The IFA and the WHO Division of Healthier Populations were pleased to host the latest in a series of webinars connecting knowledge, new ideas and innovation around age-friendly environments (AFE).
The webinar The Boom of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities in the region of Latin America will be presented by Dr Patricia Morsch, Consultant, Healthy Ageing, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
The concept of Age-friendly environments is not a novelty in the region of Latin America. In fact, the Americas have become the fastest growing region within WHO's Global Network for Age Friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC) and is quickly becoming one of the leading regions in empowering cities and communities through a multi-sectorial and intersectoral approach to ensure better places for all age groups in which to grow, live, work, play and age.
This webinar will include an overview of:
- The What, Where, and Who of the GNAFCC in Latin America
- The evolution, growth and challenges in the adoption of age-friendly cities and communities in the Americas Region in the last couple years.
- Case studies/examples from countries in LA in their experience of adopting age-friendly initiatives (their experiences, challenges, outcomes, insights).
- Snapshot of the Lessons Learned of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities in the LA Region during the COVID-19 pandemic and key messages learned.
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Where are we now and where are we heading? The regional activities and initiatives led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in the Region in the context of the Decade of Healthy Ageing
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Missed a webinar in the WHO/IFA webinar series? Find all recordings at the link below. |
"Aged to Perfection/Old Enough to Know Better" is a 30 minute program airs once a month on CJSW Radio 90.9 in Calgary, Canada on the 4th Monday of each month at 11:30am and 8:30pm MST.
It can also be listened to at any time on Apple Podcasts.
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WHOs Age-friendly Cities and Communities Program is rapidly growing around the world and the 15th Global Conference on Ageing will be a point of connection of learning and exchanging of cultures, generations, and places. |
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The Age-Friendly Communities Summit is an event designed to showcase the importance of the development and adaption of environments resilient to the needs of people at all stages of life, inclusive of older people, which will allow sustainable social and economic advancement for cities, communities, and the global community. |
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Four action areas of The Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030: ageism, age-friendly cities and communities, primary health care, and long-term care alongside older people and pandemics constitute the structural pillars of the IFA Global Conference. Submit an abstract now to the Age-friendly cities and communities under one of three subthemes.
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Interested in learning how vaccination can help foster age-friendly communities? Register today for the Adult Vaccination Mentorship Program at IFA Project ECHO! |
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As the global population ages, now is the time to create age-friendly environments which foster health, well-being and the participation of people as they age. Vaccination is one of the most crucial health interventions of our time and a vital strategy for creating an prioritising healthy ageing, preventing disease and maintaining function later in life. Despite these benefits, vaccination rates are suboptimal in the most at-risk populations of older people and those with underlying chronic conditions around the world.
We are pleased to invite your participation in a ground-breaking and innovative program. The Adult Vaccination Mentorship Program at IFA Project ECHO is a five-session course to improve the skills of organizations to promote vaccination as a key aspect of age-friendly environments. This learning opportunity will build the capacity and capability of civil society organizations as champions of adult immunisation. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field of vaccination, equity and communication, as well as peers, in order to support vaccination in the context of healthy ageing and creating age-friendly communities. Click here to see the program curriculum, format and schedule.
The IFA welcomes you to join our learning community!
For more information or questions, please contact Katrina Bouzanis, Project Officer, at kbouzanis@ifa.ngo.
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The Platform: A New Collaborative Space for Knowledge on Ageing
The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) was welcomed by the UN General Assembly on 14 December 2020 as a global collaboration that aims to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.
However, catalysing this collaboration and generating change will only be possible if:
- we can make visible and mobilise a fuller range of stakeholders across sectors and regions;
- we have broad access to ways of forging new connections and engagements with each other; and
- we can access, share, and produce the wide diversity of knowledge that we each need in our work to generate the impact envisioned by the Decade.
The Decade Platform is designed to support the Decade’s implementation by faciliating all three requirements as inclusively and equitably as possible. The Platform is a digital space built to help Decade stakeholders access and exchange diverse knowledge and expertise with the global community towards creating a world for all ages:
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For example, do you have a personal story about your experiences of ageing that you would like to share? Or, are you looking for organizations and people working on a particular topic but don’t quite know where to find them? The Platform is a one-stop-shop for knowledge and connectivity that can support you do all these and more. It will also continue to be developed over the Decade in response to stakeholder needs and contexts.
The first version of the Platform is now available for public access – we’re excited for you to join us and let us know what you think!
