The Global Ageing Population

Here's a summary of June 1st's DPI / NGO Thursday Briefing.

Jeff Brez, Chief of NGO Relations and Advocacy Section of the UN DPI

Introducing the topic on addressing Ageing and Building a Society for All Ages. Chief of NGO Relations also addresses the fact that elder abuse is still a world issue today.

Cynthia Stuen (Moderator)

We need all member states and all civil society to embrace aging. We care that all children get vaccinations, but also want adults to get them as well. It is not a youth versus elder scenario. It is a situation where we have to work together and solve this global phenomenon. We want the older person to be included in decision making for it does affect them.

Gregory Shaw

Director of International and Corporate Relations goes over the relation between Ageing and the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals apply to all people and all countries. These goals are also all interconnected. It is recognized that we must work together in order to achieve these goals.

Shaw goes over statistics in regards to the growth of elders in the next few decades. Older people are living longer. The SDGs, what the MDGs didn’t recognize, ensures inclusivity and interconnectedness amongst all groups of people.

Ageism, like sexism and racism, seriously limits opportunities and can shorten lives. “There is nothing magical that happens at the age of 60 or 65 that explains differential treatment on the basis of age. Only discrimination does.” -Craig Mokhiber

The human rights of older people are not adequately protected.

• Failure to capture discriminatory practices

• Failure to prohibit age discrimination

• Gaps in protection

• Inconsistent attention to narrow range of rights

• Dispersal of standards

• Lack of clarity

What is the International Federation of Ageing (IFA)? IFA “is an international non-governmental organization with a membership base comprising government, NGOs, academics, industry, and individuals in 70 countries. The IFA began operations in 1973, at a time when the social and economic impact of population aging was only beginning to be understood by governments around the world."

Ursula M. Staudinger, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology at Columbia University acknowledges that the great increase in the “Longevity Revolution” where we are living longer from 1860 to 2017. Our life expectancy has grown from 55 to 85. Even in developing countries, life expectancy is growing. South Korea happens to be the fast growing life expectancy to age 65 by 14%.

The trilogy of human life is explained through Biology, Thought Attitude-Behavior, and Socio-Cultural Context & Environment. Same chronological age implies different cognitive capacity in different countries.

Human aging is a gift, and we should be treating it like such. Aging in 2017, 2030, 2050, is/will be what we make of it (within biologically set limits).

Janet A. Sigal, Ph.D.

NGO Committee Chair states that many people who are older are left behind in human development being subjected to ageism and abuse. Aging people are a valuable resource for several of the SDGs are relevant for older people to assist in achieving. In the endeavors put towards SDG #4 promotion, there are adult literacy classes. Janet also acknowledges that any limitation of opportunity because of age effects especially women. Statistically, women will stop pursuing an education at age 49 due to limitations. It is all the more important to involve the aging community in this international debate in order to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Ruth Finkelstein, Sc.D.

Associate Director of Robert N. Butler Columbia Ageing Center asks the people in the room to help make the SDGs inclusive to all, especially for the older people. Sometimes, the SDGs places a stigma that intimidates and is only exclusive to big organizations. There’s no room for civil society and the individual. But there can be. Ruth introduces new approaches for different communities and actors.

• Age-friendly cities and communities

• Livable communities

• Building Healthy Communities for Active Ageing (U.S. EPA)

• American Planning Association Ageing in Community Guidelines

• Grantmakers in Ageing Communities for all Ages for all Age Margins

• Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities

• Villages

• UN-Habitat III

We need to disrupt the negative images of aging in media and stereotyping. We also need to improve the relationship and communication between journalism, science, and community., We must create and increase options for continued engagement and employment. People no longer stop working because someone tells them too. People, however, shouldn’t have to work only to survive. People in all parts of jobs and work environment find their personal identity and their occupation. We must implement better opportunities for the older community to continue finding their personal identity.

Rosemary Lane, M.A.

Senior Social Affairs Officer for Focal Point on Ageing uses the message of the Sustainable Development Goals in leaving no one behind, implying implementation needs to include the older community.

How does this affect youth? How can the older generation and the younger generation work to together in implementing the SDGs?

One of the fundamental characteristics of growing older is what we leave behind us. One thing essentially that we leave behind us is youth. All initiatives and thoughts that we have put forward in our lifetime impacts our youth. The most important thing we can do to promote ageing is promoting youth involvement and education. The best way to build a legacy is to build a foundation and educate our youth giving them a better future even in old age.

-MASR