March 2018
Register for Pre-Conference Events

As you begin to prepare for the 14th Global Conference on Ageing from 8-10 August, 2018, visit the website for the latest information on travel & accommodation , and consider registering for pre-conference events on 7 August, 2018 . 



Dr John Beard , Director, WHO Department of Ageing and Lifecourse, is leading this unique forum over breakfast (8AM – 10AM). Aimed at aspiring leaders in the field of ageing, the discussion will focus on the varied qualities that make a leader and will explore how individuals can use their diverse capacities in a range of settings.

Those who wish to be considered for the forum must apply before  30 April 2018 . There will be limited space for this event, so apply early! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ms  Tarah McMaster .
Age-friendly Environments Mentoring Programme – Launch
The World Health Organization and the IFA are excited to announce the launch of the Age-friendly Environments Mentoring Programme (MENTOR-AFE) , aimed at strengthening age-friendly city and community leaders. If you are an emerging or current leader in age-friendly cities and communities that would benefit from further skill development, or an expert interested to support skill development in others, then this programme may be for you.

Applications for both mentees and mentors are now open and the deadline is 30 May 2018 .

Click here for further information on the programme and how to apply.
Innovation@Home Competition
Innovation@Home is a competition and a call for age-friendly housing practices to inspire action around the world. This initiative is a collaboration between the WHO and Grantmakers in Aging (GIA).  
 
Innovation@Home is collecting examples of housing initiatives that foster healthy and active ageing. Age-friendly housing enables older people’s basic needs to be met so that they can continue to learn and grow, stay mobile, build and maintain relationships, and contribute to their community. Competition entrants will also help to increase the number and diversity of housing-related practices available on the Age-friendly World website.
 
Winners will receive free travel to the October 2018 International Technical Meeting on Ageing at Home in Quebec, Canada, where they will receive a formal award. Winning programmes will also be publicized broadly through GIA and WHO networks and publications.

The submission deadline is 4 April 2018.
REMINDER

Calling for Additional Conference Abstracts

To balance the program and deliver on a range of key global issues, the IFA is seeking additional abstracts under the themes / sub-themes of  Combating Ageism ,  Toward Healthy Ageing , and  Addressing Inequalities for the 14th Global Conference on Ageing.

The new deadline is 
6 April 2018 .
UPCOMING WEBINAR

Connecting with Ontario's Seniors: Moving from Social Isolation to
Social Inclusion

North America Only
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Questionnaire

Deadline: 30 March, 2018
9 th Session of the
Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG)

The chair is calling for substantive inputs on the two focus areas, namely "Autonomy and Independence" and "Long-term and Palliative Care" in the context of older persons.

Deadline: 9 April, 2018
Report of the UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and Human Rights

Deadline Extended:
5 April, 2018
"The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age"

Deadline: 9 April, 2018
CANADA

Vulnerable Investors, Elder Abuse, Financial Exploitation, Undue Influence and Diminished Mental Capacity
Canada is currently in the middle of the largest inter-generational transfer of wealth in its history. In addition, Canada’s rapidly ageing population has raised issues of elder abuse and mental incapacity. The Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights (FAIR) and the Canadian Centre for Elder Law conducted consultations from coast to coast within Canada and internationally to consider best practices and key issues associated with vulnerable investors.

Their joint report makes six recommendations to Canadian Securities Regulators and are designed to help the investment industry play a critical role in abuse prevention. To access the full report, click here .

In related news, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) recently released an outline of initiatives to respond to the needs of Ontario seniors and the investment industry. Tyler Fleming, Director of the Investor Office at the OSC cited a vision for “a stronger and more secure financial future for all Ontario seniors” using a “comprehensive approach [that] includes targeted policy, operational, research and educational initiatives to ensure that older Ontarians’ needs are appropriately met by the province’s securities industry.”

To read the full published strategy released on 20 March, 2018, click here . 
AUSTRALIA

Elder Abuse Community Action Plan for Victoria
Elder abuse is a form of family violence that tends to be under-reported. The unique dynamics of elder abuse require a different approach. In Victoria, this is the first action plan developed specifically to assist the community to tackle elder abuse. The plan, developed by the National Ageing Research Institute with support from Seniors Rights Victoria, the Office of Public Advocate, and community service providers, identifies gaps and sets out 10 priorities to address elder abuse. 

The priorities include: 
  • The need to clarify the relationship between family violence and elder abuse 
  • Raise community awareness of elder abuse and promote a positive image of older people to reduce ageism
  • Increase ways to help older people disclose elder abuse without fear, and
  • Provide education and training on elder abuse for all health professionals in health and aged care services 

To read the full report, click here .