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AgeTech Innovation Week virtual event announced
AGE-WELL is excited to host AgeTech Innovation Week, a unique new event for anyone with an interest in technology and aging, to be held October 4-8, 2021. This free virtual event will feature curated public panels, workshops, networking opportunities and catalytic conversations that connect people and create change. AgeTech Innovation Week will bring together stakeholders in the industry, government and non-profit organizations, future leaders, older adults, caregivers and others committed to enhancing lives through technology. Read more.
La Semaine de l’innovation AgeTech : annonce de l’événement virtuel
AGE-WELL est heureux d’organiser la Semaine de l’innovation AgeTech, qui aura lieu du 4 au 8 octobre 2021, un nouvel événement unique pour quiconque s’intéresse à la technologie et au vieillissement. Cet événement virtuel gratuit comprendra des groupes de discussion publics organisés, des ateliers, des occasions de réseautage et des conversations catalysantes qui relient les gens et créent le changement. La Semaine de l’innovation AgeTech réunira des intervenants de l’industrie, des agences gouvernementales, des organismes communautaires, des personnes âgées, des aidants naturels, de futurs chefs de file et d’autres personnes déterminées à améliorer la vie grâce à la technologie. En savoir plus.
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New Toolkit Helps Older Adults Maintain Good Mental Health and Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic
“Living with the times” is unique in that for the first time, a working group of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG) developed a resource that was specifically targeting the needs of older adults.
“Living with the Times” is a toolkit for older adults to support them in maintaining good mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains five posters that use visual story-telling to convey key messages for older adults on how to maintain well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, while supporting those around them. Thanks to their unique design, the posters require minimal reading skills, are culturally diverse and aim to engage older adults in conversations and activities, rather than simply share information.
The toolkit also includes facilitators notes with instructions on how to use these posters to guide conversations in community groups. Posters and facilitator notes are designed so that each can be used alone or in combination.
A total of 199 older adults aged between 60 and 90 years, from 51 countries, helped develop and test the toolkit, including from different income groups, cultural contexts and humanitarian settings. The toolkit is currently available in 11 languages, accessible here. More translations and multiple accessible formats are coming soon.
Please contact the IASC MHPSS RG (mhpss.refgroup@gmail.com) for any questions, if you are interested in translating or using the toolkit.
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Social Isolation and Loneliness among Older Adults
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The Needs of Isolated Seniors in Rural and Urban Settings: Support Strategies used by Community Stakeholders During COVID-19 Containment
Submitted By: Anne Veil, MSS, Professionnelle de Recherche, Research Center of Ageing
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In March 2020, Quebec’s provincial government stated a health emergency due to COVID-19, along with other provinces in Canada, and declared a strict lockdown for seniors aged 70 and over.
Our research team conducted a study to better understand how older people’s needs were met during confinement. The first part explored the needs of isolated seniors aged 70 and over, in four rural and urban communities, during the first wave of COVID-19. The second part focused on the response of community organizations and municipalities to the needs of seniors. In Quebec, municipalities do not provide any health or social services, this role falls to other public authorities.
This study focused on four communities located in the same region of Quebec and the response of community services according to four categories of critical needs (food and medication supply, transportation, housing, social connections). A literature review on disasters, community resilience and the social isolation of older adults was conducted, as well as telephone interviews (n = 28) with seniors, community, and municipal stakeholders.
We found that formal and informal sources of support were also affected by sanitary restrictions. Isolated seniors had weak support networks, a limitation that exacerbated their fragility. Regardless of their modus operandi, access to food and medication was promptly facilitated by local services in all settings, while older people’s transportation and social connection needs were met rather late and with few resources. The collaborative efforts of community organizations and municipalities, through cross-sectoral committees, also made a significant contribution to seniors and community organizations.
To better address a subsequent crisis, our recommendations include the need for communities to adopt a local crisis plan, better reach seniors, enhance access to digital tools for seniors, increase flexibility in role mobility and promote strong collaboration among stakeholders. These recommendations will be presented to municipalities at specific conferences.
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Tackling Social Isolation and Loneliness in Montgomery County
Submitted by: Marcia Pruzan, Senior Fellow
Photo: Older adults taking part in a virtual iPad class--one of numerous free tech and fitness classes for adults 60+ offered by Senior Planet in Montgomery County Maryland.
