Too Young'; Stop Judging by Age (May 26,
2008)
In this short essay, writer Brett Anningson explores aging
stereotypes, particularly in the workforce. Sometimes we
are too young to get a job, but then we become too old.
But he points to a truism: We can learn from everyone, no
matter what the age.
Canada: New
Rules for Aging Drivers Urged; Insurance Chief Suggests
Restricted Licenses (May 9, 2008)
Studies have shown that as people age they are more likely
to get in an accident. To deal with this public safety
issue, Mark Yakabuski, the CEO of the Insurance Board of
Canada, believes that the government should allow seniors
to drive with certain restrictions instead of prohibiting
them driving altogether. In Ontario, anyone over the age
of 80 is subjected to a vision and knowledge test. Some
elders are complaining that taking away their driving
ability would be taking away their mobility.
Bolivia:
Opposition Violently Beats Elders (May 3, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
A group of elderly human rights activists were attacked by
juveniles without provocation who insulted and beat them.
One retired senior said that he worked hard all his life
and can’t understand such behavior from a generation a
third his age.
Haiti: Rice for
the Most Vulnerable (April 19, 2008)
In Haiti, food aid is not meeting the needs of all the
people. Haitian authorities designated older persons to
receive bags of rice during the week of April 19, 2008.
About 1,000 older persons, disabled and able-bodied,
gathered in front of a social center to collect their
supply of rice, under the watchful gaze of national
soldiers and blue helmeted UN personnel. The high price of
food excludes large numbers of the population. Vulnerable
people like older persons depend on international food
sources for their nourishment.
Brasilia: Venezuela Proposes a
Regional Meeting to Discuss the Food Crisis (April 18,
2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Venezuela proposed to organize a regional meeting of the
UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization to discuss the
crisis caused by world’s high food prices of the world. It
will take place after the High Level Conference on Food
Security and the Challenges of Climate Change and
Bio-energy that will take place in June (2008) in Rome.
The food crisis deserves a very thorough and profound
discussion among Latin American and Caribbean countries.
Inflation threatens many nations in the region. Venezuela,
as the chief importer of foods, has begun to suffer from
the crisis. Also, Brazilians, and other Latin American
countries who produce many basic products, face increasing
inflation as well.
Canada:
Seniors Seek Flex Time into Retirement (April 15, 2008)
Shorter working weeks and flexible hours: that’s what
older workers are saying would entice them back from
retirement into employment. Some expressed hope to work
full time, then gradually taper off to part-time hours.
They would also like to have extended health care
benefits, and, of course, more vacation.
Cuba: Who
Will Work in the Countryside? (April 14, 2008)
This is a question that defines the growing situation in
Cuba. Mostly older people work in the countryside.
Although young people study agriculture, only a few really
want to do actual farm work. Without a labor force, it
becomes a serious question of food supply and economic
well being for the whole country.
Canada: Canadian
People Enjoy Retirement (April 12, 2008)
(Article in French)
Canadian retired persons are among the happiest in the
world. Eighty-eight percent say they are healthy and 40%
very healthy, according to a recent study. Ninety-four
percent profess that they are happy--the highest
percentage in the world. Young people in Canada begin to
prepare for their retirement very early, when they are
about 30 years old. Workers today are more worried about
retirement than their elders, but still remain optimistic.
Canada:
Aging Boomers Most Lucrative Market For Just About
Everything (March 31, 2008)
Companies have discovered a very lucrative market in older
consumers. They realize that someone turns 62 years old
every seven seconds. And those making economic decisions
feel that this segment in the aging field will result in
sales. Car manufacturers, technology firms, health care
providers, pharmaceutical companies, even a shoe company
and a Canadian funeral home are paying more attention to
elderly people.
Argentina:
Robbing the Elderly: Each Time More Frequent and Violent
(March 28, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Police say that the majority of violent cases reported are
in the Capital of Buenos Aires and the La Plata area. In
general, the victims are women living or very old couples.
Assailants killed fourteen victims, all over the age of
70, in their homes. Some died due to cardiac rest. The
robbers prey on seniors due to their weak physical
condition. Many worried elders are seeking help.
Ecuador: No Wedding Barriers
for Love (March 27, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Time is not a barrier of love. Mauro Ponce and Melida
Quijije swore to love each other forever. They married at
the elder home, the Guillermina Loor Home of Moreno.
Provincial authorities, the military and the police were
present during the ceremony. The court of honor, special
guests, and other citizens were also present. No one
wanted to miss the opportunity to witness this unique
event.
Mexico: The
Elderly Are Overcharged $4 (March 23, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Older Mexicans are complaining about bus drivers, saying
that they don’t respect the elderly. Ticket prices on
public transportation are: $3.50 for an older person, $4
for a student, and $5.50 for others. However, the drivers
become angry when the elderly do not pay $4. If the elders
don’t pay the $4 fare, the drivers refuse to let them
ride. The author calls on seniors to report these unjust
acts and take legal recourse against the public
transportation workers.
Argentina: An
Assaulted and Mistreated Pair of Elders in the Town of
Alta Córdoba (March 19, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In Alta Cordoba there has been a series of violent
robberies and acts of retaliation against the police.
During one incident, three criminals assaulted a pair of
defenseless elders. Adolfo Tallento (96) and his wife,
Clara Becono (92) were mistreated and locked in a
bathroom. Clara was violently thrown to the floor and her
mouth covered. While one of the criminals squeezed her
throat, she begged him not to kill her. They stole 10
thousand pesos--their retirement money.
Chile: Increase of
Demographics of Those over 65 Years of Age: The
Community Worries about its Aging Neighbors (March 17,
2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The percentage of older persons in Chile will double
between 2000 and 2020. Supportive programs in Chile are
responding to this demographic reality. One program,
“Vitamayor,” not only has creative ideas; it is listening
to those of the elderly. They are contemplating opening a
center with “la Fundación de las Rosas” where
seniors can come and spend time in conversation with one
another. The “Clínica Cordillera” wants to generate
attention to health problems. The Department of the
Elderly offers help to families with Alzheimer’s patients
and support to people who receive little pension help. “La
Reina” has created an agreement with the community
transportation system. These are examples of programs
responding with positive help for the elderly.
Costa
Rica: Older Persons Form a Line Waiting for a Room in
Elderly Homes (March 16, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Of the 300,000 Spanish elders over 65 years of age, about
3,000 live in homes for the elderly. Even with the high
demand, few centers are available, and older people stand
in line to be admitted. The wait can be indefinite, with
needs for workers expected to double or more. An emerging
phenomenon in the centers is that the elderly are now
beginning to provide care for other elders.
Chile: Law Against
Mistreatment of Elderly Approved (March 14, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The Chile Board of Representatives has adopted a law to
protect older persons. It includes methods of protection
against violence within families. Until now, there was
only a law to protect women, children and those who are
handicapped, with no attention to those who were aged.
Guatemala:
Elders and Solidarity (March 13, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Humans face aging in different ways; social, cultural,
educational and personal attitudes shape the experience.
We age best if we have an open and positive attitude, stay
active, maintain social relationships and feel a part of
society. Otherwise, we feel useless or unfulfilled.
Guatemala: Women in the
Maquilas Face Age Discrimination (March 13, 2008)
The article deals with Silvia Marina Grevalo Santos, a
volunteer activist for the General Workers’ Confederation
of Guatemala. She reports on the horrible working
conditions in the Guatemalan maquilas (export factories).
She is only 45 years old, but already is considered too
old to work. She was dismissed because she fought to
organize unions that would support workers’ grievances.
The maquilas are notorious for working conditions
affecting health and safety of the workers, and for
discrimination against women.
Argentina:
More Years are Probably more Happy (March 6, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
A study shows that people over 70 years old are happier.
Experience gives them a different point of view of life.
Life has more meaning for them. The study shows that the
elderly have greater emotional control. Adults over 55 pay
more attention to the positives. This contributes to their
happiness.
Canada:
Older Persons are Working Longer and Longer (March 6,
2008)
(Article in French)
Canadian people are working longer and longer. That’s what
a new study from the Quebec Institute of Statistics
reveals. The employment rate for the people who are 54-65
years has increased regularly since 2000. Some reasons
explain this new tendency: first, the pension system is no
longer very generous nor protective. Then, the ‘new old’
people seem to like being active longer, sharing their
knowledge and experience.
Guatemala:
Guatemala Aging Live in Poverty (March 6, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Over 70% of the elderly in Guatemala live in poverty.
Almost a million Guatemalans are 60 years old or older.
Nine out of ten do not have an income from work or a
pension. They have no money for food or clothes. The main
diseases they face are preventable, and their suffering
for the most part is due to extreme poverty and
hunger.
Canada: Agency Too Busy to Probe Elder Care (February
22, 2008)
Due to a copious workload and major rescheduling,
Ontario's Human Rights Commission has lost sight of its
priorities and left elderly nursing home patients in a
dire state of neglect. The Health Ministry and the Human
Rights Commission have been brought to task regarding
these unsatisfactory standards, and although it seems new
legislation was brought into practice to prevent such
negligence, elderly nursing home residents are still
suffering from severe neglect and abuse.
Jamaica: Abuse
of the Elderly (February 11, 2008)
A revealing article about abuse of the older Jamaicans
presents horrifying cases of humiliation and violence.
Serious bruises, broken bones and broken hearts are
consequences of elder abuse or neglect. Jamaican society
needs to address this issue and “we have to educate and
support caregivers so that they understand their roles,
what they demand and the limits to what they can offer,”
concludes the author.
Panama: New
Paradise for Pensioners (February 11, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Panama is turning into a new Miami. Plans for Panama to
become a world tourist center are gradually becoming a
reality. Panama continues to lures US retirees dreaming of
a millionaire lifestyle on the cheap. The low cost of
living, dollar orientation, international airport and a
highly qualified medical service attract older persons
from the United States to move to Panama after they
retire.
Mexico:
Elderly will Study Accounting and History of Arts
(January 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Mexico is opening a university for those aged 65 and over.
The goal of the institution is “to popularize the culture
of active and healthy aging.” The university will not
offer any official certificate of graduation but it will
provide in-depth studies on finance, accounting, art
history, computer literacy and other sciences.
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
China:
Leisure Life of Elderly Residents in China: A Case Study
of Difference between Rural and Urban Areas (November
2008)
This author examined the current leisure life of older
people population in urban and rural areas from the angles
of history, policy, culture, and economy. The study
revealed the differences in the leisure life among rural
and urban elderly residents. While the Chinese government
can be proud of the people’s longevity, it has to tackle
how to make elders’ leisure life important, both for urban
and rural aged. The authors discuss the underlying social
and economic reasons that may account for such
differences.
Japan: Employment
Measures for Older People in Japan (November 2008)
Japan, with one of the highest rates of population aging,
is trying to build a society where older people continue
to work longer and make the most of their knowledge and
experience. This report prepared by the Japanese Ministry
of Health, Labor and Welfare revises the Elderly
Employment Stabilization Law to provide the conditions
whereby older people are able to retain stable employment
for as long as they want.
Indonesia: Indonesia Against the Trend? Ageing and
Inter-Generational Wealth Flows in Two Indonesian
Communities (October 2008)
In Indonesia, the strength of ties that bind older persons
and their adult children is often “a matter of
considerable uncertainty.” The report compares two
Indonesian communities and studies their ways of realizing
intergenerational support.
China: Placing Elderly
Parents in Institutions in Urban China, a
Reinterpretation of Filial Piety (September 2008)
China is experiencing unprecedented growth in the private
elder care service industry. Since 1949, the Chinese
government had required by law that children take care of
their elder parents. Homes for the elderly who did not
have children were stigmatized prior to 1980s. Now, elder
homes tend to be seen as a privilege. The changes in
patterns of filial piety are influenced by factors such as
the one child policy, young adults moving away from their
homes and growing financial independence of urban elders.
Indonesia:
Secondment of Specialist on Older Persons Help Age
/PCWG/ UNHCR Geneva, Switzerland, (August - September
2008)
Data from UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs
indicate that the Indonesian population is both getting
older and living longer. In 2006, 8% of roughly 19 million
Indonesian were age 60 or over, but by 2050 the number
will increase to 67 million an account for 24% of the
population. The report focuses on the gender imbalance
inherent in aging that increases the social and economic
burdens for older Indonesians women. While legislation to
protect older persons exists, abuses of elders are common
but go
un-reported. Natural disasters stretch families coping
mechanisms. As a result, families are not able to protect
their older members. The UN has demonstrated that older
persons are often overlooked in emergencies and ignored
afterward during the rehabilitation phase.
Australia:
Older Persons in Public Housing: the Policy and
Management Issues (August 2008)
At the 2001 Census, 102,735 older persons (aged 65
years or more) lived in 87,940 public housing dwellings.
State and territory housing authorities (SHAs) now have an
emerging challenge: older people have higher and changing
expectations; many will need support to age in place; and
they are no longer restricted to aged-specific dwellings.
This Final Report identifies emerging policy and
management issues as older people in public housing seek
to age in place. Demographic projections for this study
forecast a greatly increased demand for public housing (76
per cent between 2001 to 2016). Moreover, since private
rental and independent living units (ILUs) are becoming
less accessible, the expressed demand for public housing
will increase very significantly over the next decade. How
will
Australia solve
this emerging aging demand?
Asia: The Elderly Women in Asia (May 2008)
Here is a must-read book for anyone interested in older
women’s issues: The Elderly Woman in Asia: Her Roles and
Position. Professor Joseph Troisi from the University of
Malta and Ann Pawliczko from the UN Fund for Population
Activity edited experts from the region reporting on
twelve Asian countries. The authors, who come from the
fields of gerontology, demography, social work and
sociology as well as medicine, report that older women
face increasing insecurity, due to changing family
structures and the absence of a social safety net. Subject
to poverty, loneliness, isolation and abandonment, the
older women look to the State for social security and
survival.
Sri Lanka: The Impact of
Population Aging on the Labor Market: The Case of Sri
Lanka (April 2008)
The authors examine the effects of population aging on the
labor market in Sri Lanka. Civil workers and formal
private sector workers stop working around age 60 while
self-employed workers remain in the labor market until
very old age. The researchers probe into the possible
obstacles for employment of older workers: inflexible
employment legislation, high relative wages of older
workers, and work stress and weak employability of older
workers, among others.
Australia:
Assistance to Aged Care Sector to Implement New Funding
Model (March 7, 2008)
The Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) comes into force
on March 20, 2008. The Australian government will spend
more than $3 million to give better care to elderly
citizens, according to the promise of the Minister of
Aging, Mrs. Justine Elliot. Also, she has said the
government will spend more than $380 million over the next
four years to assist elders.
New
Zealand: Elder Abuse and Neglect: Exploration of Risk
and Protective Factors (January, 2008)
This New Zealand Families Commission project explores
elder abuse and neglect from the perspectives of elderly
people, service providers and representatives of
non-governmental organizations. Researchers investigate
what sets off increases in the risk of abuse and neglect
and what can be done to prevent it.
Australia: My People
(2008)
Read about an Australian project exploring the
experiences of gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, transgender and
intersex seniors in aged-care services. People working on
caring for older people often fail to providing services
to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex
(GLBTI) seniors. This is because these aged-care
service-providers do not know what their GLBTI clients
want or need. They don’t understand their legal
responsibilities to GLBTI seniors. The author of this
report examines a four-stage program for aged services in
Victoria, Australia, to reduce disparities for GLBIT
seniors in aged care. What did they learn? People who
direct and staff aged-care services must change their
current practices to assure sympathetic and useful
services for older GLBTI Australians.
Articles
Japan: Don't Bring Me your Huddled
Masses (December 30, 2008)
In Japan today, the old age population represents 21% of
the total population. The working-age population is
retiring at a fast rate, leaving fewer workers to support
a growing proportion of elders. Japan is left with few
options: calling for more babies, robot workers, or more
immigration.
China: Old Man Robs to Get
Himself Care in Prison (December 23, 2008)
Fu Daxian, a sixty-nine-year-old from rural Hunan, China,
was sentenced to two years in prison for a robbery at the
Beijing Railway Station. Hoping to receive more care in
prison, Fu asked the court for extended prison time. The
Chinese State recognizes the need to provide elders who
are childless with special help.
Japan: Stealing
to Go Back to Jail (December 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
In Japan some seniors commit murder, smuggle and steal
because they consider jail as the only place where they
can receive care. Hunger, meager savings and loneliness
prompt these crimes. With the rapid aging of the
population, the Ministry of Justice is concerned about
this situation. Bojo Rojin, Japanese author, indicates
that the loosening of community ties permits the social
barriers to crime to be lowered more easily. About 30,000
senior Japanese are currently imprisoned and the only
initiative that the Japanese government has taken so far
is to create specific prisons for older criminals.
Pakistan: A
Thought for the Elderly (December 8, 2008)
According to official data in Pakistan, senior citizens
form nearly 6% of the population, but are largely
unprotected. Health benefits and similar welfare schemes
available in other countries do not exist. Furthermore,
while traditionally the aged have a place of honor in
family life in South Asia, realistically this is no longer
the case. The Government of Pakistan is proposing a Senior
Citizens Welfare Bill, which it is hoped will change this
situation and identify how the state can act to support
the aged.
Australia:
Gay Couples to Face New Era Of Financial Discrimination
(December 6, 2008)
A major achievement of the Rudd Labor Government is the
recent passage of historic legislation to remove
discrimination against homosexual couples from several
laws. As the celebrations die down, however, it is clear
that the win for human rights is a serious blow to many
gay people. Older gay couples will lose pension income,
face Centrelink investigations into their sex lives and
will be forced to "come out" and risk prosecution for
fraud. Many older people have faced a lifetime of
inequality by missing out on benefits available to
heterosexuals. Now they are too old to gain from the new
legal equality won in areas as diverse as family law and
insurance entitlements. Instead, beginning July 1 next
year, they will suffer pension losses through being
treated as a couple rather than as two singles.
China: Retirement Age to Rise for
Women (December 4, 2008)
Beijing’s legislation office has begun collecting public
opinion on the planned revisions to their implementation
of the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of
Women. Although the proposal to raise female county
officials’ and scholars’ retirement age from 55 to 60
catches the headline, the proposed revisions are also
concerned with women's political, cultural, education,
labor, social security, property and marriage rights. For
example, the revisions include giving women laborers and
workers' committees the right to ask for sexual harassment
clauses to be included in their labor contracts.
New Zealand:
100,000 More Oldies in Workforce by 2012—Study (November
27, 2008)
Workplace 2012, a research study commissioned by Mercer
and conducted by Econtech, forecasts massive demographic
shifts in the workplace, with one in five employees over
the age of 55 by 2012. The number of workers aged 55 and
over is forecast to increase by 100,000 by 2012 rising
from 18% to 21% of New Zealand’s workforce.
Burma: Seniors
on the Streets (November 26, 2008)
Burmese seniors are faced with increasing poverty and
hardship as traditional family support systems lose their
former significance. The Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Ministry estimates that there are 4.7 million persons over
the age of 60 living in Burma. With the widening global
financial crisis, older persons are finding it
particularly hard to make ends meet, and many have turned
to street begging as a result.
Australia:
New Technologies: an Assistance for Dependent People
(November 24, 2008)
(Article in French)
Due to the aging of the boomer generation, new
technologies have the potential to be one of the solutions
to prolonging the independence of old people. Tools have
been designed to remind older persons when it is time to
take prescription drugs, others will enable isolated
people to communicate by video. Many centers are doing
studies on this subject but remain quite skeptical about
the acceptance of these machines by the elderly. A period
of time will be necessary for the technologies to become a
part of everyday life. The high cost of these machines
represents an important obstacle, too.
Australia:
Elderly Abused (November 20, 2008)
At least one in twenty older residents of Bendigo have
reported an experience of neglect or abuse. The
organization “Seniors Rights Victoria” and the Loddon
Campaspe Community Legal Centre are calling for a joint
response from the Australian government and the financial
sector to eradicate financial abuse of older persons.
Julie Nelson, manager of Senior Rights Victoria,
characterizes senior abuse as “occurring within a
relationship of trust where the older person is relying on
a family member or trusted person to act in their best
interests.’’
China:
Shanghai Opens Channels for Senior Weather Warning
(November 17, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Shanghai Meteorological Bureau data and East Broadcasting
Limited make use of "Listen to the well-being"—China's
first professional senior radio frequency to provide
specialized weather warning information. "Listen to the
well-being" is a two-hour broadcast of the latest weather
forecast. It is reported that in Shanghai 3,000 people
have been able to listen to this program for weather
forecast warnings.
Japan: Poverty, Pension Fears
Drive Japan’s Elderly Citizens to Crime (November
14, 2008)
Petty
crime rates, such as pick pocketing and shoplifting,
have increased among Japan’s seniors. Masahiro Yamada, a
sociology professor at Chuo University
, has cited the current global economic crisis as the
motivating factor for crimes committed by older persons.
Although Japan
’s overall crime rate has declined since 2002,
senior-committed crimes have risen within the past five
years.
Syria: Plans for a Nursing
Home Fail Due to Lack of Funding (November 9, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In 1990, a group of employees and workers publicly
volunteered to revive the idea of a nursing home for
older persons in the governorate of Irbid, Syria.
Fortunately, the administration was able to secure
ownership of the land necessary to establish the
project, but significant funding is still needed. About
75 older persons suffer from a lack of shelter in Irbid.
South Korea: Korea Highest in
Elderly Poverty: OECD (November 8, 2008)
The relative poverty ratio among older persons over the
age of 65 in Korea was 45% in 2006, an indication that
almost one in every two elderly households lives in
poverty. No other country from the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) exceeded a
relative poverty rate among older people of more than
40%. Ireland trailed as a distant second with 31%. South
Korea's high elderly poverty rate is attributed to the
rapid transformation of the family structure and an
underdeveloped welfare system.
China: Tourism
by Elder People Booms (November 3, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
As the global economic crisis continues, Shanghai tourism
has dropped sharply. However, a seniors’ tourist boom is
underway in Shanghai. Recently, because of the lower
prices and the more relaxed schedule, many Shanghai senior
citizens prefer to take ships to travel to Japan.
According to the statistics of the Shanghai Frontier
Inspection Station, more than 80% of passengers traveling
from China by ship are between the ages 50 and 60 years.
China:
Community Invites Tutors to Teach Elders How to Use
Computers (November 2, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Chaoyang District Yingze 3rd community invited resident
professional teachers to teach middle-aged and older
people how to use a computer, free of charge. More than 30
residents came. Among the students, the youngest is more
than 40 years old, and the oldest is over 60 years old.
The seminar, organized by the community, is designed to
help older persons enrich their lives. Such seminars will
be held from time to time in the future.
Australia: Market Meltdown Busts
Baby-Boomers’ Retirement Dreams (October 31, 2008)
Australian retirees are finding themselves in a much
harsher predicament than they were prior to the global
economic crisis. Over a billion Australian dollars ($600
million US) have been wiped out of the nation’s
retirement funds within the past four months, since
stock markets first began to plunge.
China: 81-Year-Old
Finds Love Online (October 27, 2008)
An 81-year-old man in Beijing has proved that a quick
wedding and Internet love are not reserved for young
people as he married a woman he found online within three
days of their first date. A professor at the China Central
Academy of Fine Arts, the man held a wedding banquet
yesterday with a 58-year-old woman that he found on a
matchmaking Website in September 2008.
Japan: Lehman
Fallout hits Japan’s Vulnerable Elderly (October 26,
2008)
The collapse of Lehman Brothers on Wall Street has
undoubtedly impacted the entire world. Older persons in
Japan’s Higashi Matsuyama region face especially grave
financial hardship during this time. The social welfare
council invested one million dollars of their taxes into
Lehman Brothers last year, yet none of that money was
recovered. Older residents must now deal with a shortage
in funding for their essential care services.
Singapore:
Not Just the Preserve of Hospices (October 25, 2008)
The Ministry of Health in Singapore has approved a pilot
scheme to provide guidelines on palliative care for
nursing homes. Six homes near the Tan Tock Seng Hospital
will be selected for the study. However, nursing homes
already face significant challenges ranging from a
shortage of manpower to the emotional toll on staff
charged with caring for patients with various demands and
temperaments. In addition to training for staff, the
nursing home will need extra facilities if they are to
provide palliative care in the future.
China: China's
Population May Hit 1.5b in 2033 (October 24, 2008)
The population on the Chinese mainland will reach 1.5
billion in 2033, an official revealed at a forum in
Beijing recently. The number of people above the age of 65
is expected to reach 320 million by 2040, which will make
up nearly 22 percent of the population. The elderly
segment was only 8.1 percent of the population in 2007.
South Korea: 660
Seniors, Patients Go Missing Every Month (October 22,
2008)
According to data from the National Police Agency, a total
of 29,024 seniors and dementia patients had gone missing
between 2005 and August 2008. "Although thousands of
seniors are vanishing every year, the Ministry for Health,
Welfare and Family Affairs, which is in charge of the
matter, is unable to develop effective countermeasures,"
said Representative Lim Doo-sung, who urged the government
to take stronger action to protect older persons.
China：300
Older People Singing Red Songs in Beijing (October 19,
2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Every Saturday, more than 1,000 older people gather
together, enthusiastically singing red songs such as
"China, China, the Bright Red Sun Banner", "Song of the
Red Star", etc. The entire park is a red ocean of songs.
"Singing red revolution songs really is a healthy thing,"
the President of the local older people community, Chen
Yong told reporters. More than 300 of these middle-aged
and older persons also organized a trip by train to
Beijing to see Tiananmen Square flag-raising.
China: Old-age
Home Workers: the Elderly Intimate Partners (October 18,
2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In Jinan, Shandong Province, the government has to
subsidize the cost of home help to older persons. Seniors
like this service very much. The local government
purchases home help services to take care of the elderly.
With 4,050 opening positions, home help positions offer a
new career. The demand for home help attendants will
increase as children are migrating, leaving their elderly
parents behind.
Singapore: Baby
Boomers Want to Work (October 17, 2008)
According to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth
and Sports, at least half of the 2,700 Singaporeans
surveyed wish to continue working for as long as they can.
Although fiscal need was one motivating factor, many
stated that they wanted to continue working in order to
remain “active and connected”. Many hoped to work shorter
hours under flexible working arrangements.
Australia: Older Persons Give
Up Your Homes for Young People (October 15, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
A retired couple intends to sell their home in the
city of Melbourne and purchase a large van to join the
tens of thousands of Australians who choose to journey
into the open country. Policy makers have called on a
method to facilitate this process for older persons,
encouraging it as a way to relieve them of the trouble of
having home-related costs above their income.
Australia: The Road to Retirement is Now Longer (October
8, 2008)
One in four Australian seniors is finding retirement at
the age of 65 too costly to consider; instead, many are
planning to work beyond the age of 70. For some older
persons who care for dependent family members, living off
of a meager pension is just not an option.
New Zealand: Older Workers Vital
for Economy (October 6, 2008)
As life expectancy increases, seniors should consider
working longer to sustain their financial security later
in life. As experienced workers, retirees offer a seasoned
and mature approach to the workforce and often achieve
prominent positions in their career.
India: Elderly Put Best Foot
Forward with Arthritis Message (October 3, 2008)
The Dignity Foundation organized a walkathon on World
Arthritis Day in Mumbai (formerly Bombay). There was a
turnout of over 1,000 senior citizens who walked 1.5 km.
The event aims to generate awareness and concern for
arthritis, a disease that affects a great number of older
persons.
India: Elders Have their Day under
the Sun (October 1, 2008)
The Pioneer Health Club has organized a function in
celebration of the International Day of Older Persons in
Manipur. The chief guest, MP Rishang Keishing, observed
that respect, participation in decision-making and
over-all care are among the issues that most concern older
persons.
Japan:
Practical Fashion for the Other End of Life (September
30, 2008)
Not only are the Japanese prepared to address subjects
which are taboo in many other societies, they even stage
fashion shows to display the product. Adult diapers (or
adult incontinence products), a topic discussed in hushed
tones in many quarters, were the subject of a recent
fashion show in Tokyo. Sales of adult diapers have more
than doubled over the past decade, reaching an estimated
¥52.5 billion ($525 million) this year.
Australia: Crisis Looming in
Aged Care Services, says Productivity Commission
(September 26, 2008)
By 2047, Australian seniors aged 85 and older will
increase from the current 400,000 to 1.6 million,
researchers say. Increased diversification in ethnic
background, socio-economic status and preference will
further complicate the existing demand for care services
for the elderly.
Vietnam: Dancing Old Age Away
(September 24, 2008)
Vietnamese seniors are finding themselves happier and
healthier than ever, after enrolling in dance classes.
