The Journey to Age Equality

Sixty Counts: it’s the International Day of Older Persons. The United Nations-designated day spotlights age equality each October 1st. It offers everyone around the world an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the important contributions that older people make to society. Moreover, it raises awareness of the opportunities and challenges of aging in today’s world.

Pandemics
The emergence of COVID-19 has caused an upheaval across the world. This theme considers the higher risks confronted by older persons

Pandemics: Do They Address How We Age & Ageing?

“The world marks the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons as we reckon with the disproportionate and severe impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought on older persons around the world – not only on their health, but on their rights and well-being.” –UN Secretary-General António Guterres

sixty counts: International Day of Older Persons age equality
International Day of Older Persons Celebrates 30 Years on October 1

The theme for 2020 is Pandemics: Do They Address How We Age & Ageing? The emergence of COVID-19 has caused an upheaval across the world. This theme considers the higher risks confronted by older persons during the outbreak of pandemics as the one we face today, and calls for policy and programmatic interventions to be targeted towards raising awareness of their special needs. The theme also recognizes older persons contributions to their own health and the multiple roles they play in the preparedness and response phases of our current and future pandemics.

The Decade of "Healthy Ageing & The Role of Healthcare Workers

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the UN and the 30th anniversary of the “International Day of Older Persons.” It is also the “Year of the Nurse & Midwife” and the onset of the “Decade of Healthy Ageing.” The 2020 International Day of Older Persons will celebrate both milestones by aiming to:

  • Inform participants about the strategic objectives for the Decade of Healthy Ageing.
  • Raise awareness of the special health needs of older persons and of their contributions to their own health and to the functioning of the societies in which they live.
  • Increase awareness and appreciation of the role of the health care workforce in maintaining and improving the health of older persons, with special attention to the nursing profession
  • Present proposals for reducing the health disparities between older persons in the developed and developing countries, so as to “Leave no one behind”.
  • Increase understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on older persons and its impact on health care policy, planning, and attitudes.
sixty counts: International Day of Older Persons Age Equality

The global strategy is well integrated into the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs), while ageing issues cut across the 17 goals, especially Goal 3, which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being of all at all ages”.

THE STATISTICAL FACTS

  • 703 million people are now over the age of 65 (2019)

  • The number of persons aged 65 years or over is projected to more than double, reaching 1.5 billion by 2050 — globally outnumbering youth plus children under the age of 10 (between 2017 and 2030)

  • By 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children age 5 and younger.

  • The developing world will have the greatest increase in the number of older people

  • Asia will be the region in the developing world with the largest number of older persons

  • Africa faces the largest proportionate growth

 

The facts say it all! Sixty Counts. It is clear that enhanced attention to the particular needs and challenges faced by many older people is necessary. Equally important is the essential contribution the majority of older men and women can continue to make to the functioning of society if adequate guarantees are in place. Human rights lie at the core of all efforts in this regard.

Socially Sparked

Sixty counts! Population aging is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. Older persons Socially Sparked® our lives and continue to do so. The journey to age equality is ongoing. We salute our older persons and our healthcare workers as we  celebrate International Day of Older Persons, the Year of Nurses & Midwives and ring in the Decade of Healthy Ageing.. Join us. — We are Forever #SociallySparked  — Tweet @sosparkednews & @asparks01