Montgomery County Maryland’s ten Age-Friendly domains are dedicated to improving the lives of our older residents and are especially concerned with the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. Led by the Civic and Social Involvement domain and advocacy by our Commission on Aging, Age-Friendly Montgomery County and our community partners strive to address this issue through inviting programs that improve lives and engage our rapidly growing older and highly diverse population. These efforts benefit the community through:
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Volunteerism: Our 50+ Volunteer Network offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities with local organizations in need of their services.
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The Villages Movement: In 30 local villages, volunteers at the grassroots level support older residents and others in need in a variety of ways and offer social and educational activities.
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Training and Lifelong Learning: Through a rich network of trainings and lifelong learning opportunities at our local community college, our library system and community nonprofits.
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Senior Planet Montgomery: This program helps older residents gain new tech skills, stay fit, and make friends.
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Intergenerational Activities: The County encourages intergenerational activities through programs such as Heyman Interages, Link Generations, Oasis, and activities such as COVID Corps, a recent program hiring young people specifically to help with needs related to the COVID pandemic, such as virtual tech support and food delivery.
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Senior Centers: Our Recreations Department operates Senior Centers County-wide offering physical activity, educational, and social programs and meals for older residents, as well as programs created especially for older Chinese and Southeast Asians.
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Engage@HOME (Home and Community Based Services domain): This caregiver support program via YouTube helps family caregivers stay engaged and informed.
Montgomery County, Maryland, is committed to the continuation of resources and programs that help prevent social isolation and loneliness and engage older residents in community life.
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Addressing the Issue of Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Adults
Submitted By: Vijay Naraidoo
President of the Commission for the Rights of Older Persons of DIS-MOI
People are living longer across the globe and taking an example from Mauritius life expectancy has moved to Male 71.6, female 78.1, a total life expectancy of 74.8 in 2018. (WHO data 2018). This figure has risen to 75.6 in 2020. The population of the Republic of Mauritius comprises 228, 777 out of a total of 1.3m.
We are an ageing population and the number of centenarians continues to grow. The Government of Mauritius, civil society organizations and NGOs have developed strategies and programmes as a response to the social isolation and loneliness among older adults. In Mauritius, the Church and socio-cultural organisations have been putting up activities for all their parishioners and members including older persons, showing more adherence to the activities in terms of prayer meetings and ‘panchayat’. This latter activity is a sort of gathering where the ‘older ones’, (les sages) sit to discuss the social issues affecting them. Very much like the tribal meetings in Zambia, for example. This is a glaring example of involving older people in the affairs of the bigger group.
For the purpose of this article, I have chosen to write on practices as they happen in Mauritius. The Protection of Elderly Act proclaimed in 2005 provides for, inter alia, a Protection of Elderly Network, an Elderly Protection Unit, and an Elderly Watch in each locality in the precincts of an Association of Older Persons. These mechanisms aim at ensuring, promoting and sustaining the social, emotional, cultural and economic protection of older persons. This is a meaningful strategy to enlist the presence and participation of older persons including those who live alone.
"Homes for senior citizens" provides company to older adults by organizing and recognizing opportunities for the celebration of important days, such as birthdays, anniversaries, outings, common lunches. Older persons are welcome to Day Care Centers for company, where they can play and engage in fruitful conversations. This makes them feel important and useful. In effect the Elderly Day Care Centres are meant to empower older people to be productive, healthy and independent and above all combat social isolation.
NGOs add or complement what the State offers. The University of Third Age, for example, runs training courses which combine learning and play. Activities run from hall dancing, music, literacy classes, basic practical information and telecommunications classes, outings and even camping.
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Age-Friendly Municipality: They do not forget...They are not alone...
Submitted By: Alexandra Ribeiro – Superior Technique of the Município de Alfândega da Fé
Translated by Ana Sofia Damasceno - Superior Technique of the Município de Alfândega da Fé
Older people are from the age groups that have suffered the most, with the necessary isolation and physical distance, in these long months of the World Pandemic. Alfândega da Fé escaped the first wave of Pandemic, only suffering from community transmission in October 2020. The population has since complied with the mandatory constraints stipulated by law, by the Portuguese State regarding confinement, and isolation and all the fear and anxiety that are implicit in it. In view of this, there was a need to reinvent how to reach older adults and make them feel that even at home they are not alone and the professionals are there to listen to them and to help them in a multidimensional way.
