Blog Masonry with Sidebar

IAHSA Takes a Stand Against Ageism

IAHSA is joining the World Health Organization in taking a stand against ageism on the International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2016. Ageism flies in the face of all that we believe in–the fundamental worth of older people and their right to dignity, respect and choice. Ageing is not a disease or a burden; it is a state of life full of opportunitydrawing on the experiences of a lifetime.

As a vibrant global ageing network, IAHSA members provide quality shelter, services and supports in communities across the globe. We do this in the face of rampant discrimination against older adults–in employment, access to services and public policies. By taking a stand against ageism, we hope to raise awareness and prompt action to end the rampant prejudices against the fastest growing population in the world.

Tell us–how will you stand against ageism this October 1st–and onward? Share your commitment to combatting ageism on IAHSA’s Facebook page.

NEW RESOURCE! International Journal on Ageing in Developing Countries

The International Institute on Ageing, United Nations – Malta (INIA) has released its 2016 International Journal on Ageing in Developing Countries.

The Journal focuses on those aspects relating to population ageing in developing countries, including biological, psychological, economic, social, political, medical, historical and spiritual dimensions. It includes five objectives namely:

  •  drawing experts from various disciplines related to this ageing phenomenon, and provide an international, peer-reviewed platform for their work;

  • offering a voice to researchers in developing countries, enabling them to transmit their findings to a broad number of readers;

  • facilitating rapid, international dissemination of ground breaking work in the area, via pre-publication access;

  • reviewing books of gerontological and geriatric concern;

  • being an openly accessible forum to maximize readership and discussion, and hence, the journal’s ability to transmit work in the area to the stakeholders that need it most.

Access it here.

Growing Connections: A Personal Journey in Global Ageing

mvan-zyl-chapmanBy Margie van Zyl Chapman, Immediate Past Chair, IAHSA Board of Directors

My first attendance at an international conference was an International Federation on Aging (IFA) meeting in Durban way back in 1997. Back then boards in the aged care sector in South Africa were so busy on their treadmills, heads down, keeping their organisations going. It was considered a “waste” of resources to pay the price of attendance at international conferences – after all, we were so different and couldn’t stand up and be counted alongside wealthy well-resourced first world organisations. Back then our aged care sector was very isolated. Many of our service providers were not involved in networks and we were struggling to grow our aged care associations. Service providers did not prioritise networking because they did not understand the value of it. Few organisations sent representatives to our meetings.

When I attended the IFA Conference in Durban, my eyes were opened wide! I attended a session led by a Canadian from One Voice – a seniors’ organisation focusing on elder abuse education and advocacy. I stayed behind and chatted with the presenter, asking heaps of questions, looking at her amazing material, and, by the end of our conversation, she gave me the entire crate of amazing training material to share with our sector. I took the materials back to my organisation and used it through the South African Association of Homes for the Aged, enabling others to have access to it. I kept email contact with my new found Canadian friend and, two years later (1999), we did a joint presentation together at the IFA in Montreal on how the Canadian material had been used in 3rd world South Africa! That began my journey in becoming involved in global ageing networks.

My first connection with IAHSA came in 2005 when I discovered IAHSA’s website and submitted an abstract for their Trondheim conference in Norway. I was invited to speak at the conference and also attended the Workforce Forum. I met people there with whom I have developed in depth relationships over the years that have followed. The experience inspired me to get involved in global networks and my life and my work has been enriched.

What has been most exciting has been the opportunity to share the value of global connections with others, and to be given a platform through which to share stories and facilitate partnerships across the globe. Through this, many organisations in South Africa have been afforded the opportunity to forge cross global links which have benefitted their organisations, but they have also been given an opportunity to contribute to global discussions. As a connector, you need to make connections for others, and connect through others’ networks – for every person you connect with is engaged in networks of their own – thus, connecting has a multiplier effect. It’s like a value chain, an upward spiral of connection and assistance that augments value and lifts everyone. For me, adding value to others is key to my connecting. The value we receive in connecting is, I believe, a by-product of the value we help create.

What do you think drives a culture of collaboration and connection? Some people see their people connections as a business strategy. For me, it’s who I am – and generosity is the key to success. It is important to lead and connect with generosity. Having been an active member of IAHSA, I have found that you do not join an organisation to be a passenger and simply add it to your CV–you join to make a contribution.

