WHO launches Global Network of Age-friendly Cities
Urban environments that allow older people to remain active and healthy
29 JUNE 2010 – GENEVA - WHO launches the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities as part of a broader response to the rapid ageing of populations. Populations in almost every corner of the world are growing older. The greatest changes are occurring in less-developed countries. By 2050, it is estimated that 80% of the expected 2 billion people aged 60 years or over will live in low or middle income countries. The Network aims to help cities create urban environments that allow older people to remain active and healthy participants in society.
Invitations to join the Network were sent out last December and WHO has been swamped by responses. Many individual cities, both large and small have formally applied to join the Network. WHO has also established formal agreements with the French government, the Irish Ageing Well Network and the Slovenian Network of Age-friendly Cities to develop affiliated national programmes. The China National Committee on Ageing has also indicated interest in developing a national programme, and 5 Canadian Provinces are running complementary initiatives.
You can read more information on the Global Network,click here
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Children's Art Projects Energize Japanese Elders
Young artists from Zerodate, a Japanese artist's collective, developed a project in 2009 to involve community elders with elementary school children in an art experiment using fabric. The elders taught the children to sew, the artists helped stimulate the creative vision of all the participants.
The artistic results speak for themselves, as the following video shows.
This Zerodate project was presented at a recent International Federation on Aging Regional Conference in Akita, Japan.
The project leader, Takuma Ishiyama, explained to the delegates that the gradual disappearance of a traditional 'Yamada Lion Dance' comunity ceremony spurred them to interest young children in art and sewing skills. But other equally important objectives were to instill a sense of respect from children for their elders, as well as energizing elders with the enthusiasm of youth. Communities interested learning about the project's outcomes and pursuing similar activities can contact Zerodate
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Honouring Dr. Robert Butler |
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 The man who coined the term ageism passed away unexpectedly earlier this month of leukemia in New York City at the age of 83.
Robert Butler, the prominent gerontologist, psychiatrist and founder of the U.S. International Longevity Centre (ILC) was no where ready to leave us, wanting to accomplish so much more. His latest book, The Longevity Prescription, was published only last month and was looking forward to working for his cause indefinitely. Butler was the first director of the National Institute on Aging, establishing Alzheimer's disease as a national research priority and founded the United State's first department of geriatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His books included the Pulitzer Prize-winning Why Survive? Being Old in America and The New Love and Sex After 60, which he wrote with his wife Myrna Lewis.
Throughout his career, he developed a keen wit to contest misconceptions and ignorance fuelling age prejudice.
Read more
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Global Ageing: Disaster Preparedness and Response
 Recent world events, particularly the devastating earthquake in Haiti, have shaped the title and contents of the latest edition of IFA's Journal Global Ageing: Volume 6 Number 1, Disaster Preparedness and Response.
Articles include:
• Emergency Support Provided by JDC-ESHEL During the Second Lebanon War
• Impact on Older Persons of Pakistan’s 2005 Earthquake
• Cuba’s Disaster Planning Involves Elders, Saves Lives, Reduces Losses
• Enhancing Global Policy on Emergency Preparedness and Response: Canada’s Role in Addressing the Needs and Contributions of Older People
• The SWiFT System: A Post-Disaster Approach to Vulnerable Elderly Disaster Victims
• Urban Aging, Social Isolation, and Emergency Preparedness
IFA non-members can order a copy of this latest volume of Global Ageing here. IFA members may also order a copy, or , after mid-May will be able to download a free copy from the Members page (accessible on sign-in).
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Wales Older Care Review has Legal Clout
Ruth Marks, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, is undertaking her first review. She has chosen to focus on older people in a heath care or social care setting. Are they being treated with appropriate dignity and respect? Ruth's legal powers make her globally unique in her ability to act in protection of older citizens. In a short video clip, Ruth outlines the scope of her review, as well as her responsibilities, powers and strategies for ensuring that appropriate care standards are maintained or improved as necessary to safeguard the rights of her constituency. The video may be viewed at: http://www.olderpeoplewales.com/index.php?id=436
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How Age-Friendly is a Modern City?
When Secretary General Jane Barratt was asked recently by the Toronto Star to help evaluate Canada’s largest city, she found plenty of room for improvement. However, Jane emphasizes that older citizens deserve better than cries of alarm and panic at the growing number of over-65’s. This age group is the fastest growing population segment in the Greater Toronto Area. Projecting the latest census trends, by 2031 over-65's will make up 16 percent of the population, and the population of those over 75 will have increased by 50 percent.
“Let’s stop being frightened of being older, because older people have a significant contribution to make, says Jane. “Look at it that way, instead of looking at it as a burden on society.”
Like many modern cities, Toronto has made major adjustments to support changing populations, including the influx of vibrant and diverse immigrant groups. A positive spirit of welcoming and accommodation needs to be extended to an ‘influx’ of older citizens as the population ages. Hand wringing and alarm cries have no place in the planning and implementation of measures to support such an important population segment.
Barratt has several tips for Toronto in order to make it more age-friendly.
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Toronto, Canada - The fifth anniversary of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) took place on June 15th 2010 at the historic Faculty Club. One the oldest buildings of the University of Toronto, it was the perfect venue in which to welcome nearly one hundred conference participants.
Aging, Poverty & Social Justice