Older persons suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes
and cardiovascular complications found relief by engaging
in new dancing activities. Enrollment in the classes has
been increasing as news of the health benefits
spread. Nguyen Phi Lam, a dance teacher at Gia
Dinh Park has seen
classes increase from one class of less than 10 people to
3 classes totaling almost 200 over the last 2 years.
Additionally, weekly dance sessions allow seniors to
socialize and meet new people, promoting overall
happiness.
Japan: A Japanese Company Today
Unveiled a Wearable Airbag for the Elderly that Pops Out
When They Fall (September 24, 2008)
The Tokyo-based company, Prop, has unveiled a wearable
airbag aimed at the protection of older persons. Seniors
are far more prone to serious injury when suffering from a
fall, more than any other demographic group. The airbag,
which inflates in one-tenth of a second, protects both the
head and the buttocks from potential impact.
India: Bangalore
No More Haven For the Elderly (September 21, 2008)
Although Bangalore is considered by many to be the
“Silicon Valley” of India, the downside of this growth in
technology and economic development includes safety
concerns for pensioners and other senior citizens. With
children moving out for employment and other reasons,
seniors have become vulnerable to crime. Many initiatives,
including a Neighborhood Watch scheme and a phone
monitoring system, have been unsuccessful. Dignity
Foundation, an NGO, is running a trial system using
volunteer help to try to improve the situation.
Malaysia:
R&R Centre for Seniors (September 19, 2008)
A rest and recreation centre for senior citizens and
orphans built on 4ha (10 acres) of land in Ampang, Kuala
Lumpur, is almost complete. The 2 million US$ complex is
the brainchild of Lin Chua, the founder and chairman of an
NGO called the AUTORR Foundation (Aged Unite to Organise
Rest & Recreation). According to Lin, “The elderly
residents with their wealth of experience will be able to
groom and guide the orphans. Personally, they will have
new meaning and a fresh vision to enjoy life in a
significant way.”
Japan: More
Elderly Venting Frustration at Government Offices
(September 17, 2008)
Even in Japan, where people are normally polite and
respectful, bureaucracy and officialdom are causing older
people to become angry. A book, "Boso Rojin" (The elderly
running out of control), has been published in Japan, and
its author, Tomomi Fujiwara, explains, "The elderly build
up emotional conflicts caused by stress and isolation, and
when they feel disrespected, such emotions sometimes turn
into rage and explode outward." Many local government
offices are asking their older employees to deal with
elderly customers in order to improve communication and
understanding.
Malaysia: Senior
Citizens Welcome Move (September 16, 2008)
Groups representing the disabled and senior citizens
welcomed the government's plan to replace foreign workers
with Malaysians for jobs that are "not dangerous, dirty or
difficult.” Initially, hypermarkets--especially the
foreign-owned ones--would be asked to take measures to cut
the number of their foreign workers and replace them with
Malaysian citizens. However, the CEO of a local
recruitment agency commented that foreign workers are
preferred to locals as they do not take leave and can be
called to work any time.
New Zealand: Elderly to Pay
Extra Drug Costs (September 13, 2008)
Seniors of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, could be forced to
pay additional fees for their prescription drugs.
Currently, pharmacists have been illegally charging extra
costs to their customers. Although a recent crackdown on
such practices has attempted to rectify the situation, it
may actually lead to even higher prescription prices for
seniors.
Australia: Switch Focus to
Palliative Care (September 11, 2008)
The Australian Christian Lobby urged the state government
in Victoria to direct its attention to providing better
assistance for the frail elderly and people with terminal
illnesses. The organization’s local director, Rob Ward,
said that as well as extra funding, there was a need for
more palliative care education for older people along with
disability and community care workers.
Sri Lanka: Sri
Lanka's Fast Aging Population (September 10, 2008)
Sri Lanka has been named one of the fastest aging
countries in the world. Although Sri Lankans hold strong
traditional family ties, the higher aging rate may
dramatically slow down the economy, negatively impact
public health and pension spending and significantly
increase the burden on families. The World Bank's report
on Sri Lanka's aging population provides key policy
recommendations on how to respond to the massive social
challenge.
India: Do We Understand What
They Need? A Course on Taking Care of the Elderly
(September 8, 2008)
Doctor Prashant Shinde started a magazine to address the
health concerns of old people. There are currently 77
million senior citizens (over the age of 60) living in
India, and this is expected to rise to 13% of the total
population within the next 15 years. Geriatric care,
however, is still a relatively new concept in the country.
Dr. Shinde proposes to change the negative and inhibiting
images of senior citizens into positive representations,
in the hope of renewing an interest in elder rights.
Japan:
Discounts, Perks Lure Elderly Off the Roads (September
6, 2008)
In Japan, drivers aged 65 or over were recognized as the
cause of 102,961 traffic accidents last year--up over
3,000 in the previous year and more than twice that of the
1997 figure. In an attempt to reduce the number of
accidents, municipalities in 25 prefectures have
introduced department store discounts, gift certificates
and other incentives to encourage senior citizens to give
up their driving licenses. As a result, the number of
people in Tokyo surrendering their licenses increased
almost eight fold between April and July versus the same
period one year ago.
Japan: So is it Respect for 'the
Aged,' 'the Elderly' or 'the Seniors'? (September 2,
2008)
While the United Nations hosts the International day of
Older Persons on October 1, Japan celebrates its own
Respect for the Aged Day each year on September 15 by
declaring the day a national holiday. Like many other
nations, Japan is adopting new words to describe people of
certain ages, with the intent of separating “old” from its
negative connotation. One positive aspect of living in
Japan is that the age when a person is defined as “old”
increases as the average life expectancy increases.
Australia: Baby Boomers
Want Alternatives to a Future in Nursing Home (August
27, 2008)
A Galaxy Poll survey recently revealed that Australia’s
aging baby boomers are not planning to incorporate nursing
homes into their retirement future. The majority of the
people polled stated that they would only live in a
nursing home as a last resort. Aging Australians wish to
maintain their independence and personal relationships—a
factor that the government, housing, and retirement
industries must consider within the next 15 years. The
population aged above 65 is expected to increase from 14
to 18 percent by 2020. An overwhelming majority agrees
that the government should begin budgeting for their care
accommodation now.
China:
Elderly Volunteer Full of Passion (August 22, 2008)
The 29th Summer Olympics officially ended with a
spectacular show last week. For many Chinese people,
Olympics became a part of their lives – like for 66-year
old Chang Zhifu who volunteered for this year’s games. To
become a volunteer, Chang began to study English and sign
language from scratch a year ago. "Granny Chang is a minor
celebrity here, because of her hard work and Olympic
spirit," says Wang Hao, the leader of the volunteer team.
China: When China will Age
(August 20, 2008)
(Article in French)
In China, there are 153 million people over the age of 65,
representing 11.6% of the population. In 2030, this
percentage should increase to 31%, meaning that there will
be more old people than children. Traditionally in China,
family generations live together under the same roof. This
trend is disappearing and more and more old people are
going to retirement communities or nursing homes. However,
the number of beds is insufficient to accommodate the
demand and the prices are very high.
China:
China's Rapidly Aging Population May Strain its Economy
(August 11, 2008)
China's government leaders are trying to cope with the
growing population of aging citizens. Due to many years of
careful family planning, China's population is aging
faster than any other country in the world. By 2020, China
will have an estimated 400 million people age 60 and
older. As the Chinese government continues to change and
experiment with public pension plans, many citizens may
find themselves relying on family for some financial
support.
Singapore: Crimes Against Elderly
On the Rise (August 11, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In Singapore, more and more elders are targets of crime.
Criminals usually target elderly people in the daytime
when they are alone at home. They frequently pose as
electricians and lie to the elders in order to enter their
homes to check their electrical circuits, in the process
stealing their valuables. Such crimes went up by 25% in
the first half of 2008 compared to the first half of 2007.
Victims of phone scams totaled 180 persons in the first
half of 2007.
Singapore: 5 Companies Get
S$500,000 for Innovative Products to Aid Seniors (August
7, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Singapore has awarded S$500,000 to five companies for
coming up with products to help older persons. They
include a robot that detects human movement in the house
as well as gas leakage. The robot can also update elder
centers on the senior’s progress via brief reports. These
new products will be tested in 26 chosen old age homes.
The 5 companies will also invite seniors to give feedback
on their products.
China:
Beijing to Have 3 Beds for Every 100 Elders by 2010
(August 1, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
By 2010, Beijing aims to have 3 beds for every 100 elders.
This will amount to 68,000 beds. At present, the number of
beds for elders stands at 38,000 and is insufficient for
demand. In 2008, Beijing has invested 1 hundred million
Yuan (about 15 million US dollars) for the development of
elder home care services. It is estimated that by 2025,
the demand for beds in care facilities for the aging will
rise to 180,000.
Japan: Government to Help
Firms Keep Aged Workers (July 30, 2008)
The Japanese Government recently released plans to provide
incentives for firms to keep workers aged 65 and above.
The plan includes tax incentives and subsidies for
companies that keep people older than 65 on their payroll.
The government is also considering a reform of the pension
system. Currently, working pensioners receive a pension in
proportion to their wages. Critics have pointed out that
this discourages the elderly from working.
Singapore:
More Elders Finding Jobs (July 29, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Singapore is seeing an increase of seniors finding jobs in
the area of security, cleaning and food industries. The
transportation industry also saw an increase in seniors
joining the work force, with approximately 70% of its
workers above 50 years old. Two bus companies have
increased the retirement age for their workers to 65
years. Most of the seniors cited financial difficulties as
the reason for working. Despite this increase, close to
500,000 seniors are still without jobs.
Singapore: Ageing Festival to
Encourage More Seniors to Active Participation (July 22,
2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In a bid to encourage more elders to an active lifestyle,
the Council for Ageing will kick off the ageing festival
with activities at six venues across Singapore. The first
will occur from August 23-24 at Ngee Ann City. This is
expected to draw a crowd of 20,000 people.
Seventy-two-year-old Wang Cai Bao, who has been practicing
drumming every Saturday at a senior’s centre with other
fellow senior drummers, reported that he feels younger and
happier when he is with his peers.
India:
Senior Citizens Suffer Silently in Goa (July 22, 2008)
Navshe Sawals, 75, was forced to live in a public toilet
when her son allegedly abandoned her in June. A month
later, she was rescued from the toilet, unconscious. Her
son will be charged under the Maintenance and Welfare of
Parents and Senior Citizens Act. There are many other
Navshe Sawals in Goa who suffer from neglect, deprivation
and abuse. However, many stay silent, afraid that their
children will get into trouble if they report their
plight. Unfortunately only a few get financial help, which
is inadequate.
Singapore: Younger Generation
Insensitive Towards Older Generation (July 18, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Li Mu Yuan, the secretary of Bright Hill’s old age home,
reported on the lack of filial piety and family ties in
today’s younger generation. He recounted situations in his
old age home where family members who rarely visit their
elders will usually appear after the Chinese New Year
festival when the elders have gotten their red packets or
after the government has announced subsidies for elders.
In order to instill filial piety in youngsters, the
Buddhist society and the Singapore literature society,
will be holding the first of a series of talks on family
ties.
China: A “Runner” for Elders
(July 18, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
A social worker has gone the extra mile for 76-year-old
Zhou Hong Pin from Cui Ping District. In June Zhou sought
help at the social service bureau as he applied for his
pension. Because he has difficulty moving about due to a
stroke and lives alone, the social worker decided to
hand-deliver his pension to him. The social worker gave
him a card with a help number to call and offered to bring
the pension to him directly every month. Now that’s
service!
China: Seniors in Chang Chun City
to Enjoy Greater Benefits (July 18, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Beginning June 1, 2008, elders in Chang Chun city are
enjoying greater benefits. Elders above 70 years old will
only need to pay 1 Yuan to travel within the city on
public transportation. Elders between 60-70 years will pay
half price for first admission to parks and places of
interests. Elders over 100 years old will receive a
300-Yuan monthly allowance. Those between 95-99 years and
90-94 years will get 100 Yuan and 50 Yuan monthly
respectively. This is in line with the stipulated
regulation on preferential treatment of elders in Chang
Chun City.
China: Centenarians in Jinhu
County to get Longevity Allowance (July 18, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Beginning in July 2008, centenarians in Jinhu’s County
will get a monthly longevity allowance of 200 Yuan. The
county has 56,000 elders over 60 years of age. Eight of
them are over 100 years old. In addition, centenarians
will not need to pay any hospitalization bills. Those over
80 years old will have their registration fees at the
hospital waived.
Japan: For Lack of
Children, the Toy Industry Targets Seniors with Emotive
Robot Substitutes (July 16, 2008)
(Article in French)
With the fall of Japanese birth rates, toy sales have
decreased. It is estimated that in less than five years
the number of elderly persons will exceed that of
children. For this reason, various companies and the toy
industry in particular are making seniors their primary
target. For example, Sega Toys has won the technological
innovation prize for its Dream Golden Retriever, which
mimics a real golden retriever. The only difference
between the Dream Golden Retriever and the real deal is
that the former doesn’t dirty the seniors’ Tokyoite
houses.
New Zealand: Wanted: Elderly
Workers for Christchurch Restaurant (July 16, 2008)
Senior citizens are encouraged to apply! Denny’s
Restaurant in Christchurch, New Zealand, has recently put
up advertisements specifically calling for old people to
join their restaurant staff. There are many benefits to
hiring old people, according to Neville Young, manager of
the restaurant. Old people are more reliable, can act as
parental figures to young staff and relate better to
middle-age customers. Peter Townsend, Canterbury Employers
Chamber of Commerce chief executive, lauded the
restaurant’s efforts and added that older people are often
neglected in the job market.
China: Wen Ding District Helps
Seniors Cope with Life (July 11, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Wen Ding District has a 10-year history of being an ageing
district, with over 430 seniors over 60 years old. This
makes up 10% of the district’s population. In order to
cater to the needs of the old people, especially those
living alone, the district has formed small units of
specialized services looking into the medical, household,
mental, cultural and recreational needs of elders. At
present, it also has 18 volunteers pursuing this effort.
India: Woman Has Twins at 70 (July
4, 2008)
(Article also available in Russian)
A 70–year-old Indian woman has become the world's oldest
mother giving birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The
babies' father, 77, sold off his buffalo and burned
through his life savings to pay for the fertilization
treatments that allowed his wife to become pregnant. The
couple had dreamt about having a son for all their lives.
“My daughters have got a little brother, my husband and I
have got an heir – that is all we ever wanted," says the
mother. And what about the twin who is female? Apparently
she will not inherit anything from her parents. Perhaps
one day her case will figure in an Indian report to the
UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women.
Japan: Sales Boom in Japan for
Doll for Elders (July 1, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Purimopueru is a Japanese doll for grandmothers. The doll
won an award in last week's exhibition, the Tokyo Toy
Show. Japan is the first country that has registered more
deaths per year than births. The ratio of elders to
children will be two to one within 5 years. Purimopueru is
considered a new member of the family that can be taught
to talk and sing. The doll can learn up to 5 songs and say
380 words in a year, as long as she is hugged and spoken
to. Creators believe that toys are not just for kids, but
can provide a form of companionship for older persons.
Japan: The Laboratory of Modernity
(July 1, 2008)
(Article in French)
Japan has asked four government departments to reduce the
percentage of elder deaths due to isolation. The Ministry
of the Interior, the Ministry of Health and Well-being,
the National Police and the Transportation Ministry have
taken charge of this mission but have not yet found an
immediate remedy. Apparently local government has
responsibility for assisting isolated older persons, it at
odds with the other Ministries. Will isolated older
Japanese fall through the cracks of the bureaucracy?
Australia: Hidden Inside the
Home Crisis (July 1, 2008)
Australians face a housing crisis among their older
citizens. The National Centre for Social and Economic
Modelling estimates that some 112,000 households of
persons age 70 years or over contend with “housing
stress.” In this Southern Hemisphere winter, many older
persons can't afford to heat their homes or rooms. Some
face freezing temperatures in their houses. The Australian
government leadership has to think quickly and creatively
to end this life-threatening problem facing elder
Australians.
New Zealand: Rest Home
Abuse 'Saddest Thing in World' (July 1, 2008)
"She told me that she felt as if she was a prisoner in a
prisoner of war camp," said Emsie Walters, Age Concern’s
elder abuse coordinator for Auckland, New Zealand. Ms
Walters was speaking about a lady who was told to get into
the shower and was washed, including her genitals, despite
being able to clean herself. “There aren't enough of us
and there are times when the law does not protect old
people because they are so vulnerable. They're often
isolated," Ms. Walters added. A study undertaken by the
Families Commission showed that older people who
understood their rights, have a strong sense of self-worth
and close family ties were less likely to be abused.
Philippines: What about the
old people? (June 28, 2008)
It looks like old persons have been left out of the
Philippine government's new policies. Old people are often
overlooked. Some are even forced to work to support their
families. Felista Victoriana, at 62, scavenges plastic and
earns 50 pesos daily to support her son and grandson. Her
other children are unable to help her because they have
problems of their own. Felista does not expect the
government to help her. Many old people find themselves in
the same situation. In 2002, elders from the Baseco and
the Payatas, two very depressed areas in Manila, told the
Institute of Philippine Culture they often went without
food to feed their grandchildren or provide them with
medicine. In a country ravaged by poverty, old people help
the most, but likewise suffer the greatest.
Singapore:
Two Elderly Women Robbed of Valuables within 2 Hours
(June 22, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Two older women were robbed of their personal valuables
within a span of 2 hours. A 75-year-old lady was riding in
the same elevator as a snatch thief when he grabbed her
gold bracelet and pushed her to the floor. The gold
bracelet had a value of S$1000. In another incident within
two hours of the first, a robber stole a gold necklace
worth S$80 from a 69-year-old woman. She was not hurt in
the incident. The police have advised older persons not to
wear valuables in public to prevent them from being
targets for robbery.
China:
Subsidy for Yang Shan Snow Disaster Building Project
(June 22, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Yang Shan County of Yue Bei Shan District has invested
12,230,000 Yuan to improve the lives of its citizens
following the snow disaster that befell the district in
early 2008. Each of the affected 64 households will get
8,000 Yuan as a building subsidy. Moreover, 685,000 Yuan
will be invested toward constructing and refurbishing old
age homes, with an additional 495,000 used to build a
block of homes for older persons.
Japan:
Elderly Japanese Suicides at Record Rate (June 22, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Elder suicides have surged dramatically in Japan, making
up almost 40% of all suicide cases in the country. Japan's
older people are increasingly concerned about rising
health care costs and their debt. In addition, as the
family structure in Japan changes, more people fear there
will be no family members to care for them in their old
age.
India:
India's Elderly Face Growing Neglect (June 21, 2008)
“I was bleeding all over. I've got bruises all over my
body. Then they just bundled me in a car and dumped me
here at my daughter's house," says Laxmibai Paleja, 92,
accusing her grandson and a daughter-in-law of severe
abuse. Figures show that more and more elderly in India
are abused and harassed. Abandoned by their own children,
older people are often left to die alone.
China:
Survey Finds Most People Do Not Know Their Fathers Well
(June 17, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
About 80% of some 200 Chinese interviewed said that they
do not have a close relationship with their fathers. The
majority revealed that they do not talk to their fathers
about their life or work problems. However, more than 80%
said they occasionally phone their fathers. About 90% of
the respondents did not know the weight or height of their
fathers. The majority claimed that they find an excuse to
leave their father’s company if their discussion gets
boring. Does this small sample reflect many younger
Chinese persons’ relationship with their fathers? Or is it
an anomaly?
Philippines: Sweet Elderly Live-in
Partners Finally Tie the Knot (June 17, 2008)
Juan, 91, and Estela, 83, finally wed after living
together for 57 years. The couple wanted to marry because
they did not want to die without “doing the ultimate act
of showing their love for each other.” The newlyweds have
eleven children who are all already married.
Congratulations, Juan and Estela!
New Zealand: 'Age Quake' Will
Hit Canty First (June 17, 2008)
Age quake describes the swift increase of older people
while the numbers of newborns decrease. In 2031, the
median age in Canterbury will be 43 years. Officials from
Canterbury say they must begin to deal with the effects of
this radical demographic change. The median age in New
Zealand will increase to 45 years by 2051, a significant
jump from 1996 when it was 26 years.
Singapore: Age is No Barrier to
Lifelong Learning (June 7, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
A group of 120 older persons have completed a 3-month
course on how to manage their lives. Among these, some
graduates have had the opportunity to seek new careers,
with some signing up as models or teaching. Content of
courses includes knowledge of personal image, knowing the
law and finance management. Course fees are reduced by 70%
for the elders. About 10% of graduates find new jobs after
completing their courses.
Japan: Japanese Seniors
Learning Foreign Languages (June 6, 2008)
(Article in French)
Over 21% of Japanese people are 65 years or older. Many of
them travel as tourists to the US or Europe. Others
volunteer with humanitarian organizations around the
world. In both cases, these young Japanese retirees want
to learn or improve a foreign language before leaving. To
respond to this new demand, language schools in Japan are
creating programs focused on learning a practical
vocabulary needed for travel.
China: Elders in Zibo City
Receive Free Legal Advice (June 6, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Seniors over 60 years old who need legal advice in Zibo
City can now apply for a pass at the ageing office that
will allow them to receive free legal advice at any of the
12 designated legal offices in the city. In order to
improve its services, Zibo’s ageing office has also
arranged regular face-to-face sessions where elders can
seek help with difficult legal issues.
China:
Insurance for Some Elders in Qingdao City (June 6, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
The Fucai ageing group in Qingdao City, which encompasses
4 nursing homes and 5 old age homes, has purchased
accident insurance for every older person living on their
premises. Each beneficiary is covered with 75400 Yuan in
case of accidental body injury. This insurance also covers
accident-related expenses such as disablement, medical
fees, assistive aids and transport for medical
treatment.
New
Zealand: Rising Costs Grim for Malnourished Elderly
(June 4, 2008)
Rising food costs have had a major effect on older
persons. Just the thought that old people have to go to
the hospital because of malnourishment is hard for
well-fed people to imagine. Sadly, it is true. Often the
old do not take care of themselves, underestimating the
importance of food. Rising living costs have created an
underlying fear among the elderly.
China: “A Place to Call Home”
(June 3, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
On May 31, thirty elderly people from the Sichuan
earthquake zone were transferred to an old age home in the
centre of Yongning Province. Madam Huang Zhengzhi was one
of them. After the earthquake, the 85-year-old woman could
not stay in her old age home and moved into a tent shelter
for 10 days. Madam Huang still fears that another
earthquake will strike while she’s asleep. She sits on a
chair clutching her blanket when she sleeps. After
evacuation to the new home, Madam Zhang is slowly letting
go of her fears and feeling more at ease.
Australia: Elderly Agenda
Falls on Deaf Ears (May 22, 2008)
"The single biggest group facing inclusion problems are
elderly single women. They are among the poorest and most
isolated," Professor Encel says. But in Australia, the
writer says that older people are not really involved in
the society or even politics. This article suggests that
Australians and their government need to pay more
attention to older persons.
China: Promoting Elder Care in
Wudang District (May 26, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
At present, ten villages in Wudang district have old age
homes which take in needy elders. In 2006, the district
invested 2,000,000 Yuan into building a 2,200 square
meters apartment, cum old age home. In addition, the
district ensures that needy elders benefit from
implemented measures in basic life protection. Rural
citizens without land, employees and the unemployed will
be ensured of their pension when they retire. The district
also has enrichment programs for the elderly to enable
them to live life to the fullest.
China: Shibei District in
Qingdao to Invest More in Basic Home Elderly Services
(May 25, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Shibei district is home to 83,000 seniors over 60 years
old. This makes up 16.8% of the total district’s
population. In 2008, the district will focus on buying
more services for home-based elder care. At present, there
are 1,200 older households enjoying home care services;
this number will increase by another 500. Meanwhile, 260
unemployed people have been retrained and deployed into
the home care sector for the elderly. The district
government has also invested 3,600,000 Yuan to provide
450,000 hours of free eldercare services.
Japan: One-fifth of Japanese
Population Aged 65 or Older in Rapidly Aging Japan (May
20, 2008)
People aged 65 and over now make up 21.5 percent of the
Japanese people. Meanwhile, longevity continues to
increase. By 2050, the average age for women will be about
90 years and 84 for men. The government warns of a looming
pension crisis and “a widening gap between rich and poor
as the country rapidly ages.”
Hong
Kong: Seniors in Hong Kong Embark on Theft Spree (May 19, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Seniors in Hong Kong are committing
increasing numbers of thefts and authorities believe
they must widen their anti-theft campaign. So far, the
campaign entails giving stern warnings to first-time
elderly offenders in exchange for dropping charges
against them
Sri Lanka: Our Population is
Aging – Are We Prepared? (May 14, 2008)
The population in Sri Lanka is rapidly changing. This
comprehensive article provides a brief overview of the key
reasons underlying the change and outlines the effects of
the aging population on education and health services,
employment, housing needs and retirement benefits in Sri
Lanka over the next 20-50 years. If the government does
not start preparing for significant population changes
today, “we will be ill-equipped to enjoy our old age,”
says the author.
China: The Undiscovered Side of
Talented Seniors (May 9, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
A tour agency has recruited a group of elders made up of
retired professionals to train as tour guides. These
“Silver Haired Tour Guides” are becoming popular because
they enjoy what they do, are able to share their knowledge
and experiences of places with tourists, and have other
entertainment skills. Many retirees today have held
prominent job positions and possess vast knowledge and
experience. Society should recognize their talents and
help them to contribute back to society, thus promoting
their sense of self worth.
China: Helpline Gives Free
Professional Advice to Elders with Needs (May 8, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
A social service centre in Beijing has started a free
telephone helpline for the elderly to speak to volunteer
professional counselors for advice on social, family,
psychological and other problems. The centre began this
service after receiving over 1,000 calls since April 2007
with family and marital issues making up the majority of
calls received. The helpline operates on the last Saturday
of the month, from 8 am to 8 pm, and the centre hopes to
have volunteer residents assist the professionals in
operating the hotline.
China: Creating a Conducive
Environment for “Aging in Place” (May 8, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Some 85% of China’s 1.49 hundred million elders prefer to
age at home and many of these seniors are healthy and
financially stable. The government is now looking into
meeting their specific needs. The city areas will launch a
network of eldercare services covering its participants.
In addition, 80% of rural elders will have access to an
eldercare welfare services facility and a third will have
access to a cultural activities centre. Pro-aging policies
should consider the psychological needs of elders and
create programs geared towards mental stimulation.
Australia: Age Outruns
Recruitment (May 7, 2008)
A looming wave of retiring university professors imperils
Australian higher education. In 2006, 40 percent of
professors are over 50 years old and as much as a quarter
of them will retire in the next 10-15 years. Australians
fear that lecture quality will decline with fewer,
less-experienced young professors delivering
lectures.
Singapore: Snatch Thief Preys on
Elderly Woman (May 6, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
A snatch thief robbed a 76 year old woman of her gold
necklace and also beat her in an elevator on the way home.
A similar snatch thief incident happened 2 weeks ago to
another elder lady living in the same block of flats in
the Whampoa estate. Again, the thief took a gold necklace
from her. Since there are a large number of older
residents occupying this block of flats in the Whampoa
estate, the police caution elders to avoid riding in the
elevators with strangers.
Australia: More Elderly
Sydneysiders 'Living in Squalor' (May 5, 2008)
The number of elderly Australians living in excessive
filth in Sydney suburbs has increased, says a study
prepared by a team of psychiatrists at the University of
Sydney. The reasons include a rise in dementia among the
elderly and a lack of cleaning services in the area. The
researchers call for urgent action to deal with “abject
domestic squalor” in Sydney suburbs.
Japan: Elderly
Japanese People Search for Love on Internet (May 5,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In Japan, older people are seizing online dating as a
means to expand their social circles and meet new
partners. This article explores how the elderly are making
use of this new service.
Japan: Japan Tremor as Geriatrics
Lead Crime Wave (May 3, 2008)
In Japan, rapid demographic changes point to new problems
in the country, including an increase in crime. Criminals
now include elders. Many older people feel overcome by
loneliness, and sometimes steal to gain attention. Many
find it overwhelming to adjust to modern society. Sadly,
the appeal of jail--where they will receive free food and
be among people their own age--is a frequent enticement to
committing a criminal act.
China: A Living Heritage: The
Earthen Homes of Yongding County (April 27, 2008)
In Fujian, one finds very beautiful countryside in
southern China, particularly in Yongding County. The
government is beginning to rebuild the ancient earthen
houses, earning a nomination for World Heritage Site
status from UNESCO this summer. Nevertheless, the young
are migrating to cities for jobs and the old remain in the
rural areas. An 80 year-old-man reports that it is in
common that grandparents to raising their
grandchildren.