I was asked to join the IAHSA Board of Directors in 2009. I have attended the biennial conferences, regularly making a contribution. I have greatly valued the opportunity to learn from my colleagues on the board, to be challenged and to challenge others. And, in serving as an office bearer, it afforded me the opportunity to grow my leadership skills. Serving as Board Secretary and then experiencing the honour of chairing the IAHSA Board has been a wonderful learning experience for which I am deeply grateful. I also contribute by serving on the Board of Directors of CommonAge (focusing on Commonwealth countries – a sub group of IAHSA’s membership) and facilitate the South African Care Forum as their founding Chair. I have had the opportunity to speak at many international conferences around the world, visit aged care centres around the world, and meet the most amazing, passionate people from whom I have learned so much.

To be a connector, is more than just knowing a lot of people. It’s about building authentic relationships, person to person, not person to score. Connection feeds my soul. To me, there is always an intersecting of personal and professional networks. My network is always on and I’ve learned to keep it charged!

Brené Brown says that connections give purpose and meaning to our lives. I’ve found that to be so true. I’ve also seen that good things happen to good networkers and those whose lives they touch, because of what they put into relationships. Building, nurturing and maintaining those relationships through ongoing attention and value, is what turns us into better people, who then have the potential to create better communities and ultimately a better world.

Connections that last and are sustainable are connections of the heart. They take time and passion to nurture.

So be encouraged–allow your passion to ignite others. You will not only impact your own organisation but you will impact the greater good. Think about the connections you need to make in order to leverage the networks you are involved in. Connectors have a special gift of bringing the world together. You’ll find that it is your connections that make your business or organisation–and your life–truly abundant, successful and significant. Continually reinvest your social capital. Connect for a reason – connect with purpose and for the long-term and bring value to yourself and others through the powerful currency of relationships.

IAHSA is the perfect vehicle through which to make this happen. Get involved today – your contribution is needed and will be greatly valued.

 

About the Writer

2015 Photo_MargieVanZylMargie van Zyl Chapman is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Geratec in Capetown, South Africa. A social worker by profession, she has worked for many years in the field of ageing, with a particular interest in long-term care and partnership development.  She is passionate about networking, helping organisations to share their stories, and partnership development for the greater good. Margie has served as on the IAHSA Board of Directors since 2009. She served as IAHSA Board Chair from 2014 through 2015.

Ageing in Cameroon

Ageing in Cameroon: An Interview with Francis Njuakom (Video)

During his visit with LeadingAge and IAHSA staff last month, Francis Njuakom, Chief Executive of Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance (CDVTA Cameroon) sat down with Gene Mitchell, Editor of LeadingAge Magazine to provide us with a first-hand account of the ageing experience in his country and the work his organization has done to promote elder rights and to improve the quality of care and resources for the Cameroon’s elder population.

The interview is part of IAHSA’s Member Spotlight series which allows our members to share their personal journeys into aged care, the unique experiences and challenges faced in their countries and the contributions they have made towards making a positive difference in the lives of older people.

Francis Njuakom Interview Pt. 1: “Why did you begin working with older people?“

Francis Njuakom Interview Pt. 2: “What is the general attitude toward older people and aging in Cameroon?“

 

Francis Njuakom Interview Pt. 3: “How are care and services delivered to older people in Cameroon?“

Francis Njuakom Interview Pt. 4: “Where does CDVTA’s funding go?“

Francis Njuakom Interview Pt. 5: “Can you tell me about the older people’s clubs?“

Francis Njuakom Interview Pt. 6: “Can you describe the goat-rearing project?“

To learn more about Francis Njuakom, check out our Member Spotlight post from his visit last month!

To learn more about the work and achievements of CDVTA Cameroon, click here.

To learn more about Francis’s journey in the U.S. (and to see photos), click Here.

Community-based Model Fosters Resilience and Stakeholder Engagement

By Dr. Taryn Patterson, LeadingAge Center for Applied Research

The Red Cross Global Disaster Preparedness Center funds IAHSA/CFAR researchers to conduct case study on community-based model that fosters resilience and stakeholder engagement

Researchers with the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) and the LeadingAge Center for Applied Research (CFAR) received a grant from the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (IFRC) to write a case study on the process of coalition building and community engagement in the Ibasho model.

The value of socially integrating elders

Ibasho is a non-profit organization that promotes the value of socially integrating elders, and demonstrates the multi-generational social, economic, and environmental benefits of such communities in both developed and developing countries. The “Ibasho” approach helps strengthen the social capital of communities recovering from disasters and epidemics by giving community members of all ages and abilities a place where they can develop deeper connections with each other. These community hubs provide a platform for useful and relevant contributions to the community, such as through the development and implementation of sustainable livelihood projects, and create an enabling environment for traditionally excluded groups by bolstering resilience and agency. The Ibasho model has been successfully implemented in Ofunato, Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and Barangay Bagong Buhay, Ormoc province, Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. The model is in the early stages of translation in the village of Matatirtha, in Kathmandu District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal, after 7.8 magnitude earthquake of April 2015 caused massive destruction, affecting more than 8,000 people.