Since November 2020, the League of Friends of the Alfândega da Fé Health Center and the Municipality of Alfândega da Fé, have organized visits to older adults who had attended the activities that had previously been offered on monthly basis also those adults who were deemed/identified as the most isolated and/or without family. On these visits, the technicians take some “treats” associated with the local commemorative events, technicians are also able to conduct an assessment of the needs of the older adults and refer them to appropriate social and health services/supports as necessary. In addition to this, the technicians have also distributed activity books for older people to remain active at home, with diversified activities that promote sensory and cognitive stimulation and useful information so that they do not forget that they are not alone.
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Older Adults in Informal Settlements in Zimbabwe: Socio-spatial Isolation and Loneliness
Submitted By: Dr Chiko Ncube Makore, Research Fellow, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
In Zimbabwe, neglect and isolation of older persons is increasingly surfacing at multiple levels: the physical, social and policy environment and the family level. However, this is rarely acknowledged and recognised due to the persistent assumptions of the African care and support model, commonly known as “Ubuntu/Hunhu”. This article refers to findings from my research study on urban ageing in Harare’s informal settlements conducted from 2014 to 2019. Older people living alone in both study areas described greater feelings of insecurity and loneliness within their community. This was particularly heightened for migrant older people and older women.
More recently, Harare’s public squares and streets have turned into spaces of conflict and contestation with unpredictable violence. This, can lead to the formation of geographies of fear and marginality which can impact on how older informal settlers are able to manipulate the urban space for their advantage. An older man reported that “there are now many police in the road harassing us every time we want to sell things and therefore the streets can be difficult to travel in. We have to be very careful just so we can survive. You have to understand that we are not wanted.” This can be understood as a “process of othering” that can lead to exclusion from public space and an inability to be mobile in the city. This is further emphasised by an older woman who commented: “I cannot afford to go anywhere and I have never even taken my grandchildren to any public areas. I feel I do not qualify to go there. They will look at us differently and I don’t like that feeling.” This seems to aptly express their social isolation within the city. Such accounts also suggest a perceived difference between legally protected citizens and marginalised urban dwellers. The social stigmatisation of spaces restricts the ability for older persons to move without hesitation and limitation.
Makore, B.C.N.; Al-Maiyah, S. Moving from the Margins: Towards an Inclusive Urban Representation of Older People in Zimbabwe’s Policy Discourse. Societies 2021, 11, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc1101007
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Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Adults
Submitted By: Jane Miano
Social Isolation and Loneliness terms are often erroneously used interchangeably to describe a condition; albeit the two are distinct conditions. Social Isolation is the lack of, or limited social contact and association with others, while Loneliness is the perception of social Isolation.
According to some studies, social isolation and Loneliness are major risk factors, associated with older adults' poor physical and mental health status, leading to diseases and conditions such as; increased high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diminished immune system functioning, depression, anxiety, poorer cognitive functioning, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and stroke.
People who are aged 50 or older are vulnerable to isolation and loneliness due to risk factors such as; living alone, retirement/loss of employment, deteriorating health and mobility, change of place of living, fear of being burdensome to others; among other issues. The situation has worsened with the COVID-19 physical distancing and lockdown rules, which have been put in place in many countries to curb the spread of the disease. The consequent social isolation and loneliness are likely to have a long-term and profound impact on health and wellbeing of older adults globally. Thus, the urgent need for countries to put in place some strategies to mediate social isolation and loneliness, especially among older adults.
These strategies can include:
- Raising awareness through public messaging across the health care workforce and among members of public about social isolation and loneliness and the impact on older adults.
- Developing digital interventions to promote social connections with family and friends e.g through videoconferencing, with community through social network sites, befriending through telephone, Community based volunteer programs to support the lonely individuals.
- Promote digital interventions for health and social care provision e.g virtual supports and telecare.
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Older Men´s Loneliness Perception
Submitted By: Prof Marcela Petrová Kafková
Loneliness is labelled as epidemic of the 21st century. The lack of social relationships directly negatively affect the health of older adults. In the Genpath project (A life course perspective on the GENdered PATHways of Social exclusion in later life, and its consequences for health and well-being supported by TAČR ZÉTA TJ03000002), loneliness is understood as a continuant of broader concept exclusion from social relations. Exclusion from social relations does not emerge in old age as a separate life stage. Instead, it has its roots in the earlier life stages.