Burma: In the Burmese Countryside,
Elderly and Sick Forced to Vote "Yes" (April 23, 2008)
On Sunday, April 20, 2008, dozens of election observers
went to the homes of the elderly and sick people,
requiring them to vote and to sign their ballots. In the
state of Kachin, the authorities offered rice and mobile
phones in exchange for support of the new constitution.
Critics claim that such visits amount to coercion, not a
“free” election.
India: Price Rise Breaking
Families, Elderly Forced to Beg (April 19, 2008)
The reporter describes graphically the cruel effects of
the food crisis on older persons and families in general.
Here, Bano, a grandmother in New Delhi, stopped asking her
son for food because prices rose too high. Therefore, when
she is too hungry, she begs for food in the street. The
inflation of food prices breaks the traditional respect
and care of the young for the old, who are wrongly
considered as an added mouth to feed.
Australia: Drought in
Australia, and World Suffers; Rice Crop Collapses;
Prices Have Doubled (April 18, 2008)
Over the last six years, the lack of rain in Australia has
reduced their rice staple crop by 98%. Some 20 million
people depend on Australian, rice crops, The shortage has
contributed to the current food crisis. With the price of
rice doubling and citizens in countries such as Haiti and
Egypt panicked and rioting, older persons are saying that
it is a “live or die” situation for them. Farmers, on the
other hand, are shifting their tactics to boost their crop
levels or switching to products, such as wine, that are
not a basic food for the world’s poor.
India: Beat the Heat in
Riverbank, the Veterans’ Way in Cuttack (April 15, 2008)
Stress, isolation, diseases and depression are challenges
for the aging. Especially in the summer months, people in
India have to fight against oppressive heat. The old
people of Cuttack found a way to beat the heat. They meet
on the river. They enjoy the breeze and find a way to
spend their time with others combating the depression that
often arises from loneliness.
India: Mistreatment of One’s
Parents Punishable by Law (April 14, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In 2007, India’s parliament passed a law forbidding the
mistreatment of one’s parents who are over 60 years old.
Failure to do so will result in a penalty ranging from a
fine to a maximum of a one month jail sentence. Reports of
elderly abuse are on the increase. As the younger
generation has more income, they have less regard for
filial piety. Although many pro-aging non governmental
organizations laud this law, they feel that it has limited
use. Why? Because many elders wouldl rather suffer in
silence than report their “un-filial” children to the
authorities.
China: China Demographic Crisis:
Too Many Boys, Elderly (April 14, 2008)
The one-child-policy in China was implemented because of
the fast rising population. But now China has to think
about another demographic crisis. What about the sharp
increase of the aging population? Elderly citizens feel
lonely and they need help. Twenty percent of city
populations are over 60, and there is great concern on the
part of older persons about what kind of future awaits
them.
Singapore: Low Income
Singaporeans to Receive Public Assistance (April 11,
2008) (Article in Chinese)
In 2008, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and
Sports announced that it will release the public
assistance fund to needy Singaporeans on May 5, 2008,
instead of July. This will help low income families cope
with the rising cost of food staples. Elders who stay
alone will receive financial assistance of 330 Sing
dollars monthly, up from 290 Sing dollars. Citizens on
public assistance will also enjoy other benefits such as
free medical costs and a housing rental subsidy.
China: Taipei Simplifies
Procedure for Elderly Services Applications (April 8,
2008)
Taipei City, Taiwan, now is equipped with a new center
that takes care of older persons’ applications and demands
for care. This center is said to be much more efficient,
taking into consideration the assistance that old age
sometimes requires. Taipei residents who are more than 65
years old, or more than 50 years for disabled people, can
fill in a form and apply for aid there.
Bangladesh: Dhaka Sitting on a
Sleeping Volcano? (April 8, 2008)
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is a sleeping volcano
with a lot of problems. People living in the capital need
to find a solution and not just hear plans. The local
government must take action to address air pollution, high
living costs and water contamination, especially the
rivers. The Dhaka population grows as the city becomes
home to more and more people from rural areas. The city is
overcrowded. All these issues affect older people. One
example is the high sound pollution. The limit should be
at 80 decibels, but in Dhaka is it 120 decibels.
Japan: «Etiquette
Police» Deployed on Japan Metros (April 6, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The Japanese, well known for their manners and great
respect for the elderly, have created a new job
description. Yokohama transportation authorities appointed
a squad of «etiquette police» to raise the
declining standards of etiquette on public transportation.
The Etiquette Police will encourage young travellers to
give up their seats and show more respect to older
persons.
China: Liu Zhou
Centenarians Receive a Monthly Allowance of 100 Yuan
(April 3, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
The Liu Zhou city government administration, in order to
uphold the legal rights of the elderly, will provide a
monthly financial assistance of 100 yuan to every person
who is 100 years old or more. In addition, the government
will waive the medical registration fees of 80 those who
are 80 years old when they visit a district hospital. The
government will also subsidize ambulance transport fees to
go to the hospital. Single elderly will receive subsidies
for phone, water, electricical and television
installations.
China:
Jinan City Implements Flexible Housing Arrangement for
the Elderly (April 3, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In Jinan City, the state has given poor older persons a
choice of two voluntary housing arrangements. These are
either home-based care or institutional care, based on
three individual needs analyses. An older person who has
poor mobility and motor skills but wishes to be
independent will be given financial support and other
social care such as home-based healthcare. An elder who
can live independently will have financial support and a
volunteer to provide social interaction and help with home
chores. Last, an elderly person with poor mobility and
motor skills who wants to stay in an institution can do
so.
China: Beijing Supplements 1
Hundred Million Yuan for Elderly Care (April 2,2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In 2008, Beijing supplemented the elderly home care
services budget with 1 hundred million yuan. This funding
covers approximately 14,000 registered elderly people. The
municipal office also approved two other proposals to
expedite the development of elderly care organizations and
expand home care services. The supplements will benefit
needy 60 year old persons, those in the 80-89 year range
with poor mobility and all persons over 90 years old.
Also, beginning in 2008, the government will increase the
number of hospital beds for older persons by 10,000 beds
.
India: Effective Measures to
Safeguard the Rights of the Poor (April 1, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
India claims that it has taken effective measures to
safeguard the rights of the poor in addition to the
elderly. This action includes implementing various laws
and regulations such as the Regulation for Pension Payout.
Under the protection of such laws and regulations, the
rights of the aged are ensured. Needy seniors above 65
years old will receive a monthly allowance from the state
as well as free rice and flour. Moreover, elders above 60
years old can enjoy preferential travel. The law also
dictates that children who abandon their parents will be
punished by jail sentences and fines.
Japan: Elderly Warned over
Aged Appliances (March 31, 2008)
The Japanese government is launching a campaign to warn
older persons about the dangers of using aged appliance
items. The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry created a
traditional ‘kairanban circular notice’ to inform people.
The principle is simple: The information will be
circulated from house to house, getting a signature in
each house to make sure everybody has read it. After two
80 year-old people died from a fire due to an old electric
fan, the government is trying to educate the population
about these kinds of domestic dangers.
Pakistan:
Walk Held for Senior Citizens’ Rights (March 31, 2008)
In Pakistan, older people and youth walked together to
demonstrate the significance of older persons’ rights. The
senior citizens play a vital role in the social society of
Pakistan. This walk should show the government how urgent
it is to pay more attention to those who are aging.
India: Elders Willing to
Use New Technologies (March 30, 2008)
Older people would like to use more computer technology
and studies show it is a good thing for the elderly. It
helps senior citizens at home alone to communicate with
their families; computer games will stimulate the brain;
they are a tool to inform them about their health and
Medicare; and there is a possible use of security sensors.
This is a great technological assistance for elders. A
barrier is the high cost for that technology. Also, many
caregivers think older people cannot handle the technology
or that it is too difficult for them.
India: Strong Family System still
Exists (March 29, 2008)
Nursing homes for elderly are not profitable in Kashmir
since the town does not seem to need them. People in
Kashmir would “never prefer to send their parents to such
places,” says a coordinator for Helpage India. Strong
family ties usually keep the elderly with their children.
However, experts predict that there may be a need for
recreation homes for seniors where they could go to enjoy
their free time.
China: Promoting Effective
Eldercare Measures, Revising the Law on Rights of the
Elderly and the Promotion of Professions in the Aging
Industry (March 26, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
At a national conference on aging held March 3-4, 2008,
the government will take more effective measures to
safeguard the interests of the elderly. These measures
will include coordination between policy departments to
ensure that they are producing and using the correct
documents. The law that covers the rights and interests of
older persons will also be revised during 2008. In
addition, the government will campaign to encourage people
to enter the elderly care professions.
China: China Promotes “Ageing at
Home” as the Answer to a Greying Population (March 25,
2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In February 2008, China’s ten national councils jointly
drafted a comprehensive plan to extend care to the elderly
who choose to age at home. This draft proposes a network
of services, extending support to elders living in cities
and rural areas. At present, China has 1.49 hundred
million persons over 60 years of age. Representing over
11% of the total population, seniors have expressed their
desire to age at home; in fact, 85% say that they want to
age in place.
India: Property Heat on Elders
(March 25, 2008)
More elder abuse in India: This article reports that every
second senior citizen is a victim of elder abuse in Dehli.
HelpAge India interviewed some 1,183 people and 52 % said
they had faced harassment or abuse mostly from those who
care for them-- their children, family, tenants or
landlords. Nevertheless, the elders have no trust in the
police. That is the reason why they don’t seek out the
police for their help. Hopefully more public attention to
elder abuse in India will bring an end to the situation.
New Zealand: Man Told 'Too Old'
to Drink in Bar (March 19, 2008)
Is it possible that someone is too old to enter a pub? But
this happened in New Zealand. A 57-year-old artist tried
to enter a student hangout but he was not allowed inside.
Now the Commission of Human Rights will have to decide if
this act constitutes age discrimination.
India: No Country for Old People
(March 19, 2008)
India is an upcoming country at the economic and cultural
level. But in the social arena, many see a gap that the
government must close. Older persons have difficulties
negotiating the big new shopping malls; it is difficult
for them to go out on the streets or to handle computers.
The writer urges citizens to pay attention to older people
and find ways to make them comfortable in their own
country.
China: Shanghai Elders above 70
years old to Get Free Transport Passes for Travel at
Peak Hours (March 11, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
On 9 January 2008, Shanghai’s transport office and the
municipal party committee for aging jointly introduced
free transport passes for persons age 70 years and above.
Seniors age 70 years and above can travel during peak
hours on public transport and rail system without charge.
During the interval before the passes are issued, elders
can use their social security passes and personal identity
cards as identification to enjoy this benefit.
China: China One-Child Policy to
Stay in Place (March 10, 2008)
China’s One Child Policy has produced dramatic results as
its birth rate fell to 1.8, below the average rate of 2.1
needed for replacement. The policy has met its goal of
preventing further population growth. As of now, the
government worries about the growing elderly population.
The Chinese government has decided to keep on this course
of action until the next birth peak ends in 10 years.
China Advocates Home Care for
an Aging Population (March 10, 2008)
Ma Jiahui, an 81-year-old woman from China, lives alone in
a flat in Beijing. The economic situation does not allow
her children to care for her and she doesn’t want to be a
burden to them. Life for an older person in China is very
difficult. Senior citizens get a monthly pension of about
$140 or less, and age-based maintenance is too expensive.
Elders have worked hard all their lives but their
contributions to the economy are not recognized.
Nevertheless, Ma says, even with her various health
ailments, "Every day I'm alive, I'm living a respectful
and happy life, and I wish the same for every old person."
China: Children Abandon Lonely
Seniors (March 9, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Chinese policymakers now face a national problem as adult
children begin to abandon their older parents. Some
describe the young adults raised under the one child
policy as self centered and unwilling to support their
parents. An increasing number of young people have left
their hometowns to take jobs in the cities or overseas.
The Statistical Office reported that in 2005, older
couples made up 42% of Chinese households. The Chinese
Working Committee for Ageing plan to introduce a national
family protection system by 2010 that will include
teaching Confucianism in schools to instill filial piety.
Even now, some government departments have used
“filialness” as a criterion for office promotion.
India: Elders Discover the
Luxury of Independence (March 9, 2008)
Elders in India have discovered the joy of living alone in
a little flat or in a housing complex for elderly
citizens. They want to enjoy an independent life and do
not want to be a burden to their families. This is of
course a luxury that only a small percentage of elders in
India can realize. And it raises the question of whether
old people really do want to live away from their
families. Current economic situations often demand
separation from the younger generation. A community for
elders was unthinkable in the past when children grew up
with their grandparents. But nowadays it will be more and
more common -- if it is affordable
Singapore: Greater Housing
Incentive for Singles who Reside with Aged Parents
(March 5, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
In Singapore, the Housing and Development Board will award
a grant of S$20,000 to singles for first time purchase of
a resale flat on the condition that they reside with their
parents in the same flat. This amount is an increase from
the current S$11,000. At present, only singles above 35
years of age are allowed to purchase a government resale
flat. Married people who live near or with their parents
are entitled to a housing grant of S$40,000. This new
measure will benefit both the elderly and their single
children.
India: Old and Ill, a Woman is Left
to Die on the Street by Her Two Sons (March 3, 2008)
Two sons tried to dispose of their 75-year-old mother.
Apparently one son beat and injured her in his home. A
second son left her collapsed at a bus stop and abandoned
her. The family says that she defecates in the house and
no one can care for her. She is a burden so they are
trying to get rid of her. This story illustrates the
horrific strains on families as rapid rural migration to
cities takes place in the sub-continent.
New Zealand: Inquiry Urged into
Old Folks Losing Their Homes (February 29, 2008)
Cashmere Capital Limited has shocked Riccarton elderly
residents by ignoring agreements and putting eight units
in the Crossdale Courts up for sale. Residents were led to
believe that they had a secure deal after buying the right
to occupy the units for life. Senior Citizen Minister Ruth
Dyson is opposed to the sale and is exploring all options
to safeguard the interests of the residents. John Collins,
association executive director, opposes the residents,
stating that Crossdale Courts was never a registered
retirement village or a member of the Retirement Villages
Act. Anxious residents can only sit and wait for finances
to stop the mortgage sale.
Japan:
Nissan to Design Cars for Elderly (February 28, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Nissan, anticipating the “baby boomer” generation, will
purchase more cars in the future and plans to design cars
to accommodate their needs. The company launched a new
test suit to simulate elderly drivers' behavior. The suit
restricts physical movements and reduces vision. The test
drive will help engineers to design an innovative
vehicle.
China: Ageing Population to Cause
Economic Woes (February 27, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Hong Kong’s finance secretary, Tsang Chun Wah, emphasized
the growing pressure of an ageing population on the state.
By 2033, 1 in 4 residents will be 65 years or older and 5
working adults will support 2 seniors. This is up from the
present ratio of 1 in 8 older persons and 12 working
adults supporting 2 seniors. Public health expenditure is
expected to increase from 380 hundred million yuan in 2004
to 1800 hundred million yuan by 2033. There will be
greater expenditure on long term care and medical related
costs.
Taiwan: Seniors Most Likely to
Commit Suicide: Psychiatrist (February 26, 2008)
Many older persons in Taiwan killed themselves in 2006.
Among elderly people above 65, suicides account for 20% of
total suicides in the country. This number is high and
alarming because the elderly only account for 10% of the
population. Behind these numbers, readers have to
understand the difficulties that older persons in Taiwan
face. They are often lonely and have very little financial
support from the government.
China: Time to Stress
Comprehensive Implementation of Home-based Care for
Elderly (February 24, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Several provinces and cities in China are implementing a
new home-based care model that permits older people to
have care services at home at low cost or even free of
charge. The new model, incorporating advantages of both
home-based and nursing home care programs, fits well with
Chinese traditional practice. However, in order to be more
effective, it needs greater variety of service,
convenience, diversified financial sources and
standardized management.
China: 85% Elderly People Prefer
Home-based Care (February 24, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
According to the “Research on National Home-based Care
Services” report released by the Committee for Aging
Issues, the market demand for home-based care and nursing
services has exceeded RMB70 billion. The report also shows
that over 85% of elderly people prefer to have home-based
care. At present, 25% of the older population needs all
types of home-care services; some 18% require nursing
care. Meanwhile, the actual care provided is far less than
what is needed.
China: China Vows to Promote Home
Care for Elderly (February 21, 2008)
According to a recently released plan by ten government
departments, China will accelerate its investment and
support for home care service for the elderly. The
government set different targets for regions on the basis
of economic and social conditions, so that by the end of
2010, all urban communities must have elderly care
services, and 80% of rural areas will have service centers
for senior residents. Hopefully these efforts will help
China cope with the increasing demand for elderly care at
a cost exceeding 70 billion Yuan (about $9.78 billion).
Japan: Japanese
Building Robots to Help Elderly (February 11, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Japanese scientists invented a robot which can not only
help older persons walk but also make toast and clean
around the house. The scientists claim the robot, 120
cm. high, has the potential to replace a human
caretaker. The invention may become quite popular in
Japan where the number of elders is rapidly growing.
Robots will be available for sale starting in
2015.
Taiwan: MOE Promotes Education
for the Elderly (February 8, 2008)
The Taiwanese Ministry of Education just announced its new
doubled budget for elderly education promotion. This
promotion plan aims to enhance life-long learning, health
and happiness, independence and social participation among
senior citizens. A special task force including
government, academic and civic staff will assist, helping
several local education promotion offices and guidance
centers. In parallel with the plan, the government also
encourages the recruitment of senior citizens as models
for active community participation and contributors to
society.
Australia:
Push for Aged Care Reforms (February 8, 2008)
Australian lawmakers are working on legislation to
prohibit doctors with financial interests in nursing
homes from authorizing the death and cremation
certificates of residents. This proposal comes in the
wake of a 71-year-old resident who was found dead in a
nursing home co-owned by a doctor who signed her death
certificate and authorized her cremation without
reporting the death to the coroner. This law will be
critical for revealing negligence in nursing
homes.
Japan: Japan's Oldest
Rider Looks to Return to Olympics after 44 Years
(February 7, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
A 66-year-old equestrian, Hirosi Hoketsu, plans to take
part in the Olympic Games in Beijing. Hirosi
participated in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic games. Hirosi
will beat the record age for a Japanese Olympian set by
another Japanese rider, Kikuko Inoue, who rode at the
age of 63 years in the 1988 Olympics. The President of
the Japanese Olympic committee adds, “He wakes up every
morning at 5 am. Riding is a kernel of his life.”
China: For The Elderly, A
Less Lonely Time (February 6, 2008)
Out of 133 residents at the community elderly home, only a
few have family bringing them home for the Chinese New
Year. At Salvation Army’s Peace Haven Nursing Home, there
are only 10 such lucky residents out of a total of 353
persons. New Year’s is a time when the lonely elderly fall
into isolation and feelings of depression. Many welfare
groups are trying to cheer them up with warm and cheerful
New Year’s celebrations. Singaporean lonely elderly now
have another kind of family with whom they can share their
joy.
Singapore: Inflation Woes
Unresolved by Control of Imported Food Prices and
Subsidies for Daily Necessities (February 4,
2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the
government is helping the poor and elderly cope with
rising living costs, including a review of the public
assistance fund. The Finance ministry will disburse a
package to aid citizens with rising food costs.
Singapore relies heavily on food imports. Food importers
and merchants will suffer business losses if
restrictions are placed on them to curb raising prices.
Reliance on government subsidies for daily necessities
will not end the inflationary movement of food costs.
China: Almost Half of China's Older City Dwellers Live
Alone (January 30, 2008)
China's population is aging quickly. According to a
recent report, service industries for the elderly
started late in China and many older people abandoned
medical care for financial reasons. At the same time,
49.7 per cent of Chinese city dwellers aged 60 and over
live alone.
China: Elder Care Awareness to Integrate with Elder
Rights (January 29, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
At present, home-based care still remains the foundation
of the Chinese elder care system. In the past both moral
values and cultural traditions supported home-based care.
However, as the economy develops and social values change,
the writer urges China to integrate elder care awareness
with elder rights in order to maintain this tradition.
Younger people need training and education about elder
care. In the meantime, older people must understand and be
able to protect their own rights.
China: Hua Dian Feng: Care for
Yourself and Care for Others (January 29, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Everyone in Huai Yin district, Ji Nan city, Shan Dong
province describes Hua Dian Feng as an active and
ambitious woman. But, Hua Dian Feng also has a strong
concern about elder care. In November 2002, she turned her
own food factory into an elder residence, providing care
services for local seniors. “Caring for the elderly is
charity work, not for profit-driven enterprise.” Since
2002, Hua Dian Feng’s elder residence has taken care of
more than 300 local people.
China: Lonely Elderly in China
Enjoy A Warm New Year (January 29, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Due to economic development and international exchange,
the number of overseas Chinese constantly increases,
leading to an increase in the number of lonely elderly.
There is a growing concern about care for the lonely,
among them agencies that set up contacts with service
establishments such as hospitals, restaurants, markets,
etc. to provide daily necessities. Thanks to these
outpourings of concern, many lonely elderly are looking
forward to a warm New Year.
Malaysia:
An Overlooked Group (January 28, 2008)
Malaysia is making preparations for an increasing rate of
aging among its citizens. The population aged 60 and above
is projected to grow significantly by 2015. It is
“imperative to tackle this issue aggressively” since the
majority of seniors in Malaysia are poor. Usually older
people who are unable to provide for themselves have
children with insufficient financial means to support
their parents. Now is the time for the Government to
act.
China: Young Superpower, Aging
Nation (January 21, 2008)
According to the Chinese National Work Committee for Old
People, the number of elderly people has increased to 149
million, accounting for 11% of the population. Experts
attribute this to increasing longevity and declining
fertility over the past years. The situation presents
several challenges for society: single children who later
are unable to build and sustain relationships, older
persons too dependent on their children and grandchildren,
a lack of pensions and social security, and more.
China: Recommendations to Help
Lonely Elderly (January 21, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Xinjiang Autonomous Region has a total of about 1.87
million elderly, accounting for 9.16% of the total
population. This raises concerns about caring for the
elderly who are lonely. The most serious problem for
Xinjiang now is its low economic development and low
standard of living. To cope with the situation, Editor in
Chief of Xinjiang Elderly Newspaper recommends setting up
elderly institutes and nursing homes as well as other
services for the elderly.
Singapore: Good
Progress Made in Enhancing Seniors' Employability
(January 15, 2008)
Good news for Singaporean elderly people. According to the
Ministerial Committee on Aging, the older residents,
between 55 and 64 years, have an employability rate that
has gone up 2.5 points in June 2007. Therefore, additional
older people have access to health care and medicine. The
government is also initiating more programs and procedures
regarding end of life preferences.
China: Oversea Chinese
Elderly – Life Is Filled With Loneliness (January 13,
2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Nowadays, more and more Chinese elderly move abroad with
their children. In contrast with what they expected, they
face many difficulties and loneliness in their lives
abroad. Difficulties vary from income, food, health care,
culture and other issues of daily life. Generally the
elderly are too old to learn another language, so they
lock themselves at home all day. Differences in viewpoint
sometimes cause family conflicts. The article includes
stories about the difficulties of life far from
home.
Japan:
Japanese Develop Robot Suit for Elderly Farmers (January
11, 2008)
Japanese elderly farmers can now get help from a robot
that will ease the labor intensiveness. This new
innovation by Tokyo University of Agriculture and
Technology is designed to assist elderly workers with
their knees, elbows, back and shoulders when performing
heavy tasks. Its sensors and wireless devices will ensure
their safety at the same time. Researchers hope that every
elderly farmer can enjoy the new robot once it comes into
mass production.
Australia: Lonely Death Sparks
Calls for Greater Vigilance (January 10, 2008)
In Sydney, a 64 year old man died in his apartment. He was
found one year after his death when police broke into his
apartment. This choking news triggered members of the
government to consider how to reduce the loneliness of
older people and to give neighbors a sense of
responsibility. According to the Council on Ageing, the
solution should be more national, rather than a “slipshod
state-by-state approach.”
Singapore: Temasek Poly Unveils
New Design Centre Catering to Needs of Elderly (January
10, 2008)
A Design Center focusing on designing products for the
elderly in Singapore is in the works and set to open in
April. Students at Temasek Polytechnic created the center,
which is receiving funding from the Community Development,
Youth and Sports Ministry. The Center is currently at work
on 800 products ranging from clothes to specialized
foods.
Singapore: South West CDC
Compiling Database of Needy Elderly in the District
(January 4, 2008)
The South West Central Development Council (CDC) in
Singapore is compiling a database of the needy elderly in
the district to provide the elderly with more health and
social resources. This initiative aims to encourage active
aging. The announcement of this plan was made during an
awards ceremony honoring volunteers and social workers
providing services to the vulnerable and needy in the
South West District.
Return to Top of Page
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: Understanding
the Labour Market for Older Workers (November 30,
2008)
Survey evidence shows that one third of those aged 50 to
70 years claim that they would postpone full retirement if
offered a phased retirement. However, in most countries,
retirement is abrupt because it has historically been
difficult to work and receive a pension.
France: Learning Needs
in Old Age (2008)
(Report in French)
Longer life expectancy raises a question relatively
undeveloped in the French-speaking world, i.e., training
specifically aimed at senior citizens. From a cognitive
point of view, nothing impedes learning processes in old
age provided methods are adapted and appropriate.
United
Kingdom: “Is it That Time Already?” Extra Care Housing
at the End of Life (November 2008)
This report discusses the learnings from a 6 month service
improvement pilot project, designed to enhance dignity and
choice in end of life care, in extra care housing in the
United Kingdom. This type of housing, which is usually
apartments, is built especially for older persons and
includes additional care services and facilities. The
project demonstrated a strong desire among health and
social care providers, tenants and their families to learn
more about what was possible in terms of supporting people
at the end of their lives and to put examples of best
practice into place.
Europe: Reinventing
Retirement: Reshaping Health & Financial Security
for the EU 27 and Eastern Europe (October 2008)
In October 2008, AARP, the European
Center
, and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and
Research, organized a conference on “reinventing
retirement.” Representatives from twenty countries
attended the event. The term of “reinventing retirement”
implies the implementation of long-term care services, and
has opinions on migration, gender inequality, health care,
and much more – a truly comprehensive mandate. The general
force behind the meeting was that economic growth is
directly linked to the employment of older persons. The
member organizations wish to make the process of
retirement and old senior employment more profitable and
more feasible.
United Kingdom: Health and
Care Services for Older People: Overview Report on
Research to Support the National Service Framework for
Older People (October 2008)
The writers want to improve health and social care
services for older people in the United Kingdom. They have
cataloged and assessed how older people are using elder
services. They evaluate how these services work, what
innovations are in use and list the specific needs for
health and caring services. For instance, the report
underlines the consequences, on home based services
policies, of those who experience older age as a period of
decline and those who have a more positive view of later
life. Finally, this overview puts forward some concrete
recommendations to improve health and care services for
the elderly in the United Kingdom.
Scotland: Free Personal and Nursing Care (August 26,
2008)
As of July 2002, Scottish citizens over age 65 are not
charged for personal care services provided in their home.
Since the 2003-2004 year, there has been a 15% increase in
the amount of free personal care provided and a 17%
increase in the number of free nursing care recipients.
Total expenditures on free personal and nursing care were
£97 million in the 2006-2007 year.
United Kingdom:
Don’t Stop Me Now, Preparing for an Ageing Population
(July 2008)
The UK Audit Commission, an independent watchdog group,
has issued this report giving guidelines to local
governments to prepare for the ageing of Britain’s
population. The commission found that only one-third of
local governments were well prepared for the coming
graying, but that another third were “making progress.”
The main recommendations of the committee were to
“age-proof” and mainstream services, target social
isolation, and attack discrimination against the elderly
so the community can fully benefit from their presence.
France: Seniors and
Employment in France (May 2008)
(Report in French)
When compared to other Europeans and even other nations,
France is one of the worst countries in term of senior
employment. Researchers explain the different social and
economic measures taken by the French government during
the last thirty years that have led to this outcome. The
report contains three different approaches to encourage
more senior employment.
Italy: Elder Abuse in Italy: a National Overview
(February 2008)
Throughout Europe, most people ignore elder abuse.
Authors of this report want to make abuse more visible so
that the public can take concrete measures to prevent its
occurance. Based on criminal statistics and police
reports, the researchers show how older persons in Italy
are victims of abuse. Domestic abuse and institutional
abuses are analyzed separately in the report. The writers
also categorize abuse: financial abuse, violence or
mistreatment, etc. The authors go on to analyze how
effective the legal and policy frameworks have been to
combat such abuse. Read about the useful pro-active
initiatives that the writers detail: See the Milanese
“Helpline for Abused Older People,” launched in 2000.
