Best Practices for Emergency Response for Older People in Emergencies

The stated aim of most humanitarian organisations is to provide emergency relief to whole communities in a crisis, if possible targeting the most vulnerable. Research carried out by HelpAge International shows clearly that older people tend not to be considered among the most vulnerable.    However, as an international community committed to humanitarian advancement we need to adopt attitudes, policies and programmes that protect and support older people's rights and contributions at all times. Reducing the vulnerability of older people is not primarily about creating special services for them. It is about ensuring that they have equal access to vital services.

Read the full report on Older People in Emergency Situations here.

Invictus
Thoughts from the Secretary General

IFA Secretary General Dr Jane Barratt contributed the following to the most recent edition of Harmony magazine.  'Invictus' is a popular poem from the late nineteenth century by the English author William Ernest Henley.  Invictus, is the latin for 'unconquered' and the speaker in the poem proclaims his strength in the face of adversity.....' I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."

Older people in every country of the world experience hardship and adversity each day - whether it is some developing countries such as Somalia where approximately 43% of Somalia's population live below the poverty line, and more pronounced in the rural areas than in the urban regions; or in the United Kingdom where 9 out of every 10 mature workers have experience age discrimination in seeking employment.  A report by the Age and Employment Network (TAEN), showed that 32% of respondents were degree educated and a further 23% had professional qualifications, with 67% feeling they had the right skills for today's labour market.

Older people are also a source of comfort, wisdom, safety and mentorship to mention just a few to people of all ages.  They are resilient, dependable, interested and insightful.  So over the course of this year not only will we be highlighting some of the latest in policy, practice and business developments but also the leadership of older people around the world.  Read the full article here...

Providing On-the-Ground Aid for Older People in Haiti
News from HelpAge International

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with approximately 800,000 people over the age of 60, many of whom live in extreme poverty.  In a tragedy this massive, the needs of older people too often go unmet.  But there is action on the ground that is making a positive impact.  HelpAge International is the only relief and development organisation focused on the needs of older people in developing countries.  Although their offices in Port-au-Prince were badly damaged, local staff from HelpAge International immediately started assessing the needs of survivors on the ground.  HelpAge's UK emergency team arrived in Haiti on January 18.  Working with local humanitarian partners, including Handicap International, Christian Blinden Mission, Centre for Special Education, Haitian Society for the Blind, Ministry of Social Affairs, Healing Hands for Haiti, CADOR and other local organizations, HelpAge is working on setting up Vulnerability Focal Points (VFPs) in nine areas in Haiti.

Each point will take enquiries and provide information, and a mobile team that will go out into affected communities to provide immediate relief and services to vulnerable people. Other, locally-based organizations like CARPA and ALA from the Dominican Republic have been helping with emergency healthcare, emotional support, relief supplies and temporary shelter for older people as well.  IFA commends the efforts of all those who are contributing to the aid effort in Haiti.

IFA 2010 10th Global Conference
The place to be!

Interested in coming to Melbourne this spring? If so, please keep in mind that Early Bird registration closes 4 February!  That's only a few days away!  A significant milestone has been reached in the planning of the IFA conference, being held 3-6 May 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.  Already, over 600 papers have been accepted, including symposia and workshops, and cover a wide range of topics. The conference seeks to expand our understanding and policy capacity in the key areas of climate change, human rights, social inclusion, healthy ageing and resourcing change.  As a preview, here are a few examples of presentations you can expect for each theme:

Climate Change - identifying the particular social problems facing older people in Asia and the Pacific Islands and the impact on their way of life and customs. The impact of global warming on seniors and how they can be part of the solution.

Human Rights - exploring the international discussion on a human rights covenant, many aspects of elder abuse including: preventative action, mediation, policy initiatives and financial protection.

Social Inclusion - with particular emphasis on gender, disability, sexuality, poverty and social isolation.

Resourcing Change - provides insight into the development of innovation in housing and aged care, financial implications of a growth in population, employment models and technology.

Healthy Ageing - is the most extensive component of the conference, including the place of exercise and activity in longevity, late life learning, systems change for healthy ageing, participation, health promotion, and seniors in leadership.

 
For more details and registration visit the conference website. 