Ofunato, Japan
Ofunato, Japan
Barangay Bagong Buhay, Ormoc province, Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.
Barangay Bagong Buhay, Ormoc province, Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.

International examples that promote community resilience

To consolidate and document lessons learned with regard to enhancing individual and community resilience, the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) of the IFRC is supporting the collection and development of case studies that illustrate and discuss key issues with setting-up, managing and implementing resilience programs  through coalitions on local, regional, national and global levels. The case study proposed by IAHSA was chosen from a globally competitive proposal process and will serve as a building block to inform and inspire action and provide the foundation for wider sharing of experiences across organizations and actors.

Dr. Emi Kiyota, Founder and CEO of Ibasho and IAHSA Board Member, and Dr. Taryn Patterson, researcher with CFAR and IAHSA, recently traveled back to Nepal to conduct the final component of the case study that will focus on implementation of the Ibasho project in Nepal. There are four primary phases of implementation within the Ibasho approach: (1) Community needs assessment (2) Capacity building (3) Vision Workshops, and (4) On-going monitoring, research, and programming. Phases 1 and 2 were previously conducted by Drs. Kiyota and Patterson, along with a broad coalition of both local and international experts.

Visioning Workshops

In June, 2016, a series of “visioning workshops” with selected local stakeholders were conducted as part of phase 3 in the village of Matatirtha, Nepal.

Village of Matatirtha Nepal 1
Village of Matatirtha, Nepal
Women building irrigation system in the village of Matatirtha, in Kathmandu District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal
Women in Matatirtha rebuild irrigation canal.

Activities conducted during the team’s trip to Nepal included:

  • Meeting with the local implementing partner, Bihani Social Venture, to discuss implementation plans;

  • Identifying local leaders in order to communicate the Ibasho approach for potential replication in the village;

  • Convening a series of workshops with local stakeholders, including village elders, children, and the Mahila Samuha (Women’s Group) to (1) discuss the current role of elders in the community, (2) discuss the role of youth and women, (3) to identify the most pressing issues faced by the community, and (3) to identify local capacities within the community; and

Deciding on several potential community-based projects that will address identified needs and goals of the village.


Nepal Visioning Workshop 3Nepal Visioning Workshop 4The visioning workshops in Nepal involved representatives from the entire community, including elders, women, and children from the local government school. Multiple means of fostering discussion were utilized, including small group discussions in response to prompting questions, drawing, and story-telling.

As workshop facilitators, the Ibasho team’s role is not to decide what the community needs and how to address the need, but to actively listen to participants in order to guide the community in selecting key issues they want to address with the with Ibasho concept. Workshop activities combine both active group discussion and small group projects that do not rely on reading or writing (due to literacy constraints), but rather discussion, drawing, and story-telling. Ultimately, the Ibasho model is adapted to fit the needs and goals of the community.

Nepal Visioning Workshop 2
The Ibasho team facilitates a workshop with children from the local government school.

At the close of the workshop series, preliminary community project ideas included:

  • Expanding on current traditional handicraft skill-sets, such as knitted items, stitching, doll-making, cushions, briquette making, detergent making, beaded jewelry, incense sticks, cotton wicks etc.

  • Improving farming practices;

  • Selling local potted plants and traditional foods;

  • Cultural preservation projects, such as teaching youth how to make Newari food, teaching religious songs, and hosting Bhajan gatherings;

  • Building/irrigation/Masonry training;

  • Animal husbandry/poultry farming;

  • Recycling: Creating manure from waste and also general recycling to improve the direct environment; and

  • Social campaigns about hygiene and the importance of broader social roles for women.

The One Billion Coalition (1 BC) for Resilience

The Red Cross recently launched an initiative called The One Billion Coalition (1 BC) for Resilience. The 1 BC aims to engage and inspire one billion people to take active steps towards enhancing individual and community resilience by 2025. The 1 BC will complement existing initiatives by providing a partnering platform for engaging community groups, civil society organizations, local and national government, international organizations, the private sector, and academic institutions. The Ibasho case study on community resilience and coalition building will be part of the portfolio of tools provided by the 1 BC. Working together in coalitions will help to expand collective problem-solving at local, national, and global levels to reduce risks, strengthen resilience, and streamline access to resources, tools and solutions.

Member Spotlight: Francis Njuakom, CDVTA Cameroon

By Mia Mullen, IAHSA

Francis Njuakom, Chief Executive of Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance (CDVTA Cameroon) and Jack York, Founder of It’s Never Too Late met at the 2015 IAHSA-ACSA Global Ageing Conference in Perth, Australia