United Kingdom: UK Study of Abuse and Neglect of Older
People (2008)
UK and other government leaders increasingly
acknowledge that many parts of society (caregivers, adult
children, institutions, health officials and others) are
abusing and neglecting older persons. However, governments
have not collected data about such abuses. This report
notes the lack of any sound data on the extent of abuse in
the UK. This lack of evidence prompted Comic Relief and
the Department of Health to fund a dedicated survey to
provide nationally representative prevalence estimates of
elder abuse and neglect in the community, the results of
which are presented here.
Spain: Socio-Cultural Activities and Active Ageing: A
Mutual Challenge (2008)
(Report in Spanish)
Our researcher looks at how social and cultural activities
can help old people confront the challenges of active
ageing. The author found that such activities do not
attract the large support from Spanish elders as they do
from residents of Portugal and France. However, Spanish
elders possess a strong sense of democratic participation.
The writer urges older citizens to embrace social and
cultural activities that will help integrate them into
their society.
Spain: Elder Abuse in
the Family in Spain (2008)
Researchers at the Queen Sofía Center draw a
very detailed picture of elder abuse in Spain, using data
pulled from a wide survey. They offer precise definitions
and background information underlying elder abuse. They
also review comparable studies from other countries,
contextualizing Spanish elder abuse problems. The writers
also analyze Spanish legislation on abuse of older
persons.
European Commission: Working
Conditions of an Ageing Workforce European Foundation
for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
(2008)
Over the past few years, members on the European
Commission have looked into demographic changes in the
region, in particular the work opportunities for older
persons. The Commission has two main concerns: the
sustainability of state pension systems and the shrinking
labor force. In order to encourage older persons to remain
or return to the workforce, the Commission says that
employers must provide career and employment security;
they must maintain and promote the health and well-being
of workers; they need to assure that workers can develop
new skills and competencies; and they must find ways to
balance working and non-working life. This approach will
be necessary if the Commission wants to achieve its goal
of increasing the employment of older persons between 55
and 64 years-old to 50%.
Moldova: Grandparents and
Grandchildren: Impact of Migration in Moldova (April
2008)
A report conducted by HelpAge International studies the
effects of poverty and migration on older persons in
regions of Moldova. As the poorest country in Europe with
a GDP of $937 in 2006, Moldova is still recovering from
the break up of the Soviet Union. Due to low salary levels
and economic instability, migration is seen as the first
solution. Poverty and migration have impacted vulnerable
families, especially those with older caregivers. Usually
grandparents find themselves having to care for
grandchildren when their own health and economic situation
is deteriorating. Even though expatriate Moldovans send
remittances to their families, it is barely enough to
cover basic needs and does not improve the families’
quality of life.
Europe: What Family Support Will
Dependent Elders Have in 2030? European Projections
(April 2008)
The population of dependent persons aged 75 and above may
increase 70% by 2030. Will they have partners or children
to take care of them? A European research team calculates
the projections of the dependent elder population and
their family support up to 2030.
Europe:
Happiness Across the Life Cycle: Exploring Age-Specific
Preferences (March 2008)
“All things considered, how satisfied are you with your
life as a whole nowadays?” Researchers at the European
Center asked this question to people from 21 European
countries in different age groups to reveal whether
preferences and attitudes of older people are similar to
others. They conclude that “old days thus are happy above
all due to changing priorities [regarding work, religion,
family and friends] in life.”
Europe:
Features and Challenges of Population Aging: The
European Perspective (March 2008)
Is population aging a hazard or a great achievement of our
societies? Asghar Zaidi, the author of this policy brief,
optimistically sees population aging as a chance for
European countries to develop “a greater extent of social
cohesion across generations.” First he outlines the issues
of population aging within the European context and then
discusses how Europe (the private sector and the civil
society as well as the individuals concerned) can prepare
to meet the challenges.
France:
Towards Regional Plans to Organize Jobs to Answer the
Needs of Older and Disabled Persons (February 2008)
Medical and caring staff in France face problems coping
with the needs of older persons and providing care in
close proximity to where older people live. Between now
and 2015, some 400,000 new care and medical workers will
be needed. Valerie Letard, French minister of solidarity,
asked every region to plan how to adapt these jobs to the
needs of the growing elder population.
United Kingdom: The Age
Agenda 2008: Public Policy and Older People (February
2008)
This groundbreaking report from Age Concern warns that
care services may “go from bad to worse” in the next three
years in the UK unless the Government implements radical
reform in the social care system. The report calls on the
Government to refrain from “ducking” its responsibilities
with empty slogans and—instead—assure the human rights of
older persons.
Denmark:
Young and Old Competing for Public Welfare Services
(February 2008)
This econometric analysis focuses on the supply of public
welfare services (child care, education, and eldercare) in
Denmark and in other countries. “Generational conflict” is
evident in the sense that a larger share of elderly voters
causes the government to reduce educational and child care
spending. It is a very tricky situation as the government
should encourage intergenerational solidarity, at a high
level.
Finland:
Care of Older Persons in Transnational Settings (January
2008)
The study contributes to the scarce research on elder
caregiving in different socio-cultural contexts. Using the
example of female Estonian immigrants in Finland with
caring responsibilities, the researcher concludes that the
migrant has to act simultaneously within two sets of
cultures of care. This situation, in turn, creates new
kinds of cultures when caregiving approaches are combined.
The possibility of conflict exists when a caregiver or a
care recipient has difficulties accepting aspects of other
cultures of care.
United Kingdom: The State of
Social Care in England 2006-07 (January 2008)
This annual report assesses the state of social care in
England in 2006-07, describing trends in the range,
quality and availability of social care service across
public, voluntary and private sectors. The writers show an
increasingly sharp divide between those who are and those
who are not supported by the English social care system.
France:
Learning Needs in Old Age (2008)
(Report in French)
Longer life expectancy raises a question relatively
undeveloped in the French-speaking world, i.e., training
specifically aimed at senior citizens. From a cognitive
point of view, nothing impedes learning processes in old
age provided methods are adapted and appropriate.
Europe:
Ageing Characterizes the Demographic Perspectives of the
European Societies (2008)
The working age population in at least two-thirds of all
EU member states is expected to decrease with time
according to this population projection by Eurostat. The
projection also analyzes the effects of ageing populations
on public spending. Interestingly, this analysis is based
on the assumption that the socio-economic and cultural
values of member states will converge over time, the
so-called “convergence” scenario.
Articles
Spain:
Self-Employment Help Offered for Seniors (December 31,
2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The ministry for Social Development in Spain is helping
older adults who are no longer working to become
self-employed. They work on things that can be homemade
and then sold to the public. This not only keeps them
busy, but it also helps them earn money so they can
continue living on their own. In 2009, they hope to get
more help from sponsors, enabling them to open centers
that will help with their crafts and also sell them.
France: How to
Avoid Theft by Ruse (December 14, 2008)
(Article in French)
December is the chosen month for thieves who go from door
to door and pretend to ask for a donation to the police or
firefighters but in reality accumulate the money for
themselves. The article warns against such practices and
recommends basic safety measures for seniors.
France:
Senior-Friendly Cell Phones (December 11, 2008)
(Article in French)
It may be hard to believe, but not all cell phones are
designed to have an unlimited number of functions: those
destined for older people have caught the interest of
manufacturers who want to simplify the use of cell phones
and adopt a ‘senior-friendly’ design. They take steps to
encourage the production of mono-functional phones with
bigger pads and, probably even more important, 24-hour
customer service.
Ukraine: Group
Goal: Grow Old with Dignity (December 10, 2008)
“It’s a sin for a normal person in our country to ignore
the plight and poor state in which our pensioners live,”
said Volodymyr Dzyobak, 41, founder of the Ukrainian
Association of Retired Persons, an organization that
channels the resentment of older generations into action.
Ignored by the government, isolated from society, treated
with cynicism at hospitals and workplaces, older people
fight for the right to grow old with dignity.
France:
One’s Own Old Age Cannot Be Thought Ahead (December 8,
2008)
(Article in French)
Why is it so difficult to project oneself into old age?
Contrary to certain traditional societies, Western
societies see old age as a curve with a climb, growth,
stability and a decline. Youth is regarded as a positive
value, when, to the contrary, old age implies a
degradation of one’s faculties, one’s statute and a
negative evolution. Polls show the existence of an old age
denial and reluctance among people to think ahead. The
trigger sign of old age is a “fall.” To the author,
getting old is a phenomenon that brings about a “surprise
effect,” and that makes courage a quality that is
all-important. Refusing to accept one’s close relatives’
help means refusing dependency. Yet, ageing may also
represent a personal improvement for the family.
France: Leave the Silent
World where Elderly Are Confined (December 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
The Notre Temps editorial director denounced the ostracism
imposed on seniors assigned to a “silent world where they
have no freedom of speech.” The director considers freedom
to speak about the big issues related to age to be
respected. He is most concerned at exclusion of older
persons from discussions. Institutions decide in the place
of old persons, with no prior consultation. A narrowing of
their social rights is emerging and discriminatory
decisions may be made on the basis of age alone.
Armenia:
December 7 Images: One Story, Different Tellers
(December 5, 2008)
The earthquake of 1988 in Armenia killed more than 25,000
and crippled thousands, both psychologically and
physically. Even though the towns hit by the earthquake
have been repaired and some compensation made by the
government to assist those who lost their homes, thousands
of people still live with their bitter memories. The
article tells the stories of older people who continue to
suffer from the pain that killed their families and left
their homes in ruins.
Europe: Good End
of Life Care 'Needs Flexible Support' (December 4, 2008)
In order to ensure that more people have a choice in where
they die, it may be necessary for resources to be given to
caring services instead of curative ones. Peter Beresford,
writing for the Guardian, commented, “deaths at people's
place of choice, whether at home or not, are unlikely to
become more common until health and social care services
and budgets are reconfigured from acute to longer term
support; from curative to caring."
Russia: Good
Bye, Youth! (December 4, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
In Russia, retirement is still viewed as a “social death”
and a time when an experienced person full of life and
aspirations loses his or her social value. It is hard even
for a 40-year-old to get a job; for a person over 50 it is
absolutely impossible. No access to work, education,
affordable health care and financial stability leaves the
whole generation of people over 50 abandoned and
forgotten. This article is a thorough analysis of the
current situation in Russia and an overview of some
promising initiatives taking place in Tatarstan, one of
Russia's republics, aimed at helping older persons to
“come back to life” after retirement.
Europe:
Getting Older and Working at The Same Time: The View
of The European Union (December 2, 2008)
(Article in French)
In most European countries, the “baby boom” generation is
reaching the age of retirement and the population is
getting older. Helping old people to continue their
professional activities is one of the main strategies
implemented by the European Union to approach the
population aging issue. However, senior workers encounter
many obstacles, and working laws are not always
advantageous to older persons. The European Commission
wants to make every effort to encourage “baby boomers” to
keep working, and those concerned do not seem to be
opposed to those measures, but have “conditions” on their
support.
Austria:
Opening of the European Ministerial Conference for
Communications and Information Technology (December 1,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The second largest European ministerial conference on
digital technology and integration was launched in Vienna
with about 5,000 delegates, including ministers and
officials representing Member States of the European
Union. The European Commissioner for Employment and Social
Affairs assured the gathering that prominent questions and
issues would be discussed during the first day, including:
a world governed by a strong technology, an era of easy
access to advanced technology, and assisting old people in
technology using fast means of communication. The
initiative to educate young and older persons is essential
to keep everyone up to pace with the achievements of the
information revolution and the removal of all barriers to
the flow of information.
Ireland: Elderly
in Nursing Homes Risk Faster Decline (November 30, 2008)
According to a study by an Irish University, people in
nursing homes have worse memories, lower attention spans
and poorer dexterity than older persons out in the
community. The study, in the academic journal Aging and
Mental Health, does not prove that the nursing home was
the cause of the poorer performance. However, Kieran Walsh
of the National University of Ireland Galway, one of the
universities that carried out the research, commented, “If
you are going into a nursing home and you are in these
environments where stimulation isn’t very prevalent, or
the environmental structures aren’t there, then your
abilities will decline.”
France: 65 to
70 Years of Age is the Happiest Time of your Life
(November 29, 2008)
(Article in French)
From a study of French surveys between1975 and today,
researchers have found that the population’s happiness
reaches a peak around the ages of 65 to 70. The study
shows no correlation between the level of happiness and
family status or wealth, suggesting that age determines
happiness. Researchers also indicated that retirees
benefit from the current pension system. However,
inequalities remain, researchers say, especially when it
comes to gender differences.
United
Kingdom: Countryfile Peak-Time Move Sparks Ageism Row
(November 28, 2008)
The BBC Sunday morning television program that reports on
rural and environmental issues within the United Kingdom
will move to a peak time slot--but without any of its
current team of middle-aged female presenters--sparking
accusations of age discrimination. The BBC seems able to
make this change without criticism because people are
afraid to speak out, even though “Countryfile” is
particularly popular with older viewers. Women in the age
group of 40, 50, or 60 years old tend to be written
off.
United
Kingdom: Saccharine Words are Not to Be Used with
Patients (November 27, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Words such as “dear” and “love” will become part of
the past since
the ratification of an act defining acceptable words for
use with patients in
Britain. A spokesman stated that language choices are
important because they can
symbolize a lack of dealing with adults as individuals.
Nurses often called
their patients “love” because they do not know their
names or care to learn
their names.
United
Kingdom: Care 'Failing the Terminally Ill' (November 26,
2008)
The National Audit Office (NAO) in the United Kingdom has
confirmed that while most people want to die at home, the
majority end their days in the hospital. A report by the
NAO compiled through surveys of patients, doctors, nurses
and NHS trusts, said there was a lack of support for
keeping people at home or in hospice care, leading to
"unplanned and unwanted" admissions to hospitals during
the final days of life. It pointed out that front-line
staff lacked basic training with only 29% of doctors and
18% of nurses trained in end-of-life care.
EU: The
Situation of Older Migrants in the European Union
(November 20, 2008)
The European Older Person’s Platform presents the
Intergroup on Ageing meeting on “The Situation of Older
Migrants in the European Union,” to promote awareness of
this issue from a multi-dimensional perspective. It will
cover topics such as social inclusion, social protection,
health and long-term care, employment and active-ageing,
There will be interpretation provided in English, French,
and German. You may register for this event here.
Hungary:
Hungarian Government Funds Major Research Project to
Transform Care of Elderly Citizens (November 20, 2008)
General Electric Healthcare, a unit of the General
Electric Company, has secured $4.2 million from the
Hungarian government and will contribute $1.1 million of
its own funds to research new ways of monitoring the
health of older persons in their homes. The consortium of
healthcare companies and academic institutions will
develop systems to examine the health of elderly persons,
and particularly those who suffer from neurological
diseases such as stroke and depression.
France: The 2008
Biennale of Intergeneration in Paris: Ending the
Loneliness of Seniors (November 14, 2008)
(Article in French)
The mayor of Paris has created a committee specifically
dedicated to dealing with intergenerational solidarity.
The objectives of the committee will be realized through
specially designed housing and cultural and physical
activities. The biennale was held on November 14, 2008 and
organized by “Accordages,” a non-profit group. The
biennale was an opportunity to remind the public of
previous initiatives by the mayor’s office in the field of
intergenerational solidarity.
Spain:
Abuse, a Silent Footprint (November 9, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
Approximately 5% of older persons in Spain suffer from
some type of abuse, most of which is not reported. When
older people do not carry physical marks on them, people
tend to believe they are well. However, many are suffering
from negligence in their own homes. The abuse of older
persons affects all types of people in different
socio-economic levels. Experts believe that the best
solution to this problem is to inform the public, as well
as professionals in the medical field, how to detect this
silent phenomenon that is affecting older persons.
Scotland: New
Law Will Protect Vulnerable from Abuse (November 3,
2008)
The Adult Support and Protection Act 2007 could
potentially change the way society views the mistreatment
of older persons and other vulnerable people who are
unable to protect themselves from harm. The act requires
investigation into allegations of ill-treatment, and
provides the legal backing to fight the abuse of older
persons.
United
Kingdom: One Million Pensioners Living on Their Own,
Says Help the Aged (October 31, 2008)
A study by Help the Aged in the United Kingdom has found
that more than 3.6 million people over the age of 65 now
live alone and some rarely leave their homes. Women living
alone outnumber men by 2.5 to 1, and more than 1 million
pensioners said they nearly always feel lonely. The
research discovered that half a million leave their houses
less than once a week and more than 300,000 said they felt
like prisoners in their own homes because they could not
get out without assistance.
France: Older
People in Toulouse Fear Loneliness and Transportation
Difficulties (October 30, 2008)
(Article in French)
The City of Toulouse will soon get its own Council of
Older People. Although the city has a blossoming student
life, 17% of the population is over 60, which makes it a
“bipolar” city. The council will gather once a month and
focus on such themes as intergenerational solidarity and
transportation.
France: Elder
Employment: Moving Forward in Difficult Times (October
27, 2008)
(Article in French)
Despite the global financial crisis, employment of older
persons is a topic that attracts a great deal of
attention, as is shown by the attendance rate recorded
during the two days organized by “l’Anvie.” The mission of
this non-profit is to facilitate exchanges between
researchers and big companies. The conclusion that can be
drawn from the two-day event is that big companies
attended because they want to prepare for the challenge
which an active aging population represents.
United
Kingdom: Older Women Overtake Men in the Job Market
(October 27, 2008)
Women aged 50 and over outnumber men employed in the same
age range. Older women have higher employment rates both
before and after the age they are eligible for state
pensions. This disparity is partly due to the tendency
amongst older women to hold part-time jobs more than
men.
France: Elder
Employment: Randstad Adopts a General Approach (October
24, 2008)
(Article in French)
The objective of Randstad, a firm specializing in human
resources, is to increase senior employment within the
group by 25% by 2010. The article gives a detailed account
of the method used by the group to deal with prejudices
against older people. The strategy of the group is to
recruit only highly motivated older employees, carefully
selected by a handful of professionals. The group is also
very active in salons and recruitment fairs and has
developed specialized partnerships with the French
National Employment agency.
France:
“Digital France 2012”: Regarding Older People… (October
22, 2008)
(Article in French)
Only 11% of people aged 70 and over use the Internet in
France. The French government wants to give better access
to seniors by providing them with more information as well
as equipment. A media campaign is also underway. The
government hopes to improve information sharing among
health care professionals and patients, for example
through the use of shared online files and cameras
installed in the homes of patients. These initiatives are
part of the wider plan, “Digital France 2012,” aimed at
boosting economic growth in the country.
Spain: The
Maltreatment of Older People in Spain has Increased 47%
in the Last Five Years (October 22, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The maltreatment of older persons in Spain has increased
by 47%. The majority of these are women, and two out of
three are older than 65 years. Approximately 72% of the
victims live with their aggressors. In many cases, their
aggressor is their partner. The most common maltreatment
older people suffer is negligence. Many are not cared for
in a respectful manner and their needs are not met. In
Spain, a new program has been initiated, designed to teach
people about this type of abuse and to help detect it when
possible.
Europe: Better
Transportation for Older People (October 20, 2008)
(Article in French)
The EU wishes to make public transportation for older
people more affordable, accessible and user-friendly. A
study led by British researchers entitled ‘Older People
and Transport: Integrating Transport Planning Tools and
User Needs’ identifies several measures that could help
older people back into an active way of life. The study
benefited from cross-disciplinary expertise involving both
health and transport professionals as well as consultation
with older people. The study has also led researchers from
Leeds University to accompany older people during their
errands to become aware of their specific needs.
Rome: Community
Center for Fragile Older Persons in Rome (October 17,
2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In Rome, a community center was opened for older persons
to enjoy a variety of social and recreational activities.
At their age, older people tend to be more sensitive and
susceptible to depression because they feel lonely and are
scared of what the future has in store for them. This
community center in Rome will allow older people to
maintain an active, healthy and happy lifestyle.
France: Home Working: Three
Quarters of Employers Are Over 50 (October 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
Seventy-one percent of home workers’ employers are over
50. A study reveals that among them, 47% are not in a
state of dependence. They might just be lonely and looking
for someone to accomplish chores requiring physical
strength, such as cleaning and gardening. The study
reports that, on the contrary, 6% are in a state of
dependence and that many home workers’ employers are
unaware of the tax benefits they are entitled to. Overall,
employees are seen on a regular basis, if not considered
members of the family.
Belgium:
Having a Passion for Traveling is Not About Age (October
6, 2008)
(Article in French)
Organizers of Zenith, the Salon of Tourism for Older
People, led a study to identify new trends. The study
reveals that older people tend to prefer short holidays to
long ones and that they love to discover local cultures.
The study also showed that Spain and Italy are favorite
destinations and that cruises and cultural trips are more
popular than ever among older people.
Switzerland:
Pro Senectute Says Older People are Still Discriminated
Against in Switzerland (October 3, 2008)
(Article in French)
The Swiss foundation Pro Senectute points out a lack of
respect for elder rights. The foundation cites ATM
machines and public services as vehicles for
discrimination against older people, and pursues a mission
that consists of informing older people of their rights.
Among other projects, the foundation will soon launch a
program allowing older people to familiarize themselves
with the latest communications technologies.
Switzerland: Swiss
Clinic Dignitas Has Helped 100 Britons to Die (October
2, 2008)
This data was released during a United Kingdom High Court
case brought by Debbie Purdy, who wants clarification from
the Director of Prosecutions about when and in what
circumstances he will prosecute people who help others to
die. Ms Purdy is concerned that her husband could be sent
to prison for up to fourteen years if he accompanies her
to Zurich, Switzerland, where Dignitas, the center for
assisted dying, is located.
Spain: Elderly
Rights on Track, But Still Long Way to Go (October 1,
2008)
Spanish seniors who celebrated the International Day of
Older Persons on Wednesday October 1, 2008 say that they
have a lot to be thankful for. The officer of the national
trade union federation Comisiones Obreras, Juan Antonio
Sanchez, said, however, that the majority of seniors are
still disadvantaged and neglected. Access to safe and
affordable housing is the most important right for
seniors.
Netherlands:
The City of Older Persons (October 1, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
"Hooge Platen” is considered an oasis for adults of
advanced age. This complex-- consisting of four
condominiums--is home to seniors who require the help of
nurses as well as those who can live independently. It is
a “city within a city” offering seniors convenient medical
offices right in their building as well as nail and hair
salons, among other services. Seniors can interact with
one another, reducing their feeling of loneliness and
helping their self-esteem.
Ukraine: Life of
the Ukrainians is 11-13 Years Shorter than the
Europeans' (September 29, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Average living age in Ukraine is 67 years--11-13 years
lower than that in countries of Western Europe. Also,
18.3% of pensioners 70 years and older need help on an
everyday basis, and 82% of them take medications. In
addition, 20% of the elderly who are older than 80 require
specialized psychiatric care. There is no unified system
of geriatric care in Ukraine, according to the report that
was prepared in anticipation of the International Day of
Older Persons.
Reunion Island: ‘The Older
People Charter Must Be Enforced’ (September 27, 2008)
(Article in French)
ARPA, the Reunion Island Association for Older People,
asks for the enforcement of the charter that was signed in
early 2008 during local elections. This charter aims at
guaranteeing the dignity of older people by ensuring their
material and financial support. Fabrice Tendrayen,
President of ARPA, wants the elected candidates to focus
on the charter. Despite the promises from the local
authorities to address the provisions of the charter in
2009, the President insists that ARPA will not let go of
the Charter issue, even after the budget is adopted.
France: Older
People Get in the Groove with Video Games (September 26,
2008)
(Article in French)
Video Games are growing increasingly popular for older
people. This is what the journalist suggests when
describing the success of foreign language, cooking and
intellectual exercise programs, both in households of
older people and in residential home care. Technological
advances have made it easier and more fun to use video
games. On top of that, the offer has been diversified to
attract older consumers.
Scotland: Edinburgh to Host
Giant Tea Party to Mark Older People’s Week (September
26, 2008)
SuperJam and the Edinburgh City Council will host a giant
tea party to celebrate Older People’s Week from October 1
to 5. About 100 SuperJam tea parties are to take place
across the United Kingdom. The tea parties will sponsor
events such as a ‘knitathon,’ whose proceeds will be
donated to an Indian orphanage.
United Kingdom: 65 and Out...
Fight Goes on for the Employees Who Just Want to Carry
on Working (September 24, 2008)
Age Concern has recently taken its anti-age discrimination
campaign to the European Court of Justice, in hopes of
overturning current UK legislation concerning retirement.
Since 2006, employers have been allowed to force workers
into retirement at age 65. Despite the legislation’s
blatantly discriminatory basis, the advocate-general
decided to back the current UK law.
France: Recruitment of
Older Workers: Where does France Stand? (September 22,
2008)
(Article in French)
France lies behind her European neighbors in terms of
older workers’ employment. Executives are the exception,
the rates demonstrating a full-employment situation.
Overall, France is still far from reaching the objectives
set in 2000 during the Lisbon Conference, i.e. 50% of the
older population in employment by 2010.
Scotland:
Golden Oldies: Rugby for Senior Players (September 22,
2008)
(Article in French)
The Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival takes place every
two years. This year, Scotland served as the setting for
the competition. A very strict dress code allows players
to avoid injuries that would have serious consequences in
their old age. Red shorts, for instance, signals that a
player can be blocked but not tackled. Among players aged
70-84, yellow shorts prevent players from being either
tackled or touched. Easton Roy, the oldest player of this
year’s festival, is 85.
France:
Older Employees: Reluctant Companies Will Get Penalties
(September 19, 2008)
(Article in French)
The 2009 bill on the funding of Social Security will be
presented to the French Parliament on September 29. One of
the measures is to establish a new tax on companies that
have not made provisions for the employment of older
employees by January 1, 2010. Furthermore, the bill
forbids employers to force employees to retire when they
reach the legal retirement age. The Mouvement des
Entreprises de France or MEDEF (‘Movement of the French
Enterprises’) disagrees with the new tax and The
Confédération Française
Démocratique du Travail or CFDT (‘French Democratic
Confederation of Labour’) have voiced their disapproval of
allowing employees to work beyond the legal retirement
age.
France:
Companies Adjust to Older Employees (September 18, 2008)
(Article in French)
People over 50 have fewer chances to get a new job. In
France, the employment of older workers aged 48-54 is
below the European average. However, some companies try to
adjust to the specific needs of their workers over 50. La
Poste and France Telecom, for instance, attempt to reduce
the levels of stress of their older employees. However,
employment mobility for older workers remains difficult.
The article provides a few recommendations to help workers
find new employment, such as staying updated on the latest
trends, being aware of the evolution of the labor market
and keeping well connected within a network of potential
recruiters.
Russia: Scholarship is a Good
Pension Bonus (September 17, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Raisa Iosko, 62, entered the Kuzbass Pedagogical Academy
this year realizing her life-time dream to receive a
higher education. The idea to enter the Academy came to
her as soon as she retired. First, Raisa had to finish
high school because she was unable to do that when she was
younger. Then, after brilliantly passing the Academy
entrance exams, she received a scholarship and was
accepted.
France: Time Out for Senior Citizens Job Hunt
Exemptions (September 17, 2008)
(Article in French)
Unemployed people aged over 57 were previously exempted
from looking for a job and were therefore entitled to
unemployment insurance. This provision will be phased out
in 2009 and will disappear completely by 2012. By then,
only people over 60 will be entitled to receive
unemployment insurance. Beneficiaries who are exempted
before 2012 will nevertheless be able to keep this
entitlement.
Kazakhstan: To Make Old Age – a
Happy Age (September 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Kazakhstan's elderly population is estimated to increase
by 11.1– 11.3 % by 2030. Moreover, 43,000 people become
invalids yearly. However, Kazakhstan's social protection
system is not oriented towards the elderly and disabled.
What steps will the government have to take in order to
change the situation? Tamara Duseynova, Kazakhstan's
Vice–Minister of Labor and Social Protection, talks about
the reforms.
France: People Attend Road
Safety Classes (September 15, 2008)
(Article in French)
The French association APMAIF offers road safety classes
to older people. The APMAIF emphasizes the need for more
civility on the road and believes that behaviors on the
road can improve exponentially by a mimetic effect. The
association also tries to warn against diminished
capabilities in old age. Volunteers who have retired from
active jobs teach most of the classes.
Spain:
Vodafone Espana Foundation, Spanish Red Cross and
Qualcomm Promote Independence of the Elderly (September
12, 2008)
A Spanish cell phone company, the Spanish Red Cross, and
Qualcomm have launched the project “3G Connecting
Generations” in an effort to promote elderly independence.
The program incorporates a TV monitor, webcam, internet
and a phone that functions as a videoconferencing system.
