December 2023

Wishing you a season of Joy and Happiness

As we approach the end of the year, the IFA wants to take a moment to express its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you.

Your continuous support and enthusiasm have made 2023 an unforgettable journey. Together, we've accomplished so much; from reaching new milestones to embracing challenges and turning them into opportunities, 2023 has been nothing short of remarkable.

IFA will continue to encourage older people’s right for a healthy, dignified and happy life. On behalf of IFA Secretariat and the Board of Directors, we thank you for your support throughout the year and wish you a holiday season filled with joy and a prosperous year in 2024. 

Sincerely,

The International Federation on Ageing

The International Federation on Ageing is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anjali Tripathi as the next Secretary General, effective 2 January 2024.

Dr. Tripathi brings many years of experience in global health and wellbeing, addressing the needs of populations across the life course. With an expertise in policy development, strategic planning, and cross-sector collaboration at local and international levels, Anjali will play a pivotal role in guiding the IFA through its next phase of growth and success.

World Hearing Forum

Globally, at least 430 million people are in need of hearing care, with unaddressed hearing loss ranking as the third-largest cause of years lived with disability worldwide. In light of this, from November 27-29, the International Federation on Ageing took part in the three-day World Hearing Forum (WHF) meeting to continue to prioritize the integration of ear and hearing care across the life course. 

The World Hearing Forum (2018–2025) is filling a critical gap by bringing a collective vision to advocacy and collaboration in this field. Through networking and by sharing knowledge, skills and experiences from the field, the World Hearing Forum is galvanizing action towards a world in which no person experiences hearing loss due to preventable causes and those with hearing loss can achieve their full potential through early identification and appropriate management of their condition.

IFA continues to be a leader in the field by making and strengthening connections across disciplines and sectors toward a common policy agenda and toward the development of new narratives about the impact of intrinsic and external factors on the functional ability of older people, including hearing health in later life.

TIME TO TAKE ACTION: Join the Fostering CSO Engagement in the LAC Subregion Initiative today!

The IFA, under the framework of The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and supporting the work in the Americas of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), is conscious that increased representation from the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) subregion is needed to ensure that the meaningful voices and contributions from these countries are appropriately represented and reflected across the Decade.

With this in mind the IFA together with PAHO have established the Fostering CSO Engagement in the LAC Subregion Initiative, with the aim of identifying and bringing together organizations across a wide range of sectors and disciplines who have an interest and a responsibility to create an environment that enables older people to do what they have reason to value and to better understand the resources that may be helpful in supporting these efforts.  

We encourage and invite you to ensure your voice is heard by completing the short survey below. We appreciate your time and hope that you and your organization join this exciting global movement of CSOs working together to ensure the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is a success!

Keep growing young!

Meet IFA's newest member and learn what he can do for your health.

Recently launched Reports

Prioritizing Bone Health to Foster Healthy Ageing for Older Women

Across the globe, older women make up a significant portion of the ageing population and live longer than men, yet they are too often not prioritized in policies, health systems and society as a whole. Earlier this year, IFA held it’s 16ᵗʰ Global Conference on Ageing entitled Challenge, Transformation, Change in Bangkok, Thailand. Older Women was chosen as a key theme to bring attention and policy dialogue to the challenges that older women face in accessing health services and maintaining good health throughout life.  

The Presidential Symposium on Older Women, held in collaboration with Amgen as a prime member of IFA, brought together experts across various disciplines to translate public health evidence and good practices into actions to improve policies and initiatives supporting older women’s health in the Asia-Pacific. The session particularly focused on protection of bone health to prevent, manage and treat conditions such as fragility fractures and osteoporosis, which lead to frailty, and diminished function and overall well-being.

Read the White Paper outlining key themes and policy recommendations to advance bone health and support healthy ageing for older women.

Addressing Adult Immunisation Inequity and Improving the Uptake Rates of Adult Vaccination Among Older People

The International Federation on ageing is pleased to share the recent publication of a groundbreaking article entitled “Addressing Adult Immunization Inequity and Improving the Uptake Rates of Vaccination Among Older People”. This exciting publication underscores the importance and urgency of ensuring equitable access to vaccinations for all older adults through the sustained and meaningful integration of a life course approach to immunization and highlights the IFA’s continued commitment to ensuring that the rights and choices of older adults are respected and protected.

Read the Policy Brief here.

IFA Global Café Archive

If you were unable to attend any of the IFA Global Café sessions, we have great news for you! All past sessions, along with valuable resources and materials, are now accessible on our website. Whether you're interested in exploring specific topics or simply want to catch up on the insightful discussions, you can conveniently view the recorded sessions at your leisure.

We invite you to visit our website to experience the wealth of knowledge and expertise shared by our distinguished speakers and panelists. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the thought-provoking content from the IFA Global Café series.

Stay up-to-date: Follow the IFA on Twitter today!