In the project, a mix-methods research design was employed, and in the qualitative part, semi-structured interviews were conducted with older people at risk of exclusion from social relations. The topic is highly gender conditioned because men and women differ in their social networks. The main story of participating older men was the lack of spouse causing lack of sharing experiences and things with someone close. The need for partnership was a significant vector influencing the feeling of loneliness. They do not talk about the fact that they need someone to take care of them, but rather that they want to help and support their loved ones. In their opinion, the relationship brought the opportunity to share life, everyday or unique experiences. It offered the possibility of meaningful fulfilment of the day. The loss of a spouse leads to the loss of pleasure from many daily activities and the need to find satisfying strategies to ease feeling lonely. The loneliness of older men is less researched than the loneliness of older women, but understanding various perspectives is necessary for comprehensive knowledge building and adjustment of effective measurements of loneliness mitigation.
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Little Black Boxes: A Unique Human Collaboration in Response to a National Lockdown
Submitted By: Orquidea Tamayo Mortera, National Diversional Therapists for Summerset/ President for NZSDRT Inc. & Carlene Newall de Jesus, Researcher and Lecture in Dance studies at the University of Auckland/Artistic Director of HighJinx Youth
Findings from The New Zealand Social Report show that 10% of New Zealanders aged 65-74, and 13% of those aged over 75 feel lonely all, most, or some of the time. The reports also show young people aged 10 -16 experiencing loneliness more often than those aged 17 +. Loneliness and Social Isolation increases are detrimental to health and anyone can be lonely, but it is clear that older people over and young people are most at risk in Aotearoa.
On the 25th March 2020, New Zealand entered a Level four coronavirus lockdown, known to be one of the strictest regulations around the world in order to prevent what could have potentially been a wave of human devastation for our country.
In the middle of the lockdown PhD Carlene Newall was seeking for a collaborative project between HighJinx Youth Company and diverse New Zealanders in response to their unique experiences through the Covid-19 response. Summerset Diversional and Recreational Therapists came across her proposal and welcomed the idea of hosting a group of young members of HighJinx Youth Company on weekly 1-1 Zoom conversations with seniors living in care in a Summerset Care Centre in Nelson to collect the feelings and experiences that both groups were having during the lockdown.
Little did we know that what started as a simple project ended up facilitating meaningful participation and expression, and act as a means to enhance a sense of connection and counter the loneliness felt by young and old during the Covid-19 response.
As a result, Little Black Boxes became a series of short dance films created in response from the words shared by Summerset seniors with young members of HighJinx Youth Company. The films were created and filmed during the lockdown by the young members of HighJinx in their homes. These young people sparked their creativity as they had to use the limited devices and resources, they had access to make the films come live.
The films from Little Black Boxes have been presented at The Movement Art Practice Artist Residency 2020 and Tempo Dance Festival 2020. Two of the films received quarter-finalist laureates and two films received quarter-finalist placings at the Online Isolation Short Videos Festival, Moscow, Russia.
Little Black boxes has demonstrated that we humans have the ability to foster and facilitate meaningful human connections right in the middle of chaos and despair – is all about our attitudes. And that by working together and regardless of the type of resources we may or may not have, as long as we continue to use our beautiful and creative brains, we can make the world a better place for all.
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The Importance of Unwanted Subjective Loneliness
Submitted By: Professor Pilar Suárez
There are different types of loneliness. There is the chosen loneliness, the unwanted, and the subjective and objective loneliness. Many older people prefer to be alone by choice; however, most suffer from unwanted loneliness. This type of loneliness has a high emotional impact due to the absence of significant relationships, and a social impact, which refers to the lack of belonging to the group. Both loneliness can be objective and subjective, so, ultimately, we must pay attention to unwanted subjective loneliness. This type of loneliness affects the physical (immune and physiological system), emotional (anxiety and depression) and mental (addictions and cognitive decline) health of the elderly, being one of the most frequent risk factors for morbidity and mortality in this age group.
These data indicate that the prevalence of unwanted loneliness is important enough for it to be necessary to develop psychosocial programs aimed to improve the quality of life of the elderly. For the prevention of such loneliness, we must first, to promote active ageing programmes, which allow the social interaction of the elderly, prevent deterioration, and improve the quality of life. Social support is one of the most important protection factors for the reduction of the incidence of most pathologies, so all programs must promote the social relationship, subjectively increasing the perceived support.
There are new programs through the apps that increase relationships between older people, but due to the technological gap, many people can not access this type of services. We believe it is necessary to support different Spanish initiatives such as: https://adoptaunabuelo.org/, https://amigosdelosmayores.org/es and / or https://grandesamigos.org/, initiatives that try to put in relation people of all ages, and prioritizing the prevention of unwanted loneliness among older adults, preventing social isolation AND promoting intergenerational solidarity.
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