This will allow seniors to stay connected with family,
friends, and caregivers while living independently on
their own.
Spain:
Tourism: Spain to Fund the Holidays of European Retirees
(September 9, 2008)
(Article in French)
The government has launched a new campaign to boost
tourism in Spain. The initiative consists of subsidies
that will enable older people aged 55 to 75 to sojourn in
Spain. Only people who have never been abroad on holiday
will qualify. The scheme, which will be applicable from
2009 onwards, aims to stimulate the economic growth by
generating tourism revenues out of season. The Balearic
Islands are targeted as a destination of choice for this
project. According to the Spanish government, the project
will not be reciprocal.
Ireland: Abuse
of Elderly Won’t Stop until Funding Starts (September 9,
2008)
A graphic and disturbing account of abuse in nursing homes
in Ireland is a reminder of the ill treatment suffered by
the elderly. New guidelines for elderly care, including
higher staff: resident ratios, education and training of
staff, more individualized care and provision of
stimulating activities requires significant increases in
funding, which so far have not been forthcoming. Care of
the elderly is seen as the Cinderella of the healthcare
profession.
Germany: Käthe &
Karl, a Store Dedicated to Older People (September 9,
2008)
(Article in French)
Germany is one of the oldest European countries after
Italy. Many companies have chosen to go with the tide and
to anticipate population aging by focusing on older
consumers. The projections give the aging population an
estimate of 386 billion euros of purchasing power in 2050.
Käthe & Karl is one of these companies. The store
targets older people and offers a range of products for
this particular category of consumers as well as a
specially designed environment for them. Käthe &
Karl opened in 2007 and already looks forward to opening
subsidiary companies throughout the country.
France: Older People to
Accommodate Students (September 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
The association Telo Campus advocates intergenerational
accommodations as a solution to increasing levels of rents
and lack of accommodations offered for the students of
Toulon-Var University. This solution suggests that older
people offer a room for a modest price in exchange for the
company of a student. The communication executive for Telo
Campus explains that the toughest part is to come up with
a legal framework that guarantees against possible losses
such as unpaid rent. A test program will be set up as soon
as the partnerships with the municipal agencies are
finalized.
France: Life Estate Gift
Annuity, a Clutch for Retirees (September 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
The recent renewal of interest in life estate gift
annuities mirrors the evolution of society; it indicates
the growing numbers of older people who live in isolation
and of eroded pensions. Some even go as far as to consider
life estate gift annuities as a form of pension. Despite
bad connotations, it allows retirees to go on holiday and
provides certain benefits. Due to demographic concerns,
the Social and Economic Council of France wants to improve
the image of an action that most consider unwise.
United Kingdom:
Financial Abuse of Elderly “Huge” (September 6, 2008)
Thousands of elderly people are having their life savings,
possessions and homes stolen by members of their own
family, a charity has claimed. The scale of the problem
was "huge and terrifying," with cash and property worth
tens of millions of pounds taken last year, Action on
Elder Abuse said. Solicitors say the rise in financial
abuse is partly due to substantial rises in property
values. Charities maintain that a lack of awareness of the
problem makes such crimes easy.
Germany: A Tale of Love and Sex
Between Older People Illuminates the Screen (September
6, 2008)
(Article in French)
Andreas Dresen’s latest movie, “Wolke 9,” relates the
story of a passionate love affair between Inge, a
60-year-old grandmother, and Karl, aged 76. The film
portrays the struggle of Inge, who has been married for 30
years and now faces contrasted feelings of joy and
betrayal. The movie, which was awarded a special prize at
the Cannes Festival, received critical acclaim in Germany.
France: Retirees are
Increasing in Number and Are Happier (September 6, 2008)
(Article in French)
Retirement insurance companies now deal with 750,000
retirements a year against 500,000 two years ago. France
has 13 million retirees and the number of retirements
occurring before the age of 60 is steadily increasing.
French employees are ready to fight for their retirement
rights: a national strike is scheduled for October 7.
Retirements are also associated with the question of
identity. Many retirees have stopped defining the latter
based on their former professional occupation. Retirees
are also increasingly involved in local communities and
the cultural life, although television and radio still
rank first and second respectively among their favorite
hobbies.
Ireland: An
Age-Old Question (September 5, 2008)
Although for some people the idea of working after the
statutory retirement age (65 in Ireland) is abhorrent,
many of those who do want to continue working will not be
given the choice. Employers continue to be prejudiced
against older workers and age is now the most common
ground for workplace discrimination claims. The reality is
that older workers outperform younger workers in several
areas, including productivity, attendance rates and
reliability.
Czech Republic: Increasing
Number of Czechs Working Past Retirement Age (September
5, 2008)
Ruth Fraňková provides an insight into the working
lives of older persons in the Czech Republic. A recent
study shows that 22% of retirees still work, making older
Czechs some of the most active in the world.
Fraňková speaks with three older Czechs to find out
their opinions on work and retirement.
France: A Special Section of a Parisian City Council is
Composed of Older People (September 3, 2008)
(Article in French)
The 10th municipal borough of Paris is in the process of
creating a special section for its city council. The
section, to be effective from September 25, is composed of
older people and defines itself as an authority with
consultative status and powers of action. Its objective is
to allow people aged 60 and over to voice their concerns
about local life. A similar authority has been in
existence in the city of Villeurbanne since 2005.
France: The Pixel Theatre in
Paris Offers Improvisation Classes to Older People
(September 2, 2008)
(Article in French)
The Pixel Theatre will launch a new workshop for older
people, starting October 6. Among the benefits: a boost to
creativity and self-confidence, lower levels of stress and
the opportunity to learn how to speak in front of an
audience. The workshop will focus on improvisation,
narrative and character development. The first class is
free.
Scotland:
Lothian Pilot Project Targets End-of-Life Care for
Elderly (August 27, 2008)
Research from the University of Edinburgh has revealed
that the right to refuse hospitalization for terminally
ill elderly patients significantly improves their
end-of-life care. The pilot project, launched in Lothian,
Scotland, allows patients and their families to choose the
location of their death. In addition to maintaining the
dignity of the elderly, the initiative has lowered
unnecessary hospital admissions by 40 per cent. The study
found that sudden injuries such as a broken limb resulted
in hospitalization, whereas illnesses such as pneumonia
were not. Families and health professionals have accepted
the project, citing the benefits of allowing a terminally
ill patient to die in familiar surroundings.
United
Kingdom: Country of the Elderly (August 25, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The population in the UK is aging fast. For the first time
ever, there are more people over 60 years of age than
those under 16 in the country. It is also estimated that
the elderly will constitute 43% of the entire UK
population in 25 years. Is the UK ready to become “a
nation of the elderly”?
United Kingdom:
World's First End-Of-Life Research Institute to Be Built
in UK (August 22, 2008)
Following their recently launched End of Life Care
Strategy, the UK government has announced a one million
pound grant towards the world's first purpose-built
institute for research into end of life care. The new
building will bring together leading academics, healthcare
professionals, community organizations, patients and
carers and is a concrete example of the UK’s intention to
provide world class palliative care in the hospice,
hospital and home.
United Kingdom:
The Population Time Bomb (August 22, 2008)
People over the age of 65 now outnumber those under 16.
The landmark demographic shift promises a future of
pension shortfalls, a greater burden on the NHS and
steadily increasing retirement ages. The over-80s are the
most rapidly expanding demographic, making up 4.5 per cent
of the population compared to 2.8 per cent in 1981. Is
Britain prepared for this demographic shift?
Switzerland:
Swiss Banks Refuse to Loan to the Elderly (August 22,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The paper Dajins Nahayter reported that Swiss banks have a
policy of refusing to give loans or issue credit cards to
older people. This policy has pushed Swiss elders to
accuse the banks of discrimination. The age limit is 72
years and the bank says this limit is necessary because
the debtor must pay back the loan before his death.
Ireland:
Nursing Home Abuse Continues (August 22, 2008)
Age Action has reported that nursing home abuse in Ireland
remains unresolved, despite the Irish government’s promise
for change. After an undercover journalist exposed grave
abuse and mistreatment at the Leas Cross nursing home in
2005, the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) was
assigned to devise new quality standards for nursing
homes. Abuse complaints, however, have not stopped; at
least 50 have been reported and were investigated by the
Health Services Executive (HSE).
Russia: 70-year Old Pensioner to
Enter the University (August 20, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Yuri Kupriyanov, 70, will enter the Medical University
after completing studies at the medical college this year
in Tomsk, Russia. He thinks that medical knowledge is
essential at an older age and it will help him to live for
another 50 years. The article reports about Yuri and other
people around the world who decide to pursue higher
education at an older age.
United Kingdom:
Pensioners’ Playground is a ‘Dream Come True’ (August
14, 2008)
In the 1970’s Donald Miller dreamed of transforming the
Garden of Hanbury, a produce garden, to a recreation
center for older adults. Almost four decades later, his
dream came true. Through the help of retired journeymen,
stonemasons and bricklayers, the garden was transformed.
Using 18th and 19th century materials to build it, the
facility now boasts giant chess pieces and a place to play
croquet.
United Kingdom: Prisons
Accused Over Elderly Care (August 12, 2008)
With an increase in the number of people sentenced to life
imprisonment, the inmate population is ageing as well.
Unfortunately, incarceration facilities are ill equipped
to care for elderly inmates. Often crammed, these jails
are designed for young men. Police procedures have yet to
be updated. Several improvements had been implemented,
mostly due to the work of individual prison staff members
and charitable organizations. The penitentiary system has
yet to devise a long-term strategy for this issue.
Ukraine: Ministry of Education
Opens Universities for Seniors (August 11, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
An
initiative to open universities for the elderly has come
to Ukraine. The first schools will open in Kyiv, Poltava
and Cherkass by the end of this fall. The universities
will offer a wide array of classes such as health science,
art theory and computer literacy. The education will
remain free and will help to redefine retirement for
seniors.
Spain: Rejuvenating the
Population (August 9, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The European Parliament has asked for policies that favor
the family. Longer life expectancy has required
modifications of communal structures. The dependency tax
is calculated by dividing the amount of people over the
age of 65 by those younger than age 65 years. In 2050, the
dependency tax is expected to increase by 53%. This
increase is also due to the decrease in birth rates.
United Kingdom: Forget
Supernanny (August 5, 2008)
Baby sitters may soon find themselves losing customers as
they face tough competition from grandparents. With
increasing child-care costs, working parents are
increasingly relying on retirees to take care of their
children. The trend is becoming more common, fostering
communication between different generations. However, it
is important to know that such relationships are
vulnerable to abuse, according to Age Concern Scotland.
Old people should not feel pressured to take care of their
grandchildren.
Germany: Elderly Germans Do
Not Own Cell Phones or Computers (August 4, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
A study undertaken by the Your Home Organization in
Germany has shown that 58% of German seniors lack both a
cell phone and a computer in contrast to Germans of ages
14-29, of whom only 5% do not possess either device. This
information documents the widening gap between the elderly
and the young. It also means that older persons with
limited mobility cannot take advantage of services
available by cell phone.
France: Retirees Discover the Joy
of Being Roommates (August 4, 2008)
(Article in French)
Having roommates is a new way to become old without being
alone. Many women over sixty years old, either widowed or
divorced, choose this lifestyle instead of going to
retiree homes which are too expensive and do not guarantee
full autonomy to the residents. Now women gather in
cooperative projects that allow them to be in charge of
their own life and needs. This way of living appears to be
a good initiative for women with very small retirement
pensions.
Switzerland: In Geneva, 400 People
Over the Age of 90 Years Old are Driving (August 4,
2008)
(Article in French)
In Switzerland, many people think that seniors are at risk
driving on the roads. Every person over the age of seventy
who wishes to keep driving needs to pass a compulsory
medical exam. The physician tests the sight and the
reflexes of the patient and decides on his aptitude to
drive. Having a driver’s license is very important to many
retirees. It symbolizes the freedom to move around and
live anywhere, including in isolated rural areas.
France: Death of Lucien
Léger, Ex Most Old Detainee of France (July 21,
2008)
(Article in French)
Lucien Léger was the oldest detainee in France
before his release on parole on October 3, 2005. He was
found dead July 18, 2008, in his apartment in Landas in
the North of France. Backed by numerous supporters,
following his prison stay Léger continued to
protest long prison sentences and condemned France for its
inhuman and degrading treatment and arbitrary detentions.
Léger was sentenced to life in prison in 1966 for
having killed an eleven-year-old boy by
strangulation.
Russia: Elderly as Customers
(July 18, 2008)
(Article
in Russian)
The current market is mostly oriented towards a target
audience of consumers of ages 25 – 35 years. Yet, the
population is rapidly changing, with the proportion of
older persons continuing to increase and predicted to rise
dramatically in the future. It is high time for companies
to revise their target customers with seniors in mind. The
question is whether the Russian market is ready for such a
paradigm shift.
Estonia: Estonia Has Most
Disabled People in the EU (July 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
According
to the World Health Organization, more than 8,000 people
per 100,000 citizens receive a disability allowance in
Estonia, a number far higher than in any of the other 26
member states. Last year, 115,000 people received state
allowances; out of those, 60% were of retirement age. The
number of retired citizens receiving disability allowances
has grown out of “proportion.” Some analysts suspect that
the allowances “became additional pensions rather than the
means to meet a need.”
United
Kingdom: Insurers said I'm too Old to Go on a Cruise
(July 14, 2008)
In another case of discrimination, insurance companies are
refusing to provide coverage for old people. Charity Age
Concern has found that 92 percent of holiday insurance
policies do not cover people ages 65 and over. In many
cases, old people have to shop around more and pay up to
four times the premium. ‘Being refused on grounds of age
is an insult,' says Kenneth Brown, who served in the
Reconnaissance Corps in the Second World War and still
pilots his own cabin cruiser. He applied for coverage for
a trip to Spain, but was refused by insurance
companies.
United
Kingdom: Pensioners in Poverty (July 14, 2008)
With the recent oil and food price hikes, many pensioners
are forced to choose between eating and heating. Britain’s
Office of National Statistics has released figures showing
that two-thirds of older citizens live on less than
£10,000 annually. The government is working on
programs to alleviate the ill effects of inflation.
However, as many as half of those who are entitled to get
aid do not submit claims because of the stigma attached to
receiving a pension.
Russia: The
Best of Russia Close-Up: Siberians Adopt Needy
Pensioners (July 14, 2008)
Global Action on Ageing continues to provide updates on
the elderly adoption initiative pioneered in Novosibirsk,
Russia. An adoption scheme helps find families for those
older persons whose children are unwilling or unable to
take care of them. In Novosibirsk, more and more old find
successful places with new families. “Everything is good
and happy. It’s like my own family, my own son and
daughter-in-law, and like my own grandchildren,” says
Kamalia Uzhugpaev, who was “adopted” by her
neighbors.
Spain:
Working as a Passion (July 13, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
A 67 year-old worker speaks in an interview about his
experience. After turning 60 years of age, people usually
retire. Others want to continue in their profession. If an
old person is passionate about his job, he should not feel
obligated to retire. Psychological age is what is
important.
France: Clickissime: A
Project to Simplify the Access of Computers to Seniors
Rewarded (July 10, 2008)
(Article in French)
Modern Technology—especially computers—is not
senior-friendly: it is too complicated and sophisticated
for the generation. The Kernel Panic Systems (KPS) made up
of students of the engineering school ESIEA was elected
Laureate of the fund of the Foundation
Stéria-Institut of France 2008 for "Clickissime," a
computer program conceived to facilitate seniors’ use.
Because of this recognition, “Clickissime” will be
developed and maintained by professionals from big
enterprises like Steria.
Russia:
The Young Elderly (July 10, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
This writer focuses on the changing social positions among
older persons around the world. “The young elderly” is a
new generation of senior citizens who drastically differ
from their predecessors by taking active roles in society.
They blog, pay their bills online, e-mail, go to fitness
centers and marry at an old age. However, the author
thinks that the social politics in Russia is exclusively
oriented towards “the old elderly” - senior citizens of
the Soviet regime. It is time to change priorities and
start orienting business towards their new “old” clients.
Germany: A
German Pensioner that Escaped to the Canary Islands is
found haphazardly by an Employee Working in Her Nursing
Home (July 9, 2008)
A 68-year-old German pensioner had disappeared from her
nursing house in Engelskirchen, in the south of Germany.
Remarkably, she was found far from home, in the Canary
Islands. After her disappearance, local authorities made
several searches but were unsuccessful. How puzzling that
this woman had trouble with her sense of orientation yet
she managed to get to the Islands. The disappearances of
some old people don’t always end in tragedy.
Germany: Life Sentence for “The
Black Widow” (July 8 2008)
(Article also available in Arabic)
In a case that had excited great public interest, a German
court sentenced a woman, Lydia Lessen-Berge, nicknamed
“The Black Widow,” to life imprisonment for killing four
wealthy elderly men. The Black Widow had her assistant, a
man named Siegmund Schlufter, carry out the murders at her
request from 1994 to 2000. Mr. Schlufter received only 12
years as the court found him legally insane and not fully
responsible for his actions. The Black Widow found her
victims by placing advertisements in local papers before
robbing and killing them. She married one of the men
before killing him and still receives his pension benefits
as his legal widow.
United Kingdom:
Successful Age Discrimination Case Won in Northern
Ireland (July 7, 2008)
Terence McCoy, 58, is the first person to win a case of
age discrimination in employment in the EU. McCoy filed a
case against the Belfast Timber Company after being turned
down as a salesman. On October 2006, Northern Ireland
banned any forms of age discrimination against employees
under the age of 65. Companies are not allowed to refuse
interviews and job offers on the basis of age. This comes
at an opportune time when Northern Ireland expects to see
the proportion of people age 50 or over increase to 35% by
2021.
France:
Intergenerational Housing: Toulouse Looks for Seniors
Desperately! (July 4, 2008)
(Article in French)
Students in Toulouse are getting ready for the new
university year by looking for a place to stay. The
intergenerational housing “Cohabit’age” makes this task
more or less easier for students because it finds them a
place in an elderly person’s house. A major problem is the
shortage of seniors applying for a student to live with
them during the school year. The purpose of this plan is
to benefit both parties: breaking the isolation of the
elderly and increasing their safety by a reassuring
presence, with the possibility of gaining financial
income; and for the students, access to affordable
accommodation and a warm welcome.
France:
The Dejean Social Cafe: A New Gathering Place for Old
Immigrants in Paris (July 3, 2008)
(Article in French)
A social café designed for older people will open
in the Goutte d’Or district in Paris. This cafe will be
the same as another opened by the “Ayyem Zamen”
Association (or ‘good old days’). Both cafes seek to
appeal to older immigrants living in Paris, creating a
relaxing atmosphere in addition to providing them with
health and medical care. These immigrants make up 22% of
Paris’s population.
Germany: A Debate on Assisting
a Suicide Surfaces (July 3, 2008)
(Article in French)
A “profiteer of death” and a “moral swindler” are the
charges leveled against a former Hamburg politician.Roger
Kusch, former minister of Justice of Hamburg, has admitted
without any remorse or pain that he helped a 79-year-old
woman commit suicide. Mr. Kusch filmed the old woman while
she was swallowing a tranquilizer and then a high dose of
anti-malaria drug. Many organizations are working for the
abolition of “suicide help” and recommending laws that
will bring charges against those who assist those who take
their own lives
European Union:
EU Seeks to Improve the Lives of the Elderly (July 3,
2008)
(Article in Russian)
The EU population is aging fast. The European Commission
issued a document proposing specific steps for improving
health care, financial stability, job security and social
mobility for older persons. The EU also wants to invest in
developing technologies that help old people continue to
live independently at home.
Belarus: Social
Protection for War Veterans Becomes One of the
Priorities of the Belarus' Social Politics (July 3,
2008)
(Article in Russian)
The Belarus government is implementing a renewed social
protection system for the Republic's war veterans. The
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection announced an
increase in pensions, expansion of social benefits and
provision of more social services to the veterans. These
veterans have now become one of the top priorities of the
Republic's social policies.
France: Doro HandleEasy 330 and
328gsm: Two new Mobiles SMS Simplified for Seniors (July
2, 2008)
Two new mobile phone models are now available from Care
Electronics Division of Doro Telephone Co. Engineers made
the Doro Handle Easy 330 and 328gsm for seniors. They are
exceptionally easy to operate. These days, mobile phones
are complicated, with unneeded applications that often
make them frustrating for many persons to use. The Handle
Easy 330 and 328gsm have several technical offerings that
other phones don’t have, such as large buttons with
oversize numbers and options for use by those with hearing
aids.
Ireland: Hike in
Oil Prices Threatens the Lives of our Older People (July
2, 2008)
Often forgotten but still a current topic: high oil prices
and high food costs. The world and national media don’t
speak much about older people and the consequences of the
hike in living costs. But this Celtic Tiger is demanding
that the strong must pay the bill to help the old and weak
survive in an era of reduced oil and food.
France: Elections
Wednesday of the Super Grandmother 2008 (June 30, 2008)
(Article in French)
Elections for the “Super Grandmother 2008” took place in
Palm Beach in Cannes. Eleven grandmothers and great
grandmothers, aged between 45 and 85 years, participated.
The winner was “Bernadette Leonardi,” aged 69. The
candidates for the title of “Super Grandmother” were
judged on their involvement in family and social life.
France:
The Government Wants to Put Seniors Back to Work (June
27, 2008)
(Article in French)
The government wants seniors back in the work force. In a
plan to recruit seniors, the government came up with a
five point program. It will provide a bonus allocation of
1.25% every three months and abolish the policy of
retiring at 55 years old. “We have to change
things,” is the motto of the Minster of Economy, Christine
Lagarde.
France: Projects of Nursing
Homes are Multiplying in Calais (June 25, 2008)
(Article in French)
In France, in Virval in the region of Calais, a
hospital is going to be opened, along with a retirement
home. Virval, formerly known as a deserted area for any
medical facilities concerning the elderly, has
dramatically changed. But, a major problem is already at
hand. The Home has 250 places and all are already booked,
along with a long waiting list.
As a solution to that problem the association of La Vie
active intends to open a new nursing home in Pas-De-Calais
since that area is in high demand.
Spain: Elders Want to Choose
Where to Reside (June 23, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The elderly prefer to remain home and not to go to a
retirement home. At home the elderly do not fear
loneliness. Living options for the elderly have multiplied
in Spain. Some retirement homes are brilliant. Although
the elderly prefer to remain at home, options exist in
Spain. Options do not exist in other countries.
Russia: Host Families for the
Elderly (June 20, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
More than 50,000 elderly will receive individualized home
care in Samara Region, Russia. The government will also
launch a project that places the elderly and disabled into
host families for care. However, a law is needed to
protect the rights and personal safety of older people
living with host families.
United Kingdom: Rise in Food
Prices Sends Inflation to 18-Year High (June 18, 2008)
Many people around the world are going hungry, due to the
food crisis. UK researchers reported that the highest
inflation rate in the past 18 years now affects
particularly pensioners over 75 years. Such retirees,
living on fixed incomes, have great difficulty paying for
both higher food and energy costs. According to Shona
Dobbie from the Alliance Trust: "Our study continues to
highlight the extent to which inflationary pressures are
hitting the elderly hardest. This is because the over-75s
are the most exposed to the negative impact of high food
and utility prices.”
Lithuania:
Lithuanian Parliament Accepts Law on Equality which
Includes Provision on the Age Ground (June 17, 2008)
With the help of AGE, a European older people's network of
organizations for people aged 50 and over, members of the
Lithuanian Parliament passed a law for equal treatment,
including equality for the aging generation. This
significant step for Lithuanian society begins the
codification of human rights for older persons in Europe.
France : 39 77, a Hotline for
the Misery of the Elderly. (June 16, 2008)
(Article in French)
The number, 39 77, reaches the Hotline for elderly abuse
victims in France. Older persons place 30% of all the
calls. Three clinical psychologists, Mathilde
Nicolaï, Clémentine Binet and Guenaël
Gouez, who take the calls, help older people escape their
misery and ease their pain and solitude. The most common
problem revolves around family money issues.
France : Good Treatment of the
Elderly, the Boulonnaises Initiatives. (June 15, 2008)
(Article in French)
Sunday, June 15, 2008, was the third day against “the
abuse of elderly people.” Régine Delbanque, head of
the nursing facilities at the CHU of Boulogne, explained
the importance of elder care, in addition to the various
social and institutional matters concerning the lives of
the elderly. Moreover, Régine used five sub-titles
to organize the presentation, such as, the abuse and the
lifestyle of elders in Boulogne and older patients living
with Alzheimer's disease.
Spain: About 60,000 Elders
Suffer Domestic Violence (June 13, 2008)
(Articles in Spanish)
It is surprising that .8% of the Spanish older persons
have endured mistreatment from family members during the
last year. About 5% of the caretakers admit that they are
guilty of mistreating the older person. During 2006, there
were 2,401 elders and 789 caretakers. Adult children are
to blame for 60% of the abuse cases. Many victims suffer
from physical problems and chronic diseases.
Spain: 3,000
Elders Over 80 Years Old Alone and Uninformed about
Social Benefits (June 11, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In 2007 Cataluña's Red Cross detected about 3,000
people in the province of Barcelona over the age of 80
years living alone and without information about
assistance and social benefits available to them. In April
2007, the Red Cross initiated a program called Closer, a
campaign designed as a collaborative effort with the
Delegation of Barcelona to reach out to older people with
special needs.
United
Kingdom: 822 Pensioners a Day Fall into Poverty (June
10, 2008)
Three hundred thousand pensioners in the United Kingdom
have fallen into poverty over the last year, in the fifth
richest country in the world. One in five children live in
poverty. Pensioners must economize to survive. According
to Help the Aged, the UK government is sitting on £5
billion of unclaimed benefits for old people every
year.
Switzerland: A
Website Supports Employers Acting in Favor of Seniors
(June 6, 2008)
(Article in French)
Companies are diversifying their workforce by gender and
culture. However, age diversity is still very limited. To
support human resources departments that recruit seniors
over 50 years old and to encourage other companies to do
the same, the European Mature project created a new
website. It analyzes model practices and the advantages of
such diversity. It also has online training for
recruitment officers.
France: Hojo : The Very First Shop
of France Completely Intended for Seniors (June 5, 2008)
(Article in French)
Franck Demaison wanted to open the very first shop
completely dedicated to seniors in Lyon (France). “Hojo”
follows the concept of “Tienda del Abuelo” (the
grandfather boutique) that was famously started in Spain.
The owner provides seniors with a relaxing atmosphere and
elements of comfort as well as a specialized staff at
their service, in a universe of warm colors and soothing
lighting. Mr. Demaison wants to expand his shop in other
French regions.
Russia: Pensioners Dancing in
Moscow Parks (June 4, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Pensioners in Moscow know how to spend their leisure time.
That is why they organize clubs where they gather in
Moscow parks, play instruments, listen to music, dance and
socialize. These meetings bring them back to the time they
were young, helping them deal with loneliness and
depression. A great initiative!
Ukraine: A 82-Year Old to Pursue
a Degree in Finance (June 4, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Galina Chernova, 82, applied to the Krim Institute of
Economics to pursue a degree in finance. Galina has long
been interested in stock exchange operations and even
earned some income on trading stocks. “Why would I refuse
to live such an interesting life? I feel great and want to
get a higher education,” says Galina.
France: "Senior Courses” in Some
Restaurants in Alsace (June 3, 2008)
(Article in French)
In the restaurants that follow the establishment, Les
Etoiles de L’Alsace (The Stars of the Alsace) in the east
of France, chefs of these restaurants offer three courses
for seniors served all year long to people aged 60 years
and above, with the exception of some holidays. “The
seniors’ number is close to 350,000 in the Alsace, and we
are counting 20,000 more each year,” states Maurice
Roekel, secretary of the association of major chefs. Chefs
view seniors as loyal, well-loved clientele who go to
restaurants frequently.
France: Old Persons'
Inheritances Could Be Used to Pay for Dependency (May
30, 2008)
(Article in French)
To support dependency financially, the French government
is thinking of using old persons' inheritances through a
new mechanism: voluntary and limited participation. The
Labor Minister, Xavier Bertrand, explained that this new
measure would only apply to the wealthiest and would be
completely voluntary. However, this approach is very
controversial in France at this time.
France: Government’s Plan to
Deal Better with Dependency (May 28, 2008)
(Article in French)
In 2015, over 2 million people will be over the age of 85
years in France. To better cope with dependency, the
French government wants to create a universal right to a
compensation plan. This right would allow old persons and
their families to pick and choose from several services
and goods (wheelchairs, adapted bathrooms) to help them
cope with the situation in the best way possible. The
government also wants to increase the number of openings
in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
France:
64-Year Old to Make a Record-Breaking Parachute Jump
(May 27, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Sixty-four year old French skydiver Michel Fournier
plans to set a new altitude free fall record by flying 40
kilometers up to the atmosphere with a helium balloon and
jumping back to Earth again with a parachute. Fournier's
jump will set four world records at once: it will be the
longest, farthest and fastest in the history and the first
one to break the sound barrier. Fournier spent 20 years
and nearly $20 million in a quest to “realize the
life-time dream.”