Social Integration in Action
Stories from the Grassroots

The Grassroots Outreach task force has completed the final report of the Survey on effective practices in social integration.  Social Integration in Action: Stories from the Grassroots  (now available on the IFA website) will be presented at the upcoming Commission for Social Development (CSD).   This report was commissioned by the NGO Committee for Social Development at the United Nations in advance of the 48th Session of the CSD, during which social integration will be the primary theme. 

Social Integration in Action presents a summary of responses to an international survey conducted in 2009.  Responses from 62 countries were gathered, and 14 case-studies of best practice for social integration are highlighted in the report.  These good practices embrace a wide range of populations, including people living in poverty, women, children, youth, older people, indigenous peoples, migrant populations, ethnic minorities, and people living with disabilities.

Among the interesting examples of organizations featured include the Miriam Center for Migrant Workers in South Korea work to assist women from foreign countries, chiefly Asia and Africa who come to Korea for marriage or to earn a living, by finding employment.  The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul in Italy work closely with those who are deprived and marginalized and respond to needy persons throughout the country.  The International Movement ATD Fourth World in Bolivia strive to eradicate extreme poverty and social exclusion by encouraging societal change that promotes dignity and the fulfilment of human rights for all. More details are available in the report.

The social issues that members of the international community are working to overcome are many. As this report demonstrates, civil society organizations can positively contribute to achieving a 'society for all'.

Turyak - Essays on Social Integration
Tolerance in Egypt

In our 2010 newsletters, IFA will continue to bring you essays on social integration, as delivered at the TURYAK conference in Istanbul in 2009.  In this issue, we bring you an essay from Yousriya Loza Swarisis, Founder and Secretary General of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development in Egypt.  The Sawiris Foundation is focused on job creation in Egypt, by identifying job opportunities with no qualified individuals available to fill them, and provides training to unemployed individuals to take up these jobs.  The essay explores tolerance in the Egyptian context.

"In my country, Egypt, we have, by and large, a long history of tolerance. We have been, over the centuries, a melting pot for different ethnicities and faiths, each becoming part of a broad culture of harmonious co-existence. From the Egypt of the Pharaohs through the Greek Ptolemaic period, followed by the Roman and Christian eras, and finally the Islamic conquest. This in itself brought many rulers - Arab, Mameluk, Circasian, Albanian and Ottoman Turks, - our land has smiled upon and absorbed the many influences that have created the Egypt of today..." (read the full essay here)

Update from HTX: The Health Technology Exchange
HTX announces $1.7 million in investments in health technology in Ontario, Canada

Dr. Morris (Mickey) Milner, President and CEO of The Health Technology Exchange (HTX), today announced the investment of over $1.7 million towards the development of seven emerging medical technologies.  Now in its fourth round of funding, the Business Investment Program has invested over $4 million towards the program, since the pilot launched in 2006. The program is jointly funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, through HTX and the Ontario Centres of Excellence Inc., and the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program. Funding supports business driven R&D undertaken by a team from a recognized Ontario research institution in collaboration with a partnering company.  Please read the full press statement here.

Along with providing financial support to Canadian companies, HTX plays a big role in advocating on behalf of Canadian products and encouraging local health consumer to purchase Canadian products.  You can read this short article for a spotlight on Respan, or check out the HTX' blog - The Idea Exchange.

Social Inclusion in Australia
Finding new ways to improve opportunities for social inclusion for the most disadvantaged Australians

In fall 2009 , Commonwealth, State and Territorial Ministers gathered in Adelaide to explore new ways to work cooperatively toward improving opportunities for social inclusion among the most disadvantaged Australians.  Recent challenges like the global financial collapse have made social inclusion an even greater priority.  An inclusive society is one in which all Australians, young and old, rich and poor, feel valued and have the opportunity to participate fully in social and economic life.

Within their jurisdictions, the various Governments have made commitments ranging from education and employment, to local community renewal, mental health and disability reform and measures to increase social housing and reduce homelessness.  As an outcome of this meeting, all Governments agree to work collaboratively and use common principles to improve social inclusion outcomes, prioritising: children at risk, disadvantaged youth, jobless families and people living in remote areas.  More information on Australian experience with social inclusion can be found online here.

Although fall 2009 was the first time that a meeting of its kind on the subject, it will not be the last, as the Ministers agreed to meet again in he first half of 2010.  Further, Commonwealth and State Governments will be in attendance at IFA's 2010 Senior Government Officials Meeting in May this year, and there will be opportunities for even greater exploration of the Australian perspective on social inclusion. 

