PURPOSE: The United Nations General Assembly designated 1 October as the International Day of Older Persons by the (resolution 45/106). Among development groups, less developed countries excluding the least developed countries will be home to more than two-thirds of the world’s older population (1.1 billion) in 2050. Yet the fastest increase is projected to take place in the least developed countries, where the number of persons aged 65 or over could rise from 37 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2050 (225%).
FORUM: "Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide". International Day of Older Persons 2024. Population ageing is a major global trend that is reshaping the demographic makeup of societies worldwide. This significant shift in population age structures results from decreases in fertility rates and increases in life expectancy. Today, life expectancy at birth exceeds 75 years in half of the world's countries or areas, 25 years longer than those born in 1950. Individuals reaching the age of 65 are now expected to live an additional 16.8 years on average. In 2018, a historic milestone was reached when the number of older persons outnumbered children under five for the first time globally. By 2030, the global population of older persons is projected to exceed the number of youth and double the number of children under five. This increase is anticipated to be most rapid in developing countries. Given this global demographic shift, the caregiving landscape is undergoing significant transformations, encompassing a wide range of needs for both paid and unpaid support, in both formal and informal settings. Recent decades have seen shifts in living arrangements for families and older persons in both developed and developing nations. Combined with overall ageing trends, this has heightened demand for different forms of care provision. Amid rising demand for long-term care, growth in the number of caregivers is not keeping pace. As of 2015, there was a global shortage of about 13.6 million formal care workers. These deficits translate to half of the older population globally not having access to quality formal long-term care. As populations age, the demand for comprehensive healthcare, care, and social support services has grown substantially. This is particularly critical for older persons with conditions such as dementia, which is a leading cause of care dependency and disability in old age worldwide. The need for specialized care has become integral to the broader healthcare demands of ageing populations. However, most caregivers, both paid and unpaid, have insufficient training to meet these complex needs. Consequently, there is an urgent worldwide need to expand training and educational opportunities in the fields of geriatrics and gerontology for health professionals, social care professionals, and informal caregivers who work with older persons. Older persons constitute a heterogeneous group with diverse health needs, requiring different levels of care and support. Traditionally, the care burden has fallen on co-residing, multigenerational extended families, thus relying on the family as an informal system of support. However, changes in family size and dynamics, population ageing, and other social and economic trends are undermining these traditional support systems. The implications for societies and individuals depend significantly on the type of care required and who provides it. Women, who comprise most care recipients and caregivers, contribute roughly 70% of global informal care hours. This is especially true in low- and middle-income countries where care policies and services are insufficient, leaving women more vulnerable to experiencing poverty in old age. Family caregivers often have multiple responsibilities, leaving them overworked and at risk of providing poor-quality care. Some of the rights related to care and support are explicitly guaranteed in existing human rights treaties, for example social security and education, while others such as long-term care and support, are not, as examinations of the General Assembly Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing show. Protecting the human rights of both caregivers and recipients is fundamental to implementing effective care strategies, which must recognize and value the diverse contributions made by caregivers. These contributions range from family members offering unpaid care to professionals delivering targeted services, including palliative, rehabilitative, and long-term care. Rethinking approaches to care and support systems will benefit today’s older persons and those who care for them, as well as future generations of older persons. Care and support systems for older persons should be tailored to the needs, values, and preferences of care recipients and caregivers. They should go beyond the medical aspects of care, to adopt a life-course approach that encompasses an individual’s culture, life history, social support network, and identity, and giving recipients control over care decisions. Member States should pursue a more equitable, person-centered approach to care, safeguarding the human rights of both caregivers and their care recipients. This approach should operate across Governments, civil society, communities, and households, as well as the private sector, to address the needs in the provision of both formal and informal care. Follow the conversations with hashtags. #1October, #ForEveryAge #idop2024,#OlderPersonsDay, #HealthyAgeing.
EVENTS: The 34th commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons will bring together experts to discuss policies, legislation and practices that strengthen care and support systems for older persons. The event will host the launch of the United Nations Postal Administration Commemorative Stamp in celebration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2024. See More details and be ready to watch the livestream!