United Kingdom: “No Magic
Secret” to Wedded Bliss (May 26, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Frank and Anita Milford celebrate their 80th wedding
anniversary, equaling the record for England's
longest-ever marriage. Frank, 100, and Anita, 99, say that
a secret to a happy marriage is to “iron out the arguments
before bedtime and share a kiss and a cuddle every night
before going to bed.”
Germany:
Germany Will Become An Old Society Soon (May 21, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
A recent sociological report echoes prior warning that
without a “miracle” happening Germany will soon become an
old society, with over half the population over 50 years
old by the year 2030. The report ascribes the graying of
the population to the concern of the young with advancing
their careers over raising children.
United Kingdom:
The Future is Making Older People Sick (May 20, 2008)
In the United Kingdom, one of four elders worries so much
about the future that they make themselves ill. That is
why the government should consider seriously banning age
discrimination in the upcoming Equality Bill, outlawing
mandatory retirement ages in employment, establishing a
targeted strategy to reduce pensioner poverty, introducing
a system of automatic payments of benefits for older
people, eradicating fuel poverty in vulnerable households
by 2010 and funding a transparent, universal method of
delivering social care to the aged population in the UK.
Ireland: Age Biggest Single Reason for Workplace
Discrimination (May 19, 2008)
Equality Authority has found that one-quarter of
employment complaints stem from age-related workplace
discrimination. Elderly employees face the stereotype that
they are grumpy, slow and useless. Employers hesitate
before hiring or promoting people over the age of
retirement. Equality Authority has begun a campaign to put
an end to “Ageism.”
Switzerland: The Unemployed Will
Take Care of the Elderly in Establishments (May 14,
2008)
(Article in French)
The Department of Solidarity and Employment (DES) in
Geneva has created many jobs opportunities in
establishments for older persons. This act will give
unemployed persons many chances to find work while
realizing a popular initiative “for a better coverage of
the old persons in social-medical establishments.” One of
the conditions is that a job position must be given to an
unemployed person only, resulting in the reduction of the
unemployment rate and an increase of staff in homes for
the elderly. Let’s hope that the institutions’ managers
will provide good training and supervision as well as a
decent wage.
France: Age
Discrimination: a Regular Practice (May 12, 2008)
(Article in French)
In the 1970’s, 73% of the people 50 years old were in the
workforce. Today, only 38% of those 50 year olds work at a
paid job. What are the explanations for this situation? In
the 1980’s, the government wanted to reduce the
unemployment rate and began to classify unemployed seniors
as “retired persons.” In addition, companies wanted to rid
themselves of more highly paid older workers. The
government’s ploy didn’t change anything. The facts are
clear: firms don’t want to pay high wages to older workers
and prefer instead to hire cheaper, young workers.
Russia: Start your Own Business at
96 (May 7, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The article tells a fascinating story of Sergey
Podchaynov, 96, who successfully manages his own mineral
business in spite of his years. Oftentimes the elderly can
outperform young people at a workplace due to their
experience. But is it easy to find a job after one
retires? While there is a developed labor market for the
elderly in Europe, only 3% of retirees in Russia are able
to find a job.
Russia: The Elderly Online (May
7, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Semen Vasilyevich, 75 years old, manages his own online
blog, visited by more than 200 people daily. Taisiya from
Moscow, 65 years old, created her own blog five years ago
and enjoys sharing recipes, chatting with her friends and
just “sharing little joys of life” with other pensioners
online. It becomes clear that Internet communication in
Russia is no longer the sole prerogative of young
people.
France: Nicolas Sarkozy
Advocates for Seniors’ Employment (May 5, 2008)
(Article in French)
Because the employment rate of people 55-64 years old in
France is one of the lowest in Europe, President Nicolas
Sarkozy reaffirms his high priority for employing seniors.
Following a European Union rule, he announced he wanted
this percentage to go up to 50% by 2010. He reported on
the adoption of several measures, such as financial
advantages for companies that hire seniors or for people
who keep on working beyond their 60th birthday.
United Kingdom: Microsoft UK
Works on a PC for Seniors (May 5, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Microsoft UK is developing a PC aimed at helping the
elderly in their everyday lives. A new computer will have
a simplified interface and a number of applications
created specifically for the elderly, such as applications
to manage prescription medications or to manage photos.
Microsoft will also offer a step-by-step manual explaining
how to use the Internet, how to stay safe online and
perform simple computer tasks.
United Kingdom: The Final
Indignity: Just why Does our so-called Civilized Society
Treat the Elderly so Badly? (May 3, 2008)
In this article, the journalist Julia Neuberger speaks
about her experiences in the field of aging. She remembers
the times when older people were valued. Now they are
considered a burden, and are viewed as second class. She
suggests that a sense of purpose in life is critical, and
that people begin to look upon the elderly, not as
burdens, but as contributors to society. She cites cases
of gross neglect in nursing homes, where the elderly who
are unable to care for themselves are treated as objects
instead of the vital people they once were.
Russia: Pensioners Graduate
from the “University of the Third Age” (April 29, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
More than 100 students graduate from the “University of
the Third Age” for older people this year. The university
offers a wide range of classes helping elders “to
strengthen family and social ties as well as be more
confident of themselves.” Computer classes are one of the
most popular among the elderly – many pensioners found
their former classmates on social networking sites.
France: Staying Longer in the
Workforce: Seniors are Divided on the Government Project
(April 29, 2008)
(Article in French)
Not all seniors in France oppose staying longer in the
workforce. Some think that is a good policy that will
strengthen intergenerational solidarity. Others believe
they are unfairly treated as ‘old’ in their companies even
if they only are 55 years old. They want to leave this age
discriminatory situation as quickly as possible. Finally,
others argue that staying in the workforce is only
justified if it offers better conditions for the oldest
workers, such as flexible schedules.
Europe: Aged People Are too Often
Ignored and Denied Their Full Human Rights (April 28,
2008)
Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council
of Europe, declares that older people do not get the
respect that they deserve. The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights points out that old people have the right to
security. However, the rights of elders are often ignored.
He says that governments must find ways to insure the
Human Rights of older persons. He speaks about health,
nursing homes, discrimination against women, the
disability convention, pensions and older persons working
to normal retirement age. Hammarberg brings many elder
rights issues together as an argument for an Ageing Human
Rights Convention.
France: A 64-year old Veteran
Hopes to Set up Four World Records at Once (April, 28,
2008)
(Article in Russian)
Michelle Fournier, a retired French army veteran, plans to
make a 130,000-foot freefall jump and establish several
world records at once. It will be the highest and fastest
jump at the highest freefall parachute speed of 2,400
miles per hour (1.3 the speed of sound) as well as the
highest air balloon flight in the world. Good luck!
Germany: Change as Germany's
Population Goes Grey (April 27, 2008)
Germany has the highest population in Europe and the third
oldest population in the world, which presents both a
strain on public finances to provide pensions and
healthcare and an opportunity for innovations in the
marketplace. Now, aging figures in political discussions
prior to 2009 elections, as parties vie for the elderly
vote. The current administration has been criticized for
increasing pensions while opponents talk about a “war of
generations” requiring young people to pay the bills for
elder care.
Germany: Germany Wants to Become
World Leader in Design for the Elderly (April 24, 2008)
The German government wants to become the top designer of
products and services for the elderly. To that end, they
are opening a national platform for companies, experts,
senior organizations, and consumers to share ideas and
practices. They also hope to include input from older
adults in planning the designs and create the new labels.
The end goal is to become leaders in ‘trans-generational’
design.
Russia: «Charity
Decade» for Elderly (April 23, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The “Charity Decade” for older persons and those with
disabilities successfully concluded in the Moscow region.
During this period, organizers and volunteering groups
created more than 600 projects for older people. They put
on music concerts, charity dinners, did house repairs, and
carried out clothing drives, field trips and other charity
events for pensioners, invalids and war veterans in the
region. Great job!
Germany: German MPs Want Voting
Rights from Birth (April 21, 2008)
Some Members of Parliament in Germany are demanding voting
rights for children. They argue that older persons have
too much power and that the situation should be reversed.
If the German Government would implement the right to vote
from birth, than some politicians think German policy
would favor more benefits for families with children. GAA
asks if such voting rights from birth reduce the human
rights of older people?
France: Christine Lagarde Wants
to Remove the Seniors’ Exemption from Looking for a Job
(April 18, 2008)
(Article in French)
Christine Lagarde, the French economic minister, wants to
remove the exemption for unemployed older adults from the
requirement of looking for a job. Indeed, unemployed
people who are more than 57 years old can now benefit from
unemployment subsidies without being registered as job
applicant. Lagarde promised that the government, in
agreement with the trade unions, will take measures to
assist the employment of seniors.
France: Three Years after
Adopting the Law on End of Life: the Limits of ‘Letting
to Die’ (April 18, 2008)
(Article in French)
According to the Leonetti law adopted in 2005 covering the
end of life, medical doctors can decide, with the
agreement of the family, to ‘let a patient die’ while
ending treatments and medicine. This law also applies to
patients that are not at the end of their lives and depend
on tubular feeding. Applying the law requires ending all
feeding of the patient. This can trigger painful agony
that nursing staff is not prepared to handle. An
authorization of euthanasia, of course problematic, could
clarify this difficult situation.
United Kingdom: Elderly
‘Forced to Sell Homes for Care Bills” (April 16,
2008)
In the United Kingdom, government representatives as well
as local authorities learned of very unfair situation that
older sick persons are facing: when they are in the care
in a nursing home, elderly people are asked and sometimes
forced to sell their houses to pay nursing homes fees. In
Heath Port Talbot, estimates are that 2,000 homes were
sold illegally since 1999, while owners were living in
nursing homes. Representatives say they will take measures
to tackle this outrageous situation.
Spain:
Grandparents as Protectors of Grandchildren (April 15,
2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The increase in length of life has resulted in a third of
the population today being over 50 years of age. Victor
Perez-Diaz and Juan Carlos Diez have completed a study
called “The Generation of the Transition: From Work to
Retirement,” looking at life changes for older persons
between 50 and 70 years of age. The authors refer to this
generation as protectors of grandchildren. Because many
mothers now work outside the home, grandparents have taken
on the role of caring for the children, taking them to
school and providing over-all care.
Ukraine: “Active Aging”
Clubs Open in Kharkiv (April 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Several non-governmental organizations in Kharkiiv,
Ukraine, received a grant allowing them to fully equip and
re-model several buildings of the “Active Aging” club for
the elderly. Moreover, a new club will be opened this year
in Kharkiv with the help of the Red Cross. The goal is to
open such clubs for the elderly in each district of the
city.
Russia: Pensioners are Among
the Most Active Russian Bloggers (April 15, 2008)
(Article
in Russian)
The Russian search engine “Yandex” conducted a survey
which revealed that older people in their fifties write
the most on-line blogs in Russia. They outnumber young
people in the number of daily posts and comments on their
Internet blog pages.
France: End of Life Ahead of
Oneself (April 15, 2008)
(Article in French)
The palliative hospital in Besançon, France, is one
of the unfortunately too few 88 palliative facilities in
France offering care for end-of-life patients of all ages.
In this hospital, caregivers work with patients and their
families through the emotional and traumatic journey of
moving toward death. The staff listens carefully to the
concerns of the dying and the family in grief and responds
to their physical and social needs.
Vatican: According to
the Vatican, Seniors are the ‘Society Collective Memory’
(April 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
At its 18th General Assembly held in Rome from April 2-5,
2008, the Family Pontifical Council of the Roman Catholic
Church honored older persons: ‘grand parents: their
testimonies and presence within families.’ It was an
occasion to call attention to the importance of older
people in families, churches and society, and to encourage
intergenerational solidarity.
United Kingdom: Elderly 'Miss Out'
on Vital Advice Services (April 7, 2008)
UK based Age Concern has come up with a project to give
assistance to older people and, on the other hand, to show
what elders can do on their own to keep from feeling
lonely. The project gives information and counseling about
grants and other entitlements for elders and how to handle
their retirement.
Italy: Thefts by the Elderly 'Up
40 Percent' (April 7, 2008)
Since 2004, older Italians persons have increasingly been
convicted of thefts, up some 40%. The elders steal
specific items like cheese, fruit and cold cuts from
grocery stores. In Italy, 8.2% of people over 65 live
under the poverty line, while 23 million of them receive
pensions. With the rise in cost of living, high inflation,
and slow economic growth, the pension beneficiaries in
Italy are compelled to steal because their government
check is not enough to pay the bills. Not a good way to
spend old age.
Russia: High-Class Nursing
Home for Elderly Opens in Moscow (April 5, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The first nursing home with “high class” services and
modern facilities opens in Moscow this year. Fully trained
personnel, special menus and high tech equipment will
bring a new generation of care homes to Russia. However,
many Russians worry that the cost of living in such
residences will be relatively high and not many seniors
will be able to afford it.
.
Luxemburg: EU High Court
Clarifies Pension Rights For Surviving Partner of
Same-Sex Union (April
1, 2008)
Last Thursday the EU Court of
Justice ruled that same-sex unions should be given the
same pension rights as a traditional married couple.
This law is based on a case of a German who was denied
retirement payments after the death of his partner.
Judges ruled that the denial discriminated against the
surviving man. Whether or not same-sex unions are
legal before the law, pension distributions must be
handled in the same way as for married heterosexual
partners.
United Kingdom: Chinese
Elderly Art Group Presents Show in London (March 31,
2008)
The Chinese Elderly Art Group staged a beautiful show in
London. It featured performances by people over 65 years
of age. The group connected traditional Chinese culture
with modern dance and music in an amazingly colorful
event. The finale after 90 minutes was an East meets West
act. British and Chinese People came together on stage and
performed in a spectacular collaboration with the Zimmers,
whose lead singer is 91 years old.
France: In the Salon
for Seniors, Computers are Adapted for Older Persons
(March 31, 2008)
(Article in French)
While public authorities invest in projects to equip
seniors, new inventions appear on the market. Here is a
computer system designed for easy use and with functions
easily understood even by persons not familiar with
computers. This innovation was presented, among others,
during the seniors exhibit held the second week of March
in Paris.
Spain: To Finance Retirement
(March 30, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The author recommends that the government provide more
information about retirement. Financing retirement is a
constant worry, just as much for the administration as for
workers. The study, 'Instrumentos financieros para la
jubilación', provides recommendations to assure
one’s financial future. It is easier to save money with
more information about aging and about the market, as it
provides people with the tools they need to calculate what
their requirements will be for a secure retirement.
Germany: Gay Nursing Home Opens
in Germany (March 28, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The first nursing home for homosexuals opened in Berlin
recently. This first step eliminates discrimination
towards gay and lesbian couples not wanting to give up
their identity as they age. A new facility with 28
spacious rooms will prevent the gay elderly from
retreating into secrecy, as they tend to do when they
enter heterosexual nursing homes at their age.
European Union: AGE Calls for EU
Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse and Ensure Quality Long
Term Care for the Elderly (March 28, 2008)
AGE, representing European older people, reported in at a
conference organized by the European Commission on
“Protecting the dignity of older persons – the prevention
of elder abuse and neglect.” AGE representatives said that
its current focus on protection of older person was off to
a good beginning. It was only a start, however, of a major
effort that is needed to address elder abuse.
United Kingdom: Protection
for Elderly from Abuse (March 27, 2008)
The Select Committee on Human Rights announced that 21% of
hospital and care homes failed to meet minimum standards
for elder care last year. Older people in nursing homes
were not legally protected from abuse. Ministers plan to
pass a Human Rights Act to protect seniors from unfair
treatment at private care homes.
United Kingdom: Study into Abuse
of Elderly Hailed (March 27, 2008)
Due to numbers of complaints from the elders, the UK has
proposed a £2 million project to investigate
institutions like nursing homes. In a joint effort with
Comic Relief, the project will do an in-depth analysis on
state-run facilities to prevent neglect and abuse.
France: French "Right to Die"
Woman Killed Herself-Autopsy (March 27, 2008)
Global Action on Aging reported two weeks ago about a
French woman fighting for the right to die by euthanasia.
She was struggling with the devastating effects of a rare
form of cancer. This woman took her own life after a court
ruled that a doctor was not allowed to help her. An
autopsy found she had taken a high dose of barbiturates.
The state prosecutor was attempting to find out whether
someone assisted her in her suicide. In France, 9 out of
10 people believe that doctors should be allowed to assist
in ending the life of persons suffering from painful and
incurable diseases.
France: Pentecost Vacation:
What Day Off for Solidarity? (March 26, 2008)
(Article in French)
Responding to the widespread deaths of French older
persons during an intense heat wave, Jean Pierre Raffarin
ended the traditional work holiday on Pentecost in 2005.
The government urged citizens to work in “solidarity” with
older persons, designating their wages to assist dependent
older persons and disabled persons. However, this
solidarity day was problematic because half of French
people didn’t go to work, especially in 2006. Now the
government wants to make the measure more flexible. Trade
unions and employers will negotiate so that workers can
choose between working on a holiday or contributing the
equivalent of their salary for one day to the fund.
France: Older or Disabled
Persons Soon to Have More Protection (March 26, 2008)
(Article in French)
In France, a new directive, a ‘mandate for future
protection,’ enables older persons who fear becoming
dependent, among others reasons, such as Alzheimer’s
disease, to nominate someone who is able to care for them,
in case they need care. People who want to contract to do
this can fill in a form, available on-line. This new
measure also will help parents of a disabled child who
worry about the future care of the child.
Spain: Jaén Approves
a Campaign Against the ‘Asustaviejas’ who Stalk Old
Persons. (March 25, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The Association of Urbanismo of the City Hall of
Jaén intends to fight against the “asustaviejas.”
The asustaviejas are those who stalk the elderly so that
they abandon their homes and are forced into a vulnerable
position. The Association is committed to defending and
protecting older persons against these urban
stalkers.
Iceland: Iceland Will Have
Lowest European Dependency Population (March 25, 2008)
According to the newly estimated figures covering the next
forty years, Iceland and the Scandinavian countries will
have more population balance than the rest of the European
countries. In countries like Germany, Italy and Greece,
the number of dependent elders will double by 2050.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria’s
Higher Learning Institutions Face Aging Problem (March
24, 2008)
Bulgaria must confront a problem in the academic field.
Among their 1,292 professors, more than 600 are over age
65 and only 12 are under 44 years old. The system of
awarding postgraduate degrees has to be changed. Few young
people aspire for a university career due to a lack of
mobility, low salaries and few opportunities for
growth.
United Kingdom:
Bridging Generation Gap is Important (March 24,
2008)
The Welsh Deputy Minister for Social Services has launched
an initiative to promote the wellbeing of senior citizens
in 2008. In a first step taken in 2003, the government
provided free bus travel and free swimming to the elderly.
In their second step, the Welsh Assembly Government has
decided to pour in £7m to build programs to assure
more participation of older persons in the community as
well as provide greater economic stability and personal
dignity.
France: Seniors Will Have
Their Villages in the Countryside (March 24, 2008)
(Article in French)
A Frency company, Hamo, has launched a new concept for
older persons’ housing. These ‘services-residences,’ a
housing compound of 24 houses with a big garden are
located in the countryside, but are also very close to a
village. The neighborhood is well equipped with services
and grocery shops. These initiatives answer a growing
demand for housing designed for older persons. In general
seniors like to leave the cities to enjoy the calm in the
country.
France: French Woman's
Euthanasia Request Denied (March 18, 2008)
A French case has raised the euthanasia debate once again.
A 52 year old woman suffers from incurable cancer, and her
greatest wish is to escape her physical misery. She cannot
see, feel, smell or taste. Controversy is likely to
continue around this topic, which raises many questions
about the ethical and moral implications of what
proponents describe as death with dignity. This article
lists some of the ways people feel about this
controversial topic.
Europe: EU Action Needed on
'Widespread' Elder Abuse (March 18, 2008)
Concerns for the aging will continue to challenge
officials in the region. Seven out of ten elders say they
are victims of abuse and or physical neglect. More
attention must be paid to this concern by agencies
providing care. The good news from the report is that
Europeans are changing their attitudes towards older
people and are beginning to recognize their value to
society.
France: Financial Abuses:
Pressured Sales, Frauds, Scams…The International
Federation of Older Persons Associations Denounces Them!
(March 17, 2008)
(Article in French)
The International Federation of Older Persons Associations
recently denounced the many forms of financial abuse that
older persons endure. According to a recent Federation
survey that focused on more than 300 older persons, some
40% of the polled persons said they had already been the
victims of a financial crime. In France, the emergency
number 3977 can give advice to victims.
United Kingdom: Seniors with The
Best Bodies In Britain (March. 17, 2008)
Are you too young to play? For sure, no one is too old to
play, not even on playgrounds! After Germany began
building special playgrounds for older persons, the plan
was copied in the north of England for seniors there. They
love it. All agree that this project combines many
virtues. Older persons can be a part of nature, do
something for their bodies and health, and meet and
communicate with other people.
Russia: “Circle of Friends”
Celebrates its Three-year Anniversary (March 17, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
A “Circle of Friends” club for elderly people was created
three years ago in the town of Kholmsk. The creators
wanted to provide leisure activities for seniors. Club
members sing, dance, organize culinary contests, and learn
how to garden, knit and sew. This year, the club gathered
with the theme, “Spring Mood,” bringing together over 50
Kholmsk pensioners.
Russia: Apartments for
Elderly and Disabled in Noviy Urengoy (March 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
A new apartment complex for the elderly and invalids will
be built this fall in Noviy Urengoy. It will include 96
specially designed apartments equipped with wider doorways
and featuring rooms that are configured for wheelchair
disability. The complex will also include a massage salon,
gym and a cafeteria.
Ukraine: Pensioners in Ukraine
Rarely Travel (March 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Ukrainian pensioners are not ready to travel yet. Tourism
is not developed in the Ukraine, and seniors do not even
step into tour operators’ offices, considering tourism a
low priority. In Western European countries older persons
travel much more frequently. Financial resources may
explain the difference.
European Union: EU
Cash to Turn Baby Boomers into Silver Surfers (March 13,
2008)
The European Parliament agreed to provide 150 million
euros over the next five years for research on information
technology, including the Internet, to help seniors live
more independently. Parliament believes the Internet may
help seniors manage their finances, shop, make
appointments and gather health information, while other
forms of information technology may help maintain home
security.
France: An Older Driver is not
more Dangerous than any Other Driver (March 11, 2008)
(Article in French)
French television channel M6 recently shocked aging
experts who fight aging discrimination. Journalists from a
TV show released a classified ad asking for testimonials
from people who said that an older person’s driving had
endangered them. This is discriminatory. Many studies show
that, contrary of what this ad implies, that older drivers
are more careful and statistically guilty of fewer
accidents than young people.
Russia: “The Agency of Kind Deeds”
to Open in Barnaul (March 11, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Barnaul is launching a new volunteer project to help its
elderly. Volunteers of “The Agency of Kind Deeds” will be
collecting requests from the elderly and offering their
help to clean an apartment, do small repairs around the
house, walk a pet or merely stop by and have a chat. “We
protest indifference and a lack of sympathy. We all live
in the same city and will also grow old some day,” says
one of the project's activists.
Russia: 66-Year Old Completes
her 7-month Bicycle Ride (March 11, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Sixty-six year old Julia Mikhailuk from Tver completed her
20,000 km. bicycle ride. It took her 7 months to make the
journey from her home city of Tver to Sakhalin Island.
Julia set a new record for the oldest bike rider in
Russia. Her next goal is to make a bike journey to Kola
Peninsula in the far north of Russia.
Russia: Generation Gap (March 11,
2008)
(Article in Russian)
People often find that it takes too much time and patience
to bridge the generation gap between themselves and their
elderly parents. Annoyance, lack of understanding or the
"silly behavior" of older persons may cause serious
conflicts in families. This article reminds us of the
things we should value in older people and gives advice on
how to bridge the gap.
France: Aging at Home in 2030
(March 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
According to Michaëla Bobasch, we are in the
‘gerontology technology’ period. Innovations such as
bracelets that detect falls, visual cell phones or
adaptable gymnastic machines show that new ideas are
increasing to encourage seniors to stay at home instead of
going to a nursing home during their retirement. The
growing numbers of home care services emphasize this
tendency. The government should remain aware of the
loneliness many old people experience, and encourage
living situations where they can remain active
participants in the community.
Scotland: Woman leaves Museums
£2m in Will (March 9, 2008)
Adele Stewart from Edinburgh died in 2006 at age 79.
Throughout her life she was interested in different
cultures and traveled the world. She was a regular patron
of the Royal Museum in Edinburgh. Her generous legacy to
the Museum will make it possible for many others to
experience the same enjoyment she had when she visited
that place, the home of so many outstanding works of art.
Spain: St. Catherine Seniors
Learn Computer Skills (March 8, 2008)
St. Catherine Parish Library in Spanish Town offered basic
computer training to 10 seniors in April 2006. Today, the
program has graduated students and involved nearly 52
seniors. The program is intended to keep seniors up to
date with advancing computer technologies and to instill
within them a sense of self-worth. Participants have
benefited greatly from the program. The success of the
training has led other regional parishes to adopt the same
program for senior citizens in the area.
Italy:
Italian Grandma Fights Authorities' Claims of Her
Death (March 6, 2008)
A crazy thing happened to an 80-year-old woman in Italy
. A new law in Italy
says that a national health card is necessary for
getting free prescription medicines. Ultimina Dalla Pria
of Ferrara
applied for this card from the national
health office. But she was surprised when someone told
her that she has been officially dead for 25 years. The
evidence of her physical presence in front of the
administrators didn’t change that. Instead, she must do
all the paperwork to prove that she is indeed still
alive. She hopes the bureaucratic procedure can soon be
finished so she can get her medicine.
United Kingdom: Man, 101, to
run London Marathon (March 3, 2008)
At the beginning of March, Buster Martin, a 101 year old
man, ran a half Marathon, during a little bit more than
five hours. He is also registered for the London 26-mile
Marathon. This older healthy former rock star got back to
work as a plumber three years ago because ‘he was bored’.
His first words after the run were: ‘Where’s my beer?’
Spain: Cheap Food, Urine and
Vacancies (March 2, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
It is shocking what the nursing home director of Manoteras
does: He pretends to save by buying meat of inferior
quality and limiting older persons’ consumption of fruits
and vegetables. There is a big controversy between
Manoteras and the Advisory of Family and Social Issues. In
another nursing home center in Goya, the residents live in
poor hygienic conditions, often waking up in urine. In the
meantime, people who need care wait for vacancies in these
nursing homes.
Russia: Slavgorod Honors its
Oldest Voters (March 2, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The Town of Slavgorod honored its oldest seniors during
the Russian Presidential elections on March 2. Two of its
oldest voters, 94 and 95 years old, came to the ballot
stations by themselves, but a 105-year-old senior, the
oldest in town, cast her vote at home. The election
committee brought a ballot box to her house. The town
honored all seniors with special gifts.
Russia: Dance for Adults (February 29, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Every Saturday pensioners come to the “Retro” club to
enjoy dancing to the foxtrot, rock and roll, tango and
waltz. The local government has already organized an older
persons’ choir. Opening the dance club was another step
taken to bring pensioners together. The club plans to
offer its dance performances to the public in the near
future.
Scotland: We Need a Culture of
Respect for the Elderly (March 4, 2008)
Why it is possible for people to abuse, physical and
mental, elderly or even kill them? Is the life of the
elders less important? It is a fact that last year more
than 500.000 older people are being abused by their
relatives, carers or stranger in Britain. Nine out of ten
nurses have come across cases of abuse of an elderly
person. The author argues that society must create a
better system of professional care for older person,
including better training for carers, along with competent
agency supervision.
France: A New
Emergency Number in France to Fight Against Abuse of
Older and Disabled People (March 3, 2008)
(Article in French)
France has but into operation a national emergency phone
number for older and disabled people. Witnesses or victims
of verbal or physical abuse can call 3977 to talk to
professionals, Monday through Friday. Citizens hope that
the widespread abuse and neglect of elders and disabled
can be overcome with swift reporting.
United Kingdom: Elderly Couples
'Can Stay Together in Care' (March 3, 2008)
It is time for a policy change in the treatment of elderly
people in the UK. The government has promised that older
married couples can stay together when they go into
residential care. Earlier policies forced elder couples
apart and penalized their family carers if their income
rose above a certain minimum level The author argues that
it is equally important to support the maternity and
paternity laws for parents as to support the people who
currently look after a disabled or elderly relatives. The
UK should not be afraid of being called the “granny state”
instead of the “nanny state.”
