United Nations highlights urban sustainability for older persons

Nagaland honoured the people who are above 60 years of age on the occasion of the global Day of Older Persons by organising health walkathon and special felicitation programme throughout the state on Thursday.

It rejects the stereotype of older people as frail and dependent and says the many contributions that older people make are often overlooked, while the demands that population ageing will place on society are frequently overemphasised or exaggerated.

“It should be our endeavour that together we ensure that people live not only longer lives, but better, more enriching, rewarding and fulfilling lives”, Jamir said. But this is not enough. “Achieving this will not just be good for older people, it will be good for society as a whole”, Dr. Chan said. At the same time it enhances the attention to the particular needs and challenges faced by many older people.

Older people across the world endure widespread discrimination in terms of abuse, access to services such as healthcare, and in securing work. That number is expected to double by 2025. While cities are growing, their share of residents aged 60 years and over is also rising. Globally, the share of older persons aged 80 years or over (the “oldest old”) within the older population was 14 per cent in 2013 and is projected to reach 19 per cent in 2050.

Carissa F. Etienne is a director at WHO’s Regional Office for the Americas. In both development regions, men made up a large majority of the total labour force among older persons, although that may change somewhat over the medium-term future if younger women, who are participating more in paid work, extend their labour force behaviour into older ages.

The report said most older people’s health problems are associated with chronic conditions, many of which can be prevented, delayed or managed if detected early.

The report says societies need to adjust to an aging population.

“As people age potentially they can become socially isolated and the eight elements of Age-friendly cities are designed to create cities and communities which support people of all ages”. Realigning health systems to the needs of older people will be crucial.

Singapore and Singaporeans need to move away from the mindset that any chronological age – be it 65, 70 or older – defines the able, and those needing support. Governments need to develop long-term care systems that can reduce inappropriate use of acute health services and ensure people live their last years with dignity, ” said the WHO.

Dr Jeremy Lim, who heads the health and life sciences practice at consulting firm Oliver Wyman, said: “Singapore is pretty much headed in the right direction”. Public transfers are a major source of old-age support in developed countries and in a few developing countries with substantial social security coverage, while income from their own assets finances another substantial part of the consumption of older persons, especially in countries with less expansive public transfer systems. If we are lucky, we will all be old one day, and we will want to continue enjoying everything we’ve always loved about our city – exercising in the park, shopping at favorite stores, going to concerts, museums, and theaters, and socializing with family and friends.