New York, UNHQ - On October 7th, 2024, from 10am to 1pm at ECOSOC Chamber, UNHQ. A event entitled will be hosted by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), NGO Committee on Ageing NY, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Group of friends of Older persons, the Permanent Mission of Argentina to United Nations; This year's event will highlight the urgent need to expand training and educational opportunities in geriatrics and gerontology, address the global shortage of care workers, and recognize the diverse contributions of caregivers. The commemoration will also emphasize the importance of protecting the human rights of both caregivers and care recipients, promoting person-centered approaches to care that respect the dignity, beliefs, needs, and privacy of older persons, and for the right to make decisions about their care and quality of their lives. Read the Mission Statement and the Final Programme
Geneva, UNHQ - On Tuesday 1st October 2024 Palais des Nations. Room XXIII, 15:00 – 16:30. An Hybrid event event entitled “Geneva Calls: A Pivotal Moment for Older Persons' Rights” will be hosted by the UNECE, NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva, the Permanent missions of Portugal, Slovenia, the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), the International Psychogeriatric Association, the Global Alliance for the rights of Older person (GAROP), the International Longevity Centre (ILC) … to mark the International Day of Older Persons 2024 in UN Geneva. on the sidelines of the 57th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). The session will analyze recent developments and explore actions for all stakeholders to further the human rights of older persons. It will serve as a forum for discussing collaborative strategies to promoting and protecting these rights. Please read the Flyer and Program and Register to participate! (Via Zoom). Stay tuned to Watch the livestream!
Vienna, UNOV - On Monday, 30th September 2024, at 13:00 (event starts at 14:00) at the United Nations, Wagramer Str. 5, 1220 Vienna, Room no. CR2 in C-Building on the 2nd floor will be held a panel discussion entitled ‘‘Marginalization of Older Persons in Society – A Significant Health Risk’’organized by the NGO Committee on Ageing, UN Vienna. “Leave no one behind!” is a key principle of the United Nations’ “Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”, as proclaimed under the SDG3: “to ensure healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages”. A particular group threatened by the risk of not having full chances to live a healthy life and enjoy well-being are older persons who are marginalized or excluded by society. The IDOP 2024 conference will address specific forms of marginalization of older persons and its possible influences on their health. Please read the Flyer and Program and Register to participate!.
The objectives of UNIDOP 2024:
•Emphasize the roles of national policies and legislation , family, and community in ensuring full respect for the dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy of older persons, and for the right to make decisions about their care and quality of their lives.
• Foster greater knowledge and awareness of the global shortage of care workers and the challenges in establishing comprehensive care and support systems for older persons beyond formal healthcare settings, particularly in the context of population ageing.
• Learn from caregivers’ experiences and discuss the challenges and opportunities of ageing in place versus long-term care facilities.
• Highlight innovative initiatives providing quality care and support systems for older persons, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive care and social support services, particularly for older persons with conditions such as dementia. Promote the need for specialized training and education for caregivers to address the diverse health needs of older persons, and stress the importance of geriatrics education.
• Advocate for the recognition of the diverse contributions of caregivers, from family members providing unpaid care to professionals offering specialized services, ensuring that their rights are respected. Address the challenges faced by informal caregivers, especially women, and promote policies that support them in balancing multiple responsibilities
PODCASTS: The Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) is an opportunity to bring together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector for ten years of concerted, catalytic and collaborative action Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: it’s time to Improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
The Objectives of the International Day of Older Persons are :
To highlight the resilience of older women in the face of socioeconomic, environmental, health and lifelong inequities.
To raise awareness of the importance of improving world-wide age- and gender-sensitive data collection and analysis in order to provide essential evidence for effective policies.
To call on Member States, United Nations Funds, Programmes, Specialized Agencies and other United Nations entities, as well as civil society to include older women in the center of all policies, ensuring gender equality, as described in Our Common Agenda; which represents the Secretary-General's vision on the future of global cooperation.
Consider the life expectancy and improve the living conditions of ageing population
Spend time and Give attention to Older persons
Raise awareness of the importance of digital inclusion of older persons, while tackling stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination associated with digitalization, taking into account sociocultural norms and the right to autonomy.
Highlight policies to leverage digital technologies for full achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Address public and private interests, in the areas of availability, connectivity, design, affordability, capacity building, infrastructure, and innovation.
Explore the role of policies and legal frameworks to ensure privacy and safety of older persons in the digital world.
Highlight the need for a legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons and an intersectional person-centered human rights approach for a society for all ages
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Day of Older Persons is hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nations Enable, The Elders, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.N. Women…
With the participation of International and Regional Institutions, the Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Researchers and Academics.