Russia: Contract of Gift or
Life-long Rent? (February 26, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Lack of support in their retirement leads lonely elderly
to offer their apartments to random people in return for
care. In many cases, senior citizens become victims of
swindlers who make fake contracts and throw them out of
their own apartments. The article gives useful legal
advice on negotiating contracts and writing wills that
will help the elderly avoid making crucial mistakes when
dealing with legal issues.
Uzbekistan: Charity Event for
Veterans and Invalids (February 25, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
A charity event was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for
veterans and invalids of World War II in remembrance of
the 65-year anniversary of the battle of Stalingrad. The
organizing team visited the elderly in their homes and
brought them food. Sponsors say “they are proud they can
make a contribution to social projects in Uzbekistan.”
Russia: Example of Great
Fidelity (February 24, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The Smanzers, an elderly couple from Odintsovo, Russia,
celebrated their “diamond” wedding anniversary of 60
years. Both of them are World War II veterans, and the
hard times they went through only made their marriage
stronger. Ivan and Vera are actively involved in the work
of the local Veterans' Council and feel young and full of
energy. Their life is a perfect example for coming
generations of great fidelity in marriage.
Ukraine: 70-Year Old
Matchmaker (February 22, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
About 200 elderly gather at a subway station,
“Teatralnaya,” in Kiev every weekend to dance, listen to
music and find their life partners. Seventy-year-old Pavel
Binchuk has organized such gatherings since 1982, playing
his bayan and singing songs for everyone despite the fact
that local officials threw him out of the Hydropark where
seniors met at one time to socialize. The elderly enjoy
these weekend gatherings where they feel young again and
find their loved ones.
France: Twenty-four French
Towns Judged for Policies by Seniors (February 18, 2008)
(Article in French)
The French Magazine, Notre Temps, evaluated twenty-four
French towns for their ability to set up policies for the
well being of seniors. This article reveals the results of
this study. The towns of Marseille and Aix en Provence
from the south of France chose not to participate in the
report. Strasbourg won the competition, thanks to its free
transportation policy for the elderly, followed by Dijon
and Grenoble. The magazine saluted initiatives such as
free transportation or entrance into museums, as well as
subsidies for older persons’ organizations.
Russia: 90-Year-Old Pensioner
Wins “The Best Valentine” Contest (February 16, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
A contest for the best love confession letter was held on
St. Valentine's Day in Voronezh, Russia. A 90- year-old
pensioner won the competition with the “ most romantic
love letter.” He wrote about meeting his future wife, Olga
Shevchenko, during World War II. This year's Valentine's
contest was especially popular among elderly people,
organizers say.
Russia: Elderly Home Burned Down
in a 2007 Deadly Fire Renovated (February 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The renovation of the home for the elderly in Krasnodar,
Russia, is almost finished. A fire on March 20, 2007,
destroyed the building and killed 63 pensioners and a
nurse who tried to save the patients. Fifty million rubles
were invested in the renovation, allowing authorities to
re-build and improve the home.
United Kingdom: A Million
Elderly People 'Ignored by Authorities' (February 15,
2008)
A new report suggests the Labour Party is neglecting the
needs of elderly people. According to Age Concern, a
UK-based charity organization, the elderly are suffering
from social isolation. The report claims that elderly who
live alone are lonely and many with cognitive impairments
have no personal care at home. Age Concern suggests that
the Ministry should provide more services to mitigate the
suffering of many seniors.
Scotland: Hospice Of Hope:
Sisters Of St. Margaret's Are Helping Their Elderly
Patients To Live Their Lives To The Fullest (February
15, 2008)
A charity hospice in Scotland created a wing especially to
care for their elderly patients with complex medical
problems and terminal illnesses. The Hospice of Hope is
committed to ensuring the highest quality of life for
their patients and providing comfort in times of
suffering. The hospice recently received a generous grant
from the Changing Lives Campaign, which supports
kind-hearted community charity efforts.
France : Liliane, 75 Years
Old, and Indira, 21 Years Old, Experiment
Intergenerational Living in Bourg la Reine (February 14,
2008)
(Article in French)
Free housing for caregiving services? Friendly
relationships between young and old people? That’s the
program of the French Organization, Atout'âge, that
promotes intergenerational housing. This practical
solution provides basic assistance for older persons, as
well as for students living on a low income. It is also an
interesting human experience and a neat example of
intergenerational solidarity.
Malta: Night Centres for the
Elderly (February 14, 2008)
The Malta Labour Party wants to set up night centers for
seniors who wish to remain in their communities. The night
centers would provide social services for seniors during
the evening. This proposal also encourages families to
adopt an older person in the community, helping to
mitigate dependency on the seniors’ families. These
centers are part of a bigger effort to supplant a corrupt
government with a more caring one.
Austria: Police Investigate Fatal
Fire in Elderly Home (February 11, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Austrian police say the main cause of the fire which
broke out in an elderly home may have been a cigarette
thrown into a trash can. Eleven older victims died of
smoke inhalation. Two hundred fifty firefighters battled
the blaze and 75 medical workers helped the injured
during the fire. Within four weeks Vienna police will
announce the official results of their investigation
into causes for the fire.
Russia: Council for the Elderly
People and Invalids to Work in Megion (February 11,
2008)
(Article in Russian)
The Coordination Council for Elderly People and Invalids
will start working in the city of Megion. The Council
will deal with the issues of financial and social
services for the elderly as well as have legal authority
to negotiate and develop social policies for the older
persons in Russia. The Council will include the city’s
administration, members of the city senate,
representatives of local pension and social insurance
funds, along with leaders of local non-governmental
organizations.
France: Housing Market for
Seniors Growing (February 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
The housing market for the older persons is growing. In
Naves (in the center of France) more than 200 houses since
January have welcomed young retired persons who come from
different regions in France. Developers do market research
and analyze the special needs of seniors to live in
secure, well-lighted places. ‘Les Senioriales,’ for
example, is a group of small houses in a park kept secure
by caretakers every night.
Ireland: Elder Abuse Widespread (February 8, 2008)
The severity of elder abuse in Ireland has been
purportedly underestimated by incomplete reporting of
cases, claims Age Action, a national NGO. According to
Age Action, the Health Service Executive (HSE) last year
reported a less than expected number of cases because
its administrative changes affected accurate reporting.
Elder abuse in Ireland is a major problem that often
goes unreported. Accurate reporting will help establish
much needed support for this human rights abuse of the
aged.
United Kingdom : Living Together: Return of the Extended
Family (February 2, 2008)
More Britons are returning to the
extended family. There are more than 850,000 households
consisting of three generations of family, known as ‘3G
families.’ There are numerous financial benefits to
this shared living due to fewer properties needed and the
communal sharing of materials and belongings. Many may
find the ‘3G family’ an economically and socially
sound way of life for families of the future.
France:
Pentecost Monday, a Day Off Again (January 31, 2008)
(Article in French)
Xavier Bertrand, the French Labor Minister, announced that
Pentecost Monday will again become a French work holiday
in 2008. From 2004 to 2007, due to Jean Pierre Raffarin’s
policy, French people had to work this day and contribute
their salary as solidarity support for older persons.
However, this policy, imposed after many older persons
died in the heat wave, posed many scheduling problems for
families. By 2007, half of French workers didn’t show up
for work on this former holiday. Fortunately, despite this
Pentecostal return to an official holiday, older and
disabled persons will not be forgotten. Companies agreed
to continue to pay a 0.3% tax for solidarity benefits."
United
Kingdom: Manchester Opens Outdoor Playground for Elderly
(January 30, 2008)
The first outdoor playground for the elderly opened
this week in Britain. The adult playground has equipment
that mimics a workout and can also be used by wheelchair
users. Residents of Manchester say it is “ideal for the
area's aging population” and are happy to exercise in the
winter air.
United
Kingdom: Drivers Over 75 will Take IQ Test (January 28,
2008)
(Article in Russian)
In 2006, 23,000 drivers in England were over the age of 91
and 34,000 over the age of 101. The British government
suggested that all drivers over 75 take an IQ test and an
eye exam. Research shows that older drivers have slower
reaction times and are more likely to be confused by
traffic signs. Until now, drivers over 70 simply filled
out a form to declare that they were free of such
illnesses as epilepsy, diabetes and heart
conditions.
Ireland:
Complaints of Abuse on Elderly People Reach 1,000
(January 28, 2008)
The Health Service Executive (HSE) of Ireland received
nearly 1,000 cases of alleged elder abuse in 2007. A
majority of the abuse cases involved a family
relationship. One in five cases were reportedly physical
abuse. A majority of the older clients referred to HSE
lived at home. Elder abuse can occur in many forms,
including psychological abuse, physical abuse, financial
abuse, discriminatory abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. It
is crucial for community health services, neighbors and
family to identify any type of elder abuse and report
it.
Iceland: Children Teach Elderly
How to Use Computers (January 25, 2008)
Students from an elementary school in Reykjavík,
Iceland, are teaching seniors how to use computers at a
community center. Both the senior participants and student
teachers of the program are benefiting from the
experience. As the use of computers and the Internet
continues to pervade societies on a global scale, it has
become increasingly important for seniors to become
socially integrated by using computers to mitigate social
isolation.
France: Nicolas Sarkozy Expects to Win Back the Trust of
Senior Citizens. (January 21, 2008)
(Article in French)
Nicolas Sarkozy wants to win back the trust of senior
voters. Indeed, two-thirds of them voted for him in 2007.
But according to a recent survey, their confidence in the
Head of State lost 18 points since May 2007. Seniors are
feeling excluded from French debates as measures on
overtime do not concern them. Moreover, they seem to
disapprove of the French president’s private life. In
order to change this tendency the government plans to
revalue the minimum pension level.
United Kingdom: Elderly Fear Being
Alone (January 17, 2008)
A new study by elderlyparents.org.uk indicates that people
worry about being alone and isolated from friends and
family in old age. Elderlyparents.org.uk is a welfare
organization providing support to care-giving children of
elderly parents. Nearly 300,000 elderly Britons reportedly
often go at least a month without contacting relatives or
other people around them. The organization also reports
that the suicide rate among older people is high compared
to their younger counterparts. It is important to set up
local and national systems to support elderly people
living alone.
United Kingdom: One in Five
Pensioners Can't Afford a Holiday (January 17, 2008)
A Help the Aged Study says that one out of five pensioners
has been unable to pay for a vacation in the past five
years, mostly relying on financial support from family and
friends. One out of ten also has not eaten outside their
home for more than a year due to financial reasons. At the
same time, 46% of elderly fear isolation from friends and
family as they grow older. A very disturbing situation in
one of the world’s richest countries.
Russia: Poor Conditions in
Nursing Homes in Karelia (January 17, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
The Public Prosecution Office in Karelia has revealed
serious safety violations in nursing homes, including
violations in living conditions, sanitary-hygiene and fire
safety. The Prosecution issued 17 violation reports. One
institution and its administration will bear civil
liability.
United Kingdom: Choose a Care Home
by Stopping off for Dinner - and Stay the Night if You
Can (January 15, 2008)
How should families select care homes? What things should
they look for? The guide published by the charity Counsel
and Care provides useful suggestions for families who must
choose a nursing home for their parents. With growing
concerns about poor standards in nursing care homes,
including the abusive methods of restraint, older persons
and their families should “be clear about what they have a
right to expect from their care home."
France: An Emergency Number for
Mistreated Elderly People (January 15, 2008)
(Article in French)
France authorities are creating an emergency phone number
for mistreated elderly people, available for urgencies and
information. People who call will reach someone able to
help them and to explain the correct procedure to them .
15000 volunteers, retired persons and students help to
create the network, a great example of intergenerational
solidarity.
Russia: A Touching Tale from
Russia, with Love (January 14, 2008)
Cruel circumstances tore apart Boris and Anna in 1946 just
three days after their marriage. Boris joined his Red Army
unit and Anna, along with her family, were sent to
internal exile in Siberia. More than 50 years later, the
couple miraculously reunited in their home village. Boris,
now 80, said, “I ran up to her and said: 'My darling, I've
been waiting for you for so long. My wife, my
life…’”
United Kingdom: 88-Year-Old
Grandfather Makes his Ballet Debut (January 14, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
John Lowe took up dancing when he was 79 and is now making
his ballet debut with Prokofiev's ballet “Stone Flower.”
It all started with his visit to a ballet school where he
simply asked if he could do tap and ballet. The 88-year
old grandfather has been doing it ever since. Lowe adds:
“I see these people crawling around, hunched over smoking
a cigarette – they should be doing ballet.”
United Kingdom: Nine out of Ten Want to End
Means Tests for Care for the Elderly (January 7,
2008)
Interviews of 700 older people show that nine out of
ten see means tests to determine whether they should
pay for their own long-term care as “unjust”. Those
who have never worked are eligible for no-cost state
support, including a place in a care home or help at
home. Meanwhile, those who managed to save assets
during their lives must pay for their own bills to
receive the same quality of care. The recent
government report shows the inadequacy of the current
elder care system in the UK.
United Kingdom: Nursing
Home Owners Fined €2,000 (January 7, 2008)
Maura Reynolds, 78, suffering from Alzheimer’s went
missing from a care center on Christmas night 2005.
The owners of the center were fined but Maura’s
relatives hope for new legislation regulating the
elderly care system since the current one “in no way
reflects the seriousness of elderly neglect.”
United Kingdom: Martial
Arts Expert Teaches Pensioners How to Turn Their
Walking Sticks into Weapons (January 2, 2008)
A walking stick is no longer a symbol of old age and
vulnerability. Elderly people need to look and feel
more confident. Martial arts expert teachers show
seniors how to “look less like a victim” on the
streets and how to use a walking stick to fight back.
The lessons have already paid off as an elderly woman
who fought off two men trying to mug her on the
street.
United Kingdom: £500 a
Week Bill for OAPs Trying to Stay Independent
(January 2, 2008)
The Government is cutting social services, including
help for the elderly, forcing older persons to pay up
to £500 a week for home help. The money will
come from their life savings as the State can no long
provide proper funding. “This is not a situation
vulnerable people deserve,” says the Local Government
Association.
Return to Top of Page
Middle East and North Africa
Reports
Iran: Quality of Life in Elderly
People in Kashan, Iran (April 2008)
Researchers examined the quality of life of elderly people
in Kashan, a medium-sized town in Iran. The study looked
at their physical, social, and emotional health, as well
as whether they felt high levels of chronic pain. It also
looked at literacy and marriage rates. The authors
compared their results to other Iranian cities and posted
a comparison.
Israel:
Perceptions of Nurses, Families and Residents in Nursing
Homes Concerning Residents' Needs (May, 2008)
Researchers in Israel found a yawning disparity between
the self-reported needs of nursing home residents and
their families and the needs nursing home staff
identified. The report calls for nursing care management
to better listen to and understand their patient’s
needs.
Articles
Jordan: 18 Cases of Physical
and Verbal Abuse Against Older Persons in Irbid
(December 2, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In Jordan there are eleven institutions--of which
nearly half are privately owned--that care for older
persons. They are occupied by about 220 elderly in a
country where the proportion of older persons is
estimated at about 3.5%. The Association of Protection
of the Family and Children in Irbid reported 18 cases of
abuse of old people, both physical and verbal, since the
beginning of the year. According to Chairman Kazem
Ulkipiri, who criticized the neglect and the difficult
economic situation faced by the elderly, many older
persons are forced to live on the streets and in
shelters.
Saudi Arabia: In Old Gulf and
Saudi Colloquial Arabic the Designations of Months
Differ (November 28, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The names given to months of the year by Saudis and Gulf
Arabs now differ radically from past names. If any Saudi
or Gulf child of this generation is asked when is the
month of “kasyr,” they will not know when the month
falls unless they are culturally familiar with the older
generations and have had discussions with older persons
in the community. This phenomenon reveals that many
youth in the Gulf region are distant from older persons
and resist embracing cultural traditions.
Bahrain: The Minister
of Social Development Estimates that 30 Thousand
Bahrainis are Served by 10
Mobile Units (November 21, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
According to estimates by the Central Agency for Public
Information, in the year
2006 there were 29,655 older persons: 15,171 males,
14,484 females. Although,
there are no statistics specific to those who do not
receive a pension or whose
physical condition is weak, the ministry is working on
providing many services.
The National Committee has developed a comprehensive
national plan for the
elderly. The plan is based on two important pillars: the
Madrid International
Plan of Action on Aging, adopted in April 2002, and the
National Plan for Older
Persons, from the Economic and Social Commission for
Western Asia.
Syria: Plans for a Nursing
Home Fail Due to Lack of Funding (November 9, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In 1990, a group of employees and workers publicly
volunteered to revive the idea of a nursing home for
older persons in the governorate of Irbid, Syria.
Fortunately, the administration was able to secure
ownership of the land necessary to establish the
project, but significant funding is still needed. About
75 older persons suffer from a lack of shelter in Irbid.
Kuwait: Prize for a Caring
Progeny (October 22, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Following up an earlier article regarding a competition
to find the most caring and respectful progeny, the
Department of Older Persons Care awarded the prize to
fifteen competitors. The department, part of the Social
Affairs and Labor Ministry, is supposed to offer care,
rehabilitation and service to old people The department
wants all government institutions and civil workers to
provide care to older persons and those with special
needs. The director of the department, Ali Hassan, noted
that the department had successfully expanded elder care
services.
Jordan: The Ministry of
Social Affairs Emphasizes Older Persons and Families
(October 22, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Institution for Older Persons in Ajman celebrated
the International Day for Older Persons by launching an
awareness campaign. The campaign promoted the slogan
“together for their happiness” in support of older
persons. The campaign focused on proper care, instilling
values and respect for elderly persons among the new
generation, and understanding the health, social and
psychological challenges of older persons.
United Arab Emirates:
Minister of Social Affairs Receives the French
Ambassador (October 21, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al-Rumi, the Minister for Social
Affairs, received France’s new ambassador to the UAE,
Alan Ozwao, in her Abu Dhabi office. The French
ambassador explained how civil associations that support
development programs, particularly those that provide
services for older persons that allow them to stay with
their families. He suggested that France could exchange
experiences in these areas with the United Arab
Emirates.
Saudi Arabia: Hajj
Regulations: Between Age and Physical Health (October
15, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Hajj is the circumstantial pillar of Islam, stating that
only persons who are physically and financially able to
perform the Hajj are obligated to go to Mecca for the
duty. The Hajj Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic holy sites
requires that one be physically healthy to perform hajj
and acknowledges that many older persons have waited until
their declining health makes it almost impossible to
travel without the assistance of an aide. Unfortunately,
by the time many individuals have saved enough money to
travel, their health challenges raise doubts whether they
can make the pilgrimage.
Palestine: Palestinian
Elderly Women Suffer the Most and Are the Poorest Among
Arabs (October 15, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In light of the deteriorating economic conditions and
higher commodity prices in the Gaza Strip, older women
face many difficulties because of declining support from
their families. Increasingly, older women find support in
one another’s homes, sharing their concerns and complaints
while at the same time escaping the noise and bustle of
the market vendors where they might have previously
socialized. .
Qatar: Conference Calls for Social Welfare Launches Free
Services for Older Persons (October 14, 2008)
(Articles in Arabic)
Participants agreed at the closing of this conference
on various ways of developing social care for older
persons. In addition to identifying the issues and
problems of older persons, there were discussions
concerning violence toward older people. The conference
concluded that the real values of working with older
persons were love and respect. Participants urged the
social welfare organizations of member states to draft the
necessary legislation to grant customs exemptions to
companies and institutions working to provide specialized
care of the elderly.
Kuwait: Nine Mobile Senior
Centers are Established in the New Plan (October 13,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The director of care for older persons in the Ministry of
Social Affairs and Labor, Ali Hassan, confirmed that the
Ministry adopted a plan of action to implement programs to
help older persons. The plan focuses on the expansion of
the domestic mobile service by increasing the number of
teams specializing in mobile home care to twelve teams.
Qatar: The Proportion
of Older Persons Has Reached 2.2% (October 13, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Lulua Al-Eside presented a working paper on
legislation and plans for older persons in social policy.
Stressing Qatar’s keen attention to older persons as the
origin of society, the paper also acknowledged the
expected increase of seniors in Qatar. The Lulua Al-Eside
paper provides recommendations and policy proposals,
including the need for accurate data and statistics
regarding older persons, in an effort to help identify and
assess policy and legislation. It also emphasized the
importance of considering older persons as a crucial
category of society and an important segment of the
population.
Kuwait: Community Center Will
Start its Educational Sessions (October 13, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Community Center is beginning a program of community
service by offering continuing education at Kuwait
University. Women’s sessions will focus on yoga, good
nutrition, sewing, water sports and swimming courses.
Other community-based skills such as Arabic calligraphy,
jewelry and gems, the arts in Islamic culture, caring for
senior citizens at home and other useful courses will also
be part of the curriculum.
Qatar: In Cooperation With the
Arab League and the Qatari Foundation for the Care of
Older Persons, Al-Hamidi Presides Over Seminar on Ways
to Develop Social Welfare for Older Persons (October 13,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
His Excellency Mr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Hamidi, Minister
of Social Affairs, hosted a seminar on "ways to develop
methods of social care for older persons." His Excellency
stressed that we should recognize the rights of seniors
and that these rights are found in the legislative and
divine laws. Senior citizens have a right to be protected
and want to maintain their moral rights as the embodiment
of social solidarity between generations.
Morocco: Morocco Celebrates the
International Day of Older People (October 8, 2008)
(Article in French)
Nezha Skalli, the Minister for Social Development, Family
and Solidarity, recognizes the importance of adapting to
the aging phenomenon. Her Ministry wishes to embrace the
demographic changes by developing a cohesive
cross-ministry strategy. The Ministry also wants to
include NGOs and local authorities in the decision-making
process. Among the objectives are higher life standards
for older people as well as more participation to social
life. Ultimately, the Ministry is calling for the creation
of regional public services for older people in
recognition of their vulnerability.
Saudi Arabia:
How the Elderly and Sick Spend Eid (October 3, 2008)
While Eid Al-Fitr is usually a joyous occasion for most
Muslims, it is not for the residents of the Charitable
Housing Compound in Mecca. Many of the residents are
seniors who rely exclusively upon the General
Organization for Social Insurance for income; yet
because of expensive medical costs, many of the seniors
find it impossible to purchase new clothes for the Eid
celebration.
Jordan: The
Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons
(September 29, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Jordan participated in the celebration of the day of
Older Persons on October 2. Older persons (those above
the age of 65) in Jordan comprise 8.3% of the
population. In comparison, older persons in Europe make
up 7.14%, 4.17% in Sweden, 2.17% in Japan and 3.12% in
the US.
Libya: General
People's Committee Establish a National Committee for
Older Persons and Labor Costs (September 25, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The General People's Committee held a general
meeting in Tripoli to follow up on ways to implement the
decisions and recommendations of the Basic People's
Congresses. The Commission approved the People's
Assembly decision to establish a National Committee for
Older Persons and Social Affairs. The draft commissioned
by the committee designated the National Committee for
Older Persons and Social Affairs to be composed of
scientific advisers to formulate policies, plans and
programs for providing better health services to older
persons.
Iraq: Past Ceremony in
Memory of Older Persons (September 24, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Eid in the old days had its own flavor. The
Celebration of Eid in Iraq witnessed a day of compassion
and love, where Iraqis offered resolutions and put an
end to the quarrels and competition between family
members and commercial rivals. On this holiday, older
persons recalled their personal accounts of festivities
and celebrations in Iraq, as they were filled with joy
and happiness.
Kuwait: Al-Ataby: The
Zakat House Offered Millions in Aid throughout August
(September 24, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Zakat House received more than 2 million dinar in
financial donations, which was used to address the needs
of 7,958 families. Al-Ataby mentioned that the
administration prepared a reception hall to receive
individuals with special needs and older persons. He
also confirmed that the operation of the institute will
address the needs of particular groups.
Jordan: We Strive to
Establish Senior Centers for Older Persons and Benefit
from their Abilities (September 22, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In recognition of the International Day of Older Persons
and as a symbol of the high regard older persons are held
in Jordanian society, the Prime Minister, Mr. Nadar
Al-Zahaby, hosted a Ramadan iftar for older persons living
in the guest house for the elderly in Jweida and for the
residents of HRH Princess Muna Center for older women.
During the closing of the event, the Prime Minister
presented gifts to the residents and a cash donation to
both of the centers.
Jordan: Adopting and
Implementing a National Strategy for Older Persons
(September 22, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Yarmouk University has been recognized for its
contributions to implementing the recommendations of the
National Strategic Plan of Older Persons for the years
2009-2013. The National Council for Family Affairs plan
includes health care training programs to improve skills,
along with cultural and community discussions with older
persons in the Irbid province, in order to understand
their needs and provide them with needed support.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi
Arabia Requests a Reduction in the Number of Older
Algerian Pilgrims (September 21, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Saudi officials overseeing pilgrimages have requested
Algerian officials to reduce the number of older pilgrims
who may suffer from health complications. In addition, the
administration petitioned the Algerian administration to
adhere to its commitment to all conventions, regulations
and instructions to ensure the success of the pilgrimage
season this year.
Saudi Arabia: A Public
Nursing Home Is in Danger of Collapsing (September 20,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Twenty-four older persons are living in the public nursing
home in Al-Sharqia region, but after 37 years the building
is in urgent need of renovation. While the residents enjoy
the services provided, one resident encouraged children to
visit their relatives, and not to neglect their loved ones
to deal with worsening diseases and loneliness.
Saudi Arabia: Prince
Mohamed Bin Fahd and the Leadership Supports Efforts to
Achieve a Comfortable Living for Citizens (September 17,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, ruler of
Al-Sharqia province, announced his support for the
expansion, development and various projects and services
of the Organization of Regional Care. His Highness
clarified that the leadership has approved the efforts of
providing comfortable and adequate housing for persons in
the region, especially older persons. Doctor Al-Qady
reviewed the project along with other initiatives of
Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz to provide
affordable comfortable housing.
Qatar: Al-Qatari
for the Elderly will Join the Upcoming October
Conference (September 15, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Doctor Hamda Al-Sleety, a member of the executive
administration board of the Al-Qatari for the elderly,
clarified that the institution is preparing to join the
conference in October analyzing the situation of elderly
Arabs. Promising to be a success, the conference was
organized by the ministry of social affairs with
sponsorship from the Arabic League. In addition, various
institutions and ministries plan to participate.
Qatar: The
Youth Institute Celebrate Al-Karangro with Older Persons
(September 15, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Youth Institute of Qatar visited nursing homes during
the middle of Ramadan to celebrate Al-Karangro with gifts,
cultural games and entertainment. The Institute recognizes
the importance of older persons in society and their need
for care and support from others.
Middle East:
The Elderly and the Institutional Organization
(September 10, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Elderly rights should not be confined to the medical and
social care of the needy. Older people need a large system
of institutions and policies much greater than just direct
care. In Western communities the various institutions and
organizations caring for old people are diverse and
efficient. Going to such centers does not result from
family neglect or disability, but reflects the needs and
wishes of seniors.
Morocco: Disabled Older Person
Wandering the Streets Carrying Their Homes on Their
Shoulders Like Snails (September 7, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Disabled older persons wander the street with all their
possessions on their backs in Oujda, Morocco without the
slightest health or social care. All that keeps them alive
is the mercy of passersby. This article presents some of
their stories.
Kuwait: The Price of
Nuts and Loans and Historical TV Series are the Chats of
Elderly Traders in the Stock Exchange (September 4,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Older traders come to the market almost two hours before
opening to share beautiful memories of the past. The
trader Mansour Al-Fadly commented that these talks between
older traders are important especially during Ramadan and
cover a wide-range of topics, including investment and
market details.
Kuwait: Oh… How Dreadful are
the Years of Darkness! Do you Know What the Coming days
are Hiding? (September 2, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Did you try to sit down alone for a day, speak to the
darkness or stand amid the sound of disturbing crickets?
This article empathizes with older mothers and fathers
living alone, waiting for one of their children--for whom
they spent their lives educating and caring for--to visit
now that they have grown old and spend their days alone.
Bahrain:
Retirement…Is It An End or the Beginning of Life?
(September 1, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Retired Bahrainis face a life filled with hardship after
the conclusion of their work years. Companies and
government institutions for which the retirees have worked
for many years neglect them and leave them on their own
with a trifling pension, insufficient for their needs. The
writer of the article interviewed several Bahraini
pensioners who told their difficult stories. An interview
with the director of the Retiree Wisdom Charity revealed
many harsh situations encountered during the charity’s
work for the elderly.
Kuwait: The Ideal
Child Award Urges Connecting with the Elderly and
Parents Especially during the Month of Ramadan (August
31, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The official sponsor for the award, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Baghly
announced that the period for accepting applications is
now closed and that the committee will begin work to
select the winners. He also confirmed the committee’s
decision to explore society’s role in taking care of older
persons during Ramadan and in making them feel they are an
important part of the community.
Saudi Arabia: Billion Riyals of
Ramadan Aid to Families Receiving Social Security
(August 31, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Servant of the Two Holy Places, King Abdullah Bin
Abdel Aziz, ordered the payment of 1.15 billion Riyals
(307 million dollars) to all recipients of social security
for Ramadan. This aid will come in addition to the regular
monthly sum paid out at the beginning of the month.
Bahrain: 150 Dinar Monthly Grant
to Nationals Returning to Bahrain for Those Above the
Age of 60: 70-150 Dinar Is the Monthly Social Aid to the
Elderly (August 30, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The minister of social development, Dr. Fatmah Al-Bolshy,
stated that due to the Social Security Act, which
specifically covers the elderly, the ministry provides
comprehensive aid to older persons. Dr. Al-Boshly affirmed
that the ministry offers various services to the elderly
including at home care, transportation, aid to their
families in caring for them, and additional support
specific to the needs of older person.
U.A.E:
Mufti of Dubai Declares Winasa Marriage Invalid and
Contrary to Islamic Law (August 30, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Mufti of Dubai, Ahmed Abdel Azziz Al Haddad, said that
the winasa marriage that has begun spreading across the
Gulf region is invalid under Islamic law. The Winasa,
which has been used by elderly men to marry girls far
younger than themselves, is the same as an ordinary
marriage except that the woman gives up her right to
marital relations. The marriages have been criticized as
exploitative of women.
Saudi Arabia: Literacy
Rates Have Increased by 13.7% in Saudi Arabia Mainly
Among the Elderly (August 25, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
While literacy rates differ throughout the provinces of
Saudi Arabia, overall, the rates improved in the kingdom.
Older persons are increasing their literacy rates faster
than any other demographic segment of the
population.
Syria: On Account of a Strategy
for Aging… 2 Models of Syrian Institutions for the
Elderly, the Five Stars and the Free (August 11, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
This article is crammed with personal stories and
information discussing the situation of the elderly in
Syria. It begins with interviews and personal stories,
continues with a comparison between an expensive and a
free elderly home and then finishes up with statistics
about older persons in Syria. The recent rapid increase in
the proportion of older persons has made society think of
the best way to provide adequate care for them.
Jordan: 24 Wheelchairs Distributed to a Group of Seniors
in Mafraq (August 11, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The charity Love for Caring for the Elderly distributed 24
wheelchairs in the Mafraq neighborhood in Petra, Jordan.
The charity gave out the wheelchairs in response to
medical reports and field studies showing a desperate need
for them. The chairs, which the Swedish organization
Operation Mercy donated, will help older persons better
integrate into society and work.
Israel: Prime Minister’s
Office: Dorner Report Harms Poverty-Dtricken Survivors
(August 5, 2008)
Holocaust survivors living in Israel, all of whom are
elderly, are among the poorest people in Israeli society
and shamefully neglected by the government. The Dorner
Commission of Inquiry into Assistance to Holocaust
Survivors published a report one month ago in which it
recommended increasing financial aid to survivors who
immigrated to Israel before the signing of the reparations
agreement with Germany to give them parity with survivors
who immigrated to Israel after the deal. However, the
government claims that the Derner report is overly focused
on achieving “world-historical justice” at the expense of
social justice.
Qatar: “House of Time” and the
Problem of the Old (August 3, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
This article is a review of the new Qatari series “House
of Time,” which deals with the problems of the old in
Qatari and Emirate society. The reviewer remarks that in
Emirate society, the old seem to be expected to do nothing
but wait for their deaths quietly. This lack of activity,
she claims, results in their aging even more quickly in
body and mind. She also claims that in Western countries,
the old are far more active and happy and seem more
youthful.
Kuwait:
Elderly Home Workers Strike Causes Humanitarian Tragedy
(July 28, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Workers in elderly homes obtained a salary increase after
a one day strike. This strike was a tragedy for the
elderly because they did not receive their care despite
the efforts of administration employees, who cared for
them themselves during the strike.
Saudi Arabia: “Free Taxis”
Launches with 10 Cars Serving 13 Locations (July 13,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Multi-Purpose Cooperative Organization in King Saud’s
University began a new service for older persons and
infirmed: free taxis. The service, which is the first of
its type in Saudi Arabia, will include 10 cars serving 13
locations in Riyadh. The cars will transport their users
to and from government hospitals. The service will focus
in particular on poor neighborhoods with low income
people.
Israel: About Half of the Russian
Immigrant Population are Victims of Elder Abuse (June
17, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
In conjunction with the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
held on June 15, the Israeli government issued a report
revealing elder abuse among the Russian immigrant
population living in Israel. Nursing homes are becoming
“traps” for older persons as personnel severely abuse
them, rob them, and take their personal belongings.
However, only 10 percent of the abused elderly file a
police report for fear of revenge attacks.
Saudi Arabia: The “Winasa”…
A New Type of Marriage For Elderly Men (June 16, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
A marriage official in Jedda has proclaimed the advent of
the “winasa,” a form of marriage that permits elderly men
to marry younger women in Saudi Arabia. The winasa
resembles a traditional marriage, but the younger woman
must renounce her right under Islamic Law to marital
relations. The official, Ahmed Al Mana, emphasized that
this contract preserved all her other traditional rights
such as a dowry, financial support and housing.
Saudi Arabia: Older Saudis Resort
to “Winasa” Marriages to Obtain Care (June 15, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In recent years a new form of marriage, the “Winasa,” has
spread in Saudi Arabia.
The “Winasa” is a marriage in which a senior man marries a
much younger woman. The marriage resembles a traditional
marriage except that the woman renounces her right (as
mandated by Islamic law) to marital relations. These
marriages are intended for the man to have a woman to take
care of him as he ages. The article also discusses other
non-traditional forms of marriage that have spread in
Saudi Arabia such as “Traveling Marriage,” “Childbirth
Marriage,” “Summer Marriage,” “Maharim Marriage,” and
“Friend Marriage.”
Qatar: Organization for
Elderly Care and Eid Charity Discuss Joint Cooperation
(June 15, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
A delegation from Qatar for Elderly Care, a civil society
organization, met top officials in the Sheikh Eid bin
Mohamed Al Thani Charity. The two groups discussed
cooperation between civil society organizations and
charities in general and awareness-raising efforts. At the
visit, the delegation showed “Tears,” a video presentation
of issues of the elderly.
Algeria: Four Siblings: Old,
Blind, and Unemployed; They Await Help and Home to
Preserve Their Humanity (June 13 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In Satif, Algeria, an elderly family of four, three
brothers and a sister, who are blind, unemployed, old and
infirm, live together in a cave after being evicted from
their home. Blind since birth, their home village was
prominent in its drunkenness. Unmarried and unable to
work, they struggle to provide for themselves. Previously,
they had lived with their uncle, but after he passed away
his children evicted them from the house under the pretext
that “unmarried people do not deserve shelter." Despite
these travails, they thank God for the kind people who
manage to sustain them as they pray for help and a home.
Egypt: Egypt Impedes Matrimony
between 92 Year-old and 17 Year-old (June 13, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
An Egyptian law states that the age difference between a
couple wishing to marry can be no more than 25 years.
Recently, a 92 year-old man was not permitted to marry his
fiancee, a 17-year-old Egyptian girl. The Ministry of
Justice of Egypt refuses to legalize the union of these
two people due to the age difference. Many feminist
organizations view such marriages as secret prostitution.
They often end in a few weeks or months, leaving the women
pregnant and without support.
Israel: Old-Age Homes Reach the
Arab Community (June 12, 2008)
Increasing numbers of Arab families are placing their
aged parents in assisted living facilities. This is in
direct contradiction with traditional Arab family life, in
which families prefer to care of older family members. The
entry of women into the labor force has also pushed
families to place their elders in nursing homes. In the
agricultural past, the oldest man controlled the family
since he held title to farm land. In industrial society,
old men wield far less power. Increased life expectancies
have led to an unprecedented number of seniors in Israeli
Arab society.
Egypt: Al Baghali Prize
Delegation Continues Cairo Visit, Discusses Kuwait
Elderly Care (May 31, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
In this article, Wadha Al Aanzi, head of the
coordination and public relations board of the Al Baghali
Prize Delegation, claims that Kuwait has become a country
“advanced and distinguished” in care of its elderly. She
discusses in depth the quality of care and types of care
in Kuwait.
Kuwait: Elderly
Participate Alongside Youth In Democracy (May 18,
2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Kuwaiti seniors
proved today that the democratic spirit is not limited
to the youth alone.
Elderly voters turned out in droves, overcoming
sickness and physical disabilities to vote in
legislative elections.
Tunisia: Assistance to the
Disabled Persons and Environmental Culture Diffusion
(May 16, 2008)
(Article in French)
The minister of women, the family, children, and older
persons signed four agreements on May 16, 2008, in Tunis,
Tunisia. The first one was to promote programs to assist
older disabled women. The second focused on illiterate
mothers. The third one dealt with supporting female
artisans. The final one concentrates on projects educating
vulnerable persons, which includes the old, so that all
can enjoy their professional and cultural skills.
Israel:
Rashideyya Elementary in Qalnaswa Celebrates Day of
Parents, Grandparents, and Heritage (May 8, 2008)
Rashideyya Elementary in Qalnaswa had a celebration today
in honor of parents, grandparents, and heritage. The children
visited the elderly in their homes and presented each
other with pictures of their elderly relatives.
Qatar:
General Manager for Qatar Institution for Care of
the Elderly Announces Participation in October
Conference on Elderly Care (May 9, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Sayyid Yousef Al Muftah, general
manager for the Qatar Institution for Elderly Car
announced his organization’s participation in the
October Conference, “Ways to Develop Elderly Care.” The
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is hosting the
conference, which will take place on October 12-13.
Algeria: How Many are Left?
(May 6, 2008)
The author depicts what happened to 200,000 people who
stayed in Algeria after French decolonization. Many felt
lonely after their family and friends departed and they
were encouraged to return to France to spend their old
age. Others continued to enjoy solidarity among their Arab
neighbors. Read this history now being written about
French nationals in an independent Algeria.
Algeria: Algeria Considers
Law Criminalizing Transferring Parents to Retirement
Homes (April 28, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
The Algerian government is intent on ratifying a new law
criminalizing those who send their parents to retirement
homes, according to Gamal Walid Abbas, the Minister of
Solidarity. The Minister stated that the rationale behind
this law is to end the phenomena of “getting rid of one’s
parents” by “throwing them into a retirement home” which
is “damaging to the reputation of all Algerians.” Suad
Sheikhy, President of the Organization for Improving
Elderly Care, claimed that the law has some solutions for
this problem, but did not resolve the underlying causes of
the phenomena.
United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi
Hosts First Regional Conference on Caring for the
Elderly (April 24, 2008)
(Article in Arabic)
Abu Dhabi is holding its first regional conference focused
on issues of societal care for the elderly. Due to
improved living standards, the proportion of seniors in
the United Arab Emirates is rising rapidly and is expected
to reach nearly 20% in 2020, from 4% in 1995. The head of
the conference, Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, President of
the Organization for Family Development, affirmed the
state’s commitment to caring for the elderly as an
“acknowledgment of their virtue.”
Israel: 2 Men Allegedly Held
Elderly Against Will, Stole Thousands (April 23, 2008)
The police recently found a 94-year-old man held against
his will in his abductor’s residence. The suspect, a
45-year-old man, has apparently stolen 700,000 NIS from
the old man. Bank clerks informed the police when they
noticed that the man had made very large withdrawals
amounting to thousands of NIS. Luckily the bank workers
took action to protect the old man’s resources.
Egypt: In Egypt, Long Queues for
Bread That's Almost Free (April 7, 2008)
Egypt is yet another example of a critical food shortage
in a populous country. Egypt has a very poor population.
The cost of wheat is high and there is a lot of corruption
in the food chain, making a difficult situation for poor
people, including the poor gray-haired population. Top
Egyptian officials have vowed speedy intervention to
restore easy access to bread--much of it subsidized by the
government—to provide daily nutrition to 50 million
Egyptians. That is over two-thirds of the population,
according to UN statistics.
Turkey: Foreigners Eye 5-star
Retirement (April 7, 2008)
Turks are building private nursing homes at a fast clip,
from 12 in 2002 to 109 this year. These “rest homes,” as
the Turks call them, are starting to resemble five-star
hotels with spas and built-in theaters. Competition to
build fancier and better nursing home facilities has
caught the attention of foreigners. With a growing
consumer pool for these “rest homes,” foreigners from
Australia and Germany want to invest in these Turkish
private facilities.
Turkey: Social Security Bill To
Be Debated At Parliament On Thursday," Celik (March 26,
2008)
The Turkish government is going to begin negotiations
about social security on March 27th. The different
political parties will meet to talk about ways to reform
social security and the health system. Let’s hope that the
program will include the growing number of older persons
in Turkey.
Israel: Knesset Okays Mandatory
Jail Sentence for Violence Against the Elderly (February
25, 2008)
During the past year many elderly Israeli citizens were
victims of abuse. The Knesset plenum approved an amendment
to the penal law calling for mandatory jail sentences for
anyone convicted of attacking an older person. This action
was designed to protect the elderly who have recently been
the victims of many brutal acts of violence. The penalty
was raised to five years from three.
Israel: “Russian”
Elderly Below Poverty Line (February 17, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Elderly repatriates from the former Soviet Union made up
the majority of Israeli poor people in 2007. Their average
income continues to sink below the poverty line. According
to recent statistics, 30% of these elderly repatriates
feel unsure about their future in Israel and 23% say they
had to give up home telephone service because they could
not afford paying their phone bills.
Israel: Israeli Woman to Be
World's Oldest Person (February 15, 2008)
(Article in Russian)
Mariam Hamdam Amash, an Israeli citizen, has declared
herself the oldest living person in the world. Her
certificate shows 1888 as the year of her birth. Mariam
has 10 sons, one 80-year-old daughter, 120 grandchildren,
250 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest
living person is Edna Scott Parker, 114 years old.
Lebanon: Caritas Lebanon Opens Center for Senior
Citizens (February 8, 2008)
Caritas Lebanon, a non-profit
organization that provides services to those in need,
announced the opening of its center for senior citizens.
Operating bi-weekly, the center will provide seniors
with food, health education, social activities, and
medical services. So far, current members have offered
positive feedback about the center’s benefits to senior
citizens.
Return to Top of Page
Global
Reports
World: Rethinking Age and
Aging (December 2008)
This report illustrates a new measure of population aging
that takes into account changes in longevity over time and
place. It also introduces the concept of "prospective age"
as a way to compare people who live in periods and places
where life expectancies differ. Measuring population aging
today presents a problem to demographers due to advances
in health and life expectancy, and a change in the meaning
of longevity. Today, a person who is 60 is considered
middle-aged; in 1800, the same 60-year-old was elderly.
Therefore, it is misleading to compare those who are
chronologically age 40 today with people who were 40 a
century ago.
World: What Difference
Would a New Convention Make to the Lives of Older
People? (December 2008)
The authors draw on the Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to conclude
that it is impossible to determine whether a new
convention on older people’s rights would assure
protection of their human rights. The report describes
three alternative consequences of a new convention:
negative, neutral, and positive. Despite varying evidence,
the authors found that a proper policy will usually have a
positive net gain, provided that it is evidence-based and
sensitive to all sectors of society.
World: The Rights of
Older People: International Law, Human Rights
Mechanism and the Case for New Normative Standards
(December 2008)
A study, commissioned for the International Symposium to
be convened by Age Concern, the International Federation
on Ageing (IFA) and HelpAge International (HAI) explores
the effectiveness of various human rights conventions in
protecting the rights of older people. Most international
human rights treaties and conventions do not mention “age”
as grounds for discrimination. Moreover, there is an
implementation gap, in cases of countries failing to
incorporate international standards of elder rights into
domestic legislation. The study suggests ways to
strengthen existing conventions and the possibility of
setting new international legal standards.
World: Equal
sharing of responsibilities between women and men,
including care-giving in the context of HIV/AIDS
(October 2008)
This report, developed by UNAIDS and UNIFEM, addresses the
issue of shared responsibility between men and women
within the context of HIV/AIDS. The burden of care-giving
in HIV/AIDS affected societies is particularly hard on
women and girls. The impact of HIV/AIDS also further
complicates the issue of senior care giving, as older
persons are often mistakenly viewed as a social group that
is unaffected by HIV/AIDS.
World: Facing the Global
Food Crisis (August 2008)
The current global food crisis has resulted from a shift
in world consumption of wheat and other grains to meat and
dairy, especially as the result of Asia’s recent economic
prosperity. Additionally, underdevelopment and conflict
has further compounded the issue. HelpAge International
advocates that international governments take steps to
ensure the social protection of food sources for people
around the world. Elderly persons especially should be
considered in such programs, as they are one of the
largest demographic groups that often cannot provide and
care for themselves.
World:
Statement by Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam Permanent
Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations'
Special Meeting of ECOSOC on the Global Food Crisis (May
20, 2008)
On May 20, 2008, the UN held a Special Meeting focused on
the Global Food Crisis. As an update of our April 23, 2008
report on the food crisis and elders, we call your
attention to Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam’s report. He
points out that food is a basic human right. Every human,
including the old, has a right to food. Unfortunately, old
people make up a disproportionate share of the affected
population.
World:
Living With Robots – Japanese Service Automation (May 7,
2008)
A German reader of our GAA-Newsletter alerted us to the
need for technical support for elderly people. Many older
people want to stay in their homes but lack nursing
assistance and the physical ability to cope with the
familiar environment they know. Our reader gives an
overview of existing helpful technical support devices and
a perspective on what to expect in the future. This report
is a roundup of 22 years of developing work and analysis.
World:
International Documents. Aging of the European
Population: Happiness, Protection of the Dignity and
Healthy Aging (2008)
(Report in Spanish)
The authors present four documents describing
different aspects of how aging affects the European
population. The first looks at the implications of aging
among the European population and the public policies
which need to be adopted. The second focuses on the
relation between age and happiness. The writers of the
third document explore examples of healthy aging and
identify measures to improve older persons’ health. The
last publication explores what the European Union can do
to protect the rights of the older people against violence
and mistreatment.
World: An Untapped Resource: How Supporting Older People
with Social Protection will Help Achieve the Millennium
Development Goals (2008)
Extreme poverty and chronic hunger are still crippling the
potential of at least 980 million people across the globe
today. Older people are among those who suffer most and
are least able to escape poverty. The Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) are silent on issues of age,
disability and ethnicity. If the advocates for MDGs aim to
be truly effective for the poorest, they must acknowledge
the change in demographics and recommend altering some of
the policy goals. By 2050, the population of older persons
is projected to grow from 10 percent to 22 percent. As
populations age, the number of people living in poverty
will increase. The MDGs need to include older people in
poverty and hunger reduction programs and include social
protection as a key policy tool to realize the Millennium
Development Goals.
Articles
World:
Cases – From a Place of Fire and Weeping, Lessons on
Memory, Aging and Hope (December 22, 2008)
A geriatric psychiatrist listens to Holocaust survivors
recollect their painful experiences. He stresses the
importance of working with aging victims of trauma as they
fear being re-victimized in nursing homes. Most find
comfort in sharing their stories with those who will
listen.
World:
Longevity Portrays the Society We Live In (December 12,
2008)
(Article in French)
The writer tests a hypothesis linking the number of
centenarians to models of intergenerational solidarity
within families. France, Japan and Italy tend to encounter
high levels of intergenerational solidarity within the
family and their centenarian population increases quickly,
while Scandinavian countries encourage children to leave
the home as soon as possible. As a result, few older
people stay with their children later on in Scandinavian
countries. This makes Scandinavian seniors more
autonomous. However, it is in these countries that the
number of centenarians progress at the lowest rate,
despite the countries having the highest living standards
in Europe.
World: An Ever
Increasing Population of Centenarians (December 12,
2008)
(Article in French)
The number of centenarians increases everywhere in the
world. The article indicates some projections for 2050 and
attempts to portray the centenarians of today. Through a
number of interviews, the author deals with subjects as
diverse as how centenarians experience the present, how
they relate to the past and how they keep their minds
active. Although reaching 100 years old is becoming less
extraordinary than it was half-a-century ago, the
physicality and psyche of centenarians continues to
fascinate researchers.
World:
Time to Tackle Poverty Amongst the Most Vulnerable
Groups Including Older People and Older Women in
Particular! (October 17, 2008)
On the occasion of the International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty, the European older people’s
platform AGE released a press statement. Due to the
economic meltdown, older people are especially facing huge
financial problems. Consequently, poverty and social
exclusion will increase among the most vulnerable
population stratum. AGE therefore calls on the European
Union and the Member States to take concrete initiatives,
including legislative measures.
World: Elder
Rights are Violated Daily: UN (October 1, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
October 1 is recognized as the “International Day of Older
Persons” according to the agreement made six years ago by
member nations at the UN. These rights, however, are being
violated daily in different parts of the world. Older
people suffer from discrimination at work and do not get
the respect they deserve. Clearly, more effort must be
made to assure that old people receive the rights stated
in the agreement.
World: Lauren
Hutton, 65 Years Old, Model for Mango: a Top Model on
Top (August 21, 2008)
(Article in French)
Mango, a Spanish trademark for women’s clothing, made
65-year-old "Lauren Hutton" the new top model for its
newest collection called "We love you." Through the image
of the American actress and top model, Mango wants to
reveal to senior women that fashion is not limited to
younger generations. This sex symbol of the 70's reveals
that being old doesn’t mean to be outdated in regards to
fashion. Additionally, it shows how to adapt the latest
fashion to the wardrobe of a mature woman with a young
spirit.
World:
Facing the Food Crisis (August 7, 2008)
Food and oil prices have recently escalated, causing a
‘food crisis.’ Eighty percent of the world’s people lack
any basic social protection. Older people lack basic
income. Thus, older people in developing countries are
extremely vulnerable to the recent rise in food prices.
Government responses have so far overlooked older people.
Governments need to invest in social protection schemes
for these people in order to maintain cohesion of local
communities.
World: Hoketsu
Returns to Olympic Games at the Age of 67 (August 6,
2008)
(Article in Russian)
Japanese dressage rider Hiroshi Hoketsu returns to the
Olympics starting this week in Beijing. Thus, Hoketsu, 67,
becomes the oldest to compete at the 2008 games; he never
gave up his Olympic dream after participating in the Tokyo
Olympic games in 1964. “Hoketsu has been fighting for this
dream for the last five years and his perseverance and
attitude are admirable,” says Hoketsu's trainer. Global
Action on Aging wishes him the best of luck in the 2008
Olympics!
World: A New
Look at an Aging Population (July 17, 2008)
It is time to mainstream issues that concern older
persons, as they serve important roles in the development
of countries. Older people serve as caretakers and
providers for the young in many places and in
AIDS-afflicted areas, they care for orphans, filling the
gaps that victims leave. Unfortunately, many western
agencies have overlooked the roles the elderly play and
excluded them from receiving assistance. Hence, it is
crucial for both governments and the non-profit sector to
address the issue of social protection of older
people.
Global:
World: Two-Thirds of Seniors Prefer to Inherit Their
Knowledge of Life, instead of Money (July 9 2008)
(Article in French)
A study conducted in 21 different countries by the HSBC (a
bank and insurance company) and the Institute of Ageing
from the University of Oxford, showed that adults (40-50
years) and older (50-60 years) have changed their
perspective about inheritance. These two categories prefer
to give their knowledge on life as an inheritance rather
than the usual expectation: money! The study on the future
of retired people concentrated on four main themes:
heritage, preparation, aspirations and choices. With a
rate rising to 64%, Europeans wish to pass on the state of
mind, the sense of humor, the commitment to the community
and their knowledge. Furthermore, the study presents
reasons this generation is not well prepared for
retirement but also offers some solutions.
World: Protecting Older
Persons from Predators (June 9, 2008)
Elderly people can be exploited. In reality, friends and
family members are sometimes more interested in the
seniors’ money than in taking care of them. Elder
financial abuse is much more common now. Sometimes it is
hard to determine when financial abuse occurs. Governments
must get laws in place to protect senior citizens against
those who want to take advantage of these vulnerable older
people.
World: Retired People Want to
Pass on Values (May 26, 2008)
(Article in French)
HSBC in partnership with Oxford University carried out a
large international study in 21 countries. They found that
older persons want to transmit values to the younger
generations, rather than only financial capital. In Europe
and Asia, the value most cited was the “conception of
life.” In Latin America, people mentioned “knowledge” as
their primary value. In the Middle East and Africa it
seems that “religion”’ is the value that most people want
to share with the next generation.
World:
Growing Old Disgracefully: Calls for Gay-Friendly
Retirement Homes (April 29, 2008)
Global Action on Aging already reported about same-sex
nursing homes and we expect that this topic will be
discussed more and more. According to the AIDS Council of
New South Wales, gay and lesbian older persons are the
most invisible and least cared for of all senior groups.
They face discrimination on many fronts. Homosexual elders
are also fighting for survivior’s rights to their
partner’s pension.
World : Mobile Phone for Seniors
(April 25, 2008)
Sometimes seniors have trouble—or lack patience—to stay
abreast of technological progress. Owning a cell phone to
use in emergencies has many benefits. Seniors often want a
phone with extra large buttons, a loud speaker and
outfitted for calling only. This story details the feature
of one such user friendly cell phone for elderly people.
GAA has no interest in this brand; we simply show readers
an example of what is available to assist older persons.
World:
Diagnosing the Aging Physician (April 22, 2008)
This report looks at the reactions to a recently passed
policy in Pembroke Regional Hospital which creates a
subcategory for their physicians over 70 years old. The
policy allows the employing hospital to reduce the
privileges of its older physicians to grant younger
physicians more privileges. The hospital says it has
created the policy on the basis that older physicians
generally perform more poorly than younger ones. As might
be expected, older doctors challenge this research and
these policies, saying that they feel discriminated
against on the basis of age.
World: Food
Prices are Causing Misery and Strife Around the World.
Radical Solutions are Needed (April 17, 2008)
Josette Sheeron from the UN’s World Food Program (WFP)
describes today’s world as living in a ‘silent tsunami.’
Famines are generally the consequences of exceptional
situations like wars or emerging conflicts. Now food
prices are rising dramatically and the poor face
malnourishment and worse, starvation. The author advocates
that the richest governments “mend the hole” of $700
million that the WFP needs to bring food to the poorest
countries. More, she urges governments to stop subsidizing
both biofuels and food.
World: Food
Inflation, Riots Spark Worries for World Leaders (April
14, 2008)
This Wall Street Journal gives an overview of the world
food situation in April 2008. Over the past three years,
global food prices went up 83 %, according to the World
Bank. This situation affects the poorest of the poorest
first. While the article describes the policy debates
among rich countries about possible remedies, the Bank and
IMF point to bio-fuels as the major culprit in this
drastic food shortage. The drive to keep cars on the road
with a substitute fuel is literally starving people.
World: Older
People Hit Hardest by Global Food Crisis (April 10,
2008)
The food crisis hits poor countries in savage ways. Some
100 million older people live without a regular income.
They earn less than US$1 per day. Basic food staples, such
as rice, wheat flour and maize have gone up the highest
during the recent shortages. These basic grains are very
important to people living in developing countries. That
is why HelpAge International demands a social pension for
elders all over the world to guarantee food security. Not
only is adequate food a human right, it permits older
persons to take care of the orphaned children because
their parents died of HIV/AIDs and to extend a “helping
hand” to their families and neighbors.
World: Are We
Approaching a Global Food Crisis? (March 3, 2008)
Katarina Wahlberg from Global Policy Forum points out that
the world has moved into a food crisis of large
proportions. Why? She reports that the consumption of food
will increase, but climate change is making it more
difficult to grow cereals and biofuel production diverts
grain to fuel, not food. However, biofuels contribute to
climate change and force people in many countries to
starve since they can no longer afford to buy the
high-priced cereals. How will governments and the UN solve
this crisis?
World: Ageing Boomers Strain
Budget (January 21, 2008)
An article published by the British Journal Nature looks
at predicted increases of elderly populations in coming
years around the world. Countries must prepare now.
Currently, 10% of the world’s population is over 60. The
percentages will increase to 13% in 2020 and 17% in
2030.
Return to
Top of Page
|
|
