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Health
Global
Action
on Aging examines older persons' access to health care,
medicine and care, both in the US and worldwide. It also
documents how the market system can distort and prevent
quality care for most persons. GAA spotlights the
actions of for-profit firms in the health field that
restrict or compromise older persons' chance to live
healthy lives.
The Madrid
International Plan of Action on Aging (MIPAA),
adopted by UN Member States in 2002, dedicates a section
to health issues of older persons and those that care
for them. Under Priority direction II: Advancing
health and well-being into old age, MIPAA lists
six main health topics: Health promotion and well-being
throughout life, universal and equal access to
health-care services, older persons and HIV/AIDS,
training of care providers and health professionals, as
well as mental health needs of older persons and older
persons with disabilities. Under Priority direction
III: Ensuring enabling and supportive environments,
MIPAA specifically refers to “care and support for
caregivers” that urges provision of care and services
for older persons and support for their caregivers,
particularly older women.
GAA tracks progress and backsliding in the recommended
areas. We also alert our readers to obstacles that block
a healthy, long life for many older persons.
In depth reports on Medicare and
health-related legislation provide details on how
Capitol Hill's decisions impact older citizens. A
specific section is dedicated to trade unions and
their role in promoting access to health care for
seniors. Articles on the latest prescription
drug developments and tips on healthy living help
seniors learn about the latest news in the health
field.
Articles
that give a perspective on health care trends and the
quality of life for seniors around the world. GAA
focuses on presenting information about the diverse
systems of health insurance and social services
provided for older persons. We include public and
private health care topics, as well as information on
prescription drug and treatment advances.
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Older People and
HIV/AIDS
In this section, GAA posts articles about how older
people experience the HIV/AIDS crisis in every region
of the world. These elders either suffer from HIV/AIDS
themselves or are caregivers for their children, their
grand-children or others.
- Older People and New
Technologies
New technologies
can improve older people’s health in many ways:
brighter lighting in homes that
helps prevent falls, robots that lift and move
bed-ridden elders from one place to another, smart
canes that measure blood pressure, and more. In
this section, GAA posts articles about new
technologies and how they may make life easier for
older people and their caregivers.
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United Nations
Disability Rights Convention
Worldwide there are approximately 600 million people
with disabilities. In the year 2000, in the United
States alone 41.9% (Source: US Census Bureau) of the
population of 65 years and over live with some
disability. The rights of disabled people both in rich
and poor countries are often weak or at times
non-existent. In
December 2001,
Mexico , with the support
of lobbying groups, initiated a UN General
Assembly resolution to establish an Ad Hoc
Committee to develop a proposal for an
international convention on the rights of people
with disability. The Committee entitled the "Ad Hoc Committee on a
Comprehensive and Integral International
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of
the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities" is open to all Member
States
and observers to the United Nations.
On this page you will find GAA reports on the
Committee's fifth session as well as documents
relating to the situation of elderly with
disabilities world wide.
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