The 2010 AARP Briefing Series on Global Aging

AARP, together with the UN Programme on Ageing (UN-DESA), will host a series of briefings on key global aging issues on February 2-3 (1-3pm), 2010.  These events are in conjunction with the Commission for Social Development's forty-eighth session (February 3-12, 2010) and the Commission's priority theme of "Social Integration". The AARP-UN Briefing Series, in its fourth annual installment, will continue to serve as a primary forum for government delegates, NGOs, foundations, and academics to exchange opinions on how to develop and promote policies beneficial to older persons and society as a whole, with close consideration of how countries can further implement the recommendations of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the themes of the UN Principles for Older Persons. This event is by invitation only.

Isolation in Old Age in India
New Study from Agewell Research & Advocacy Centre

The experience of isolation or loneliness occurs in all human beings but it becomes a complex problem for older people.  Isolation is associated with a number of physical, social and psychological conditions.  Generally it is believed that older persons living alone feel most isolated.  But even older persons living with their families or spouses can also feel loneliness or isolation, particularly due to lack of social integration, less or no interaction amongst family members, and other reasons.

With quickly changing socio-economic scenarios in India, living conditions across the country are changing dramatically.  Many older persons are finding it very hard to cope with new socio-economic settings, and feelings of isolation with a sense of social marginalization is becoming a major issue.  The Research & Advocacy Centre at the Agewell Foundation (a consortium of over 1500 NGOs and 6500 volunteers spread across 540 districts of India, committed to initiate better interaction between generations and extend a helping hand) has recently carried out a nationwide survey to study and identify  and understand this emerging trend of isolation in their country.  A full report of their findings is now available, and you can access it here.

Update on FICCDAT 2011
Call for Abstracts Now Open!

FICCDAT, which is an amalgamation of 6 conferences into 1 (and for the price of 1!), could be thought of (modestly) as the Olympics of all conferences relating to aging, disability, caregiving and technology.  FICCDAT is an amazing opportunity for you to transfer knowledge from your experience and your research to an extraordinarily broad audience. You can submit abstracts to all six major conferences, and you can attend and present at several conferences for the cost of attending a single conference.

Abstracts are not due until the 1st of December 2010, but why not get started early?  Visit the FICCDAT website here and follow the simple instructions.  From there, it is a simple process to start your submission.  Once you start, you can check back regularly over the coming months to work on your abstract before submitting it!

Telehealth Home Monitoring for Older People
Interesting Results from Pilot Study in Blackpool, UK

Blackpool (United Kingdom) Council's Vitaline and NHS Blackpool have reported on the success of the use of telehealth home monitoring to support people with long-term conditions to enable them to live independently at home.  The pilot demonstrated successes in managing long-term conditions, delivering cost savings, and improved patient quality of life.
 
Telehealth led to a 75% reduction in hospital admissions for the COPD & Heart Disease patients on the 12-month pilot, as well as an 85% reduction in GP visits and a 43% reduction in home visits by community matrons during the pilot, alleviating pressure on care providers and ensuring resources can be deployed effectively where needed most.  Read the full article here.

Update: The SENIOR Project
Report on Good Practices in E-inclusion, ethical guidance and designing a dialogue roadmap

In November, we introduced the Senior Project - Social Ethical and Privacy Needs in ICT for Older People: a Dialogue Roadmap - a  research collaboration between several European NGOs, businesses and universities seeking a systematic assessment through dialogue as the key instrument to evaluate the social, ethical and privacy issues involved in ICT and ageing.  SENIOR hosted a conference in Brussels in November 27th on these issues.  The report we introduced in the previous eNews has been finalized and can be accessed here.  Although the report is complete, IFA has been advised that comments and input is still welcome.  Please visit the SENIOR Project online here, or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Upcoming in February
The 48th Session of the Commission of Social Development

IFA will be represented at the United Nations in New York for the 48th Session of the Commission of Social Development from February 3 to 12, 2010.  This year's theme will be social inclusion.  This Session is held annually, and is an important opportunity to give voice to civil society.  The Secretary General's report on the priorities that Member States identified for the year ahead and their views on how to implement the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing more effectively was released in advance of this session, and can be accessed here.  We will bring you news on the outcomes of this meeting in an upcoming edition of IFA eNews.

Do you have a piece of news or information that you would like featured in IFA-eNews?  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !  We welcome your suggestions!

Sincerely yours,
The International Federation on Ageing