The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the health and economic well-being of citizens and societies globally.
With the best intelligence that can be gained from public health officials and considering current travel restrictions, the IFA has decided to move the 15th Global Conference on Ageing (for the last time) to November 2021 to ensure the health and safety of all delegates, speakers, staff and volunteers.
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15th Global Conference on Ageing
New Dates: 10-12 November 2021
Pre-Conference: 9 November 2021
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Additionally, the IFA has reshaped the conference around five key themes, which are aligned with the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030, underpinned through a rights-based approach:
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Which new 15th Global Conference theme is of most interest to you?
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Age-friendly environments
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Older people and pandemics
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IFA Virtual Town Hall Series: COVID-19 and Older People
Alongside friends and colleagues working in the field with and on behalf of millions of older people and those most vulnerable, the IFA's Virtual Town Halls are an opportunity to share challenges and best practices related to COVID-19 and older people.
Recent Town Halls have covered topics including Older Women in Crisis Settings, Ageism in the Health Workforce, and Opportunities to Combat Ageism.
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Find recordings and resources from previous Town Halls here. |
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Join for the next Virtual Town Hall –
COVID-19 and Older People:
What it Takes to be an Advocate
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Pneumococcal Pneumonia: Worth the Shot
Joint Statement by the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination
While there has recently been necessary focus on the importance for influenza vaccination from governments and public health leaders around the world, pneumococcal pneumonia has unfortunately been left out of the spotlight.
In the following joint statement, the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination calls on professional, patient and advocacy organizations, together with all levels of government to increase their investment in educating and encouraging older adults and those with chronic diseases to be vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia.
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Support this statement by promoting it through your networks
using the following social media posts:
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The World Coalition on Adult Vaccination and @IntFedAgeing call on professional, patient and advocacy organizations, together with all levels of government to increase their investment in encouraging older adults and those with chronic diseases to be vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. https://bit.ly/32ehI8Z |
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Among those 65 years and older, 90% of deaths from an infectious disease are linked to pneumonia. Join the World Coalition on Adult Vaccination and @IntFedAgeing in calling for investment and education on influenza and pneumonia vaccination.
https://bit.ly/32ehI8Z
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The NGO Committee on Ageing and UN DESA invite you to the 30th Anniversary of the Annual Celebration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, with the theme "Pandemics: Do they change how we address age & ageing?"
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) and the 30th Anniversary of the UN International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP), this inaugural virtual celebration unites UN officials and leaders in the fields of ageing and beyond to address the call to action for a Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030.
Registration is now open, while the program including photos and bios of speakers along with a list of sponsors will be available in early September.
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Biosimilars in Opthalmology
Retinal diseases including Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy cause irreversible vision loss in about 2 million Canadians. The goal of IFAs work in relation to vision and healthy ageing is to help ensure safe and appropriate treatments that are accessible to all Canadians. There is a growing trend worldwide to explore the use of biosimilars rather than biologics in various therapeutic areas.
Sound evidence-based policy must underpin governmental decisions in funding new treatments but also and equally important is the impact on patient treatment care and the overall functional outcome. While biosimilars in ophthalmology have “not yet arrived” in Canada now is the time to bring together key patient advocates across various vantage points to gain a deeper understanding of policy development and the patient voice.
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How is COVID-19 affecting older persons throughout the world?
Watch as António Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations answers this question in a historic conversation with AARP International CEO Jo Ann Jenkins.
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Join part one of our three-part webinar series on the Global Immunisation Agenda: Defeat Meningitis on September 28, 2020 at 13:30 – 15:00 BST to explore tangible ways we can implement the WHO Defeating Meningitis by 2030: A Global Roadmap.
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How do we make our built environment, at every scale, a tool for disease prevention and the promotion of wellness for all?
Societies across the globe are in the midst of long-term growth in the older adult population. Yet the homes and communities where we live do not even meet current lifespan needs, as they were mostly designed for young, typically abled people. And disparities in the built environment often lead low-income and minority communities to struggle to attain basic health, safety and wellbeing.
As we begin to build and renovate our homes and communities in a post-COVID-19 world, we must accelerate the application of an age-friendly framework that addresses disparities. This means housing and communities everywhere that are safe, affordable, and facilitate multigenerational interaction; meet sensory, emotional, physical, social, behavioral, and health needs across the lifespan; and include appropriate transportation options—enabling every resident to thrive.
The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is co-sponsoring this AARP dialogue series of online events from September 2020 to February 2021, featuring built environment leaders from the U.S. and across the globe. Dr. Bill Thomas will moderate conversations with these experts, who will share diverse perspectives on what it will take to create enabling and equitable housing and multigenerational communities.
The Equity by Design series is for policymakers, planners, designers and architects, developers, financiers, academic and real estate professionals, age-friendly community advocates, and other colleagues interested in making our built environment a tool to support everyone at every stage across increasingly long lifespans.
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Each week the IFA highlights experts on a variety of relevant topics in spotlight articles. Here are some of the latest: |
Did you know that the IFA has a “virtual expert centre,” that features thought leaders and special experts in policy, research and practice in fields associated with population ageing.
Visit the IFA's Experts with the most recently updated profile:
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Dr. Prakash Tyagi
Executive Director of GRAVIS and Founder-Director of GRAVIS Hospital
Jodhpur, INDIA
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Helen Louise Gillis
National President – Volunteer, Canadian Council of the Blind
Nova Scotia, Canada
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What is the experience for those living with dementia and their care partners as they journey through our health care system? Join David Harvey as he explores these topics in the third series launched by Dementia Dialogue. |
Find the latest news from the Janaseva Foundation here. |
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Nathalia Wittingham has been a part of the IFA team for over two and a half years, leading the management of the IFA 15th Global Conference on Ageing and expert meetings, under her role as the Conference and Events Manager.
She moved to Canada 12 years ago from Colombia, in search of a better future and new opportunities. You will rarely find Nathalia without a contagious smile on her face. She is outgoing, creative, kind, enthusiastic, and passionate, bringing joy and motivation to the IFA team every day. She loves spending time with her friends, family, and dog Franky, as well as playing sports, dancing, cycling, and travelling.
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Chesley Ryder joined the IFA team in the beginning of 2020 and, along with preparing this VoltAGE newsletter, strategically communicates the on-going projects, events and more on behalf of the IFA in her role as Communications Manager.
Raised in Calgary, Canada, she spent the last six years living, working and studying abroad in Australia, Thailand, Lithuania, and most recently the Netherlands before relocating to Toronto to join the IFA team.
Outside of work, Chesley enjoys travelling, hiking, listening to audio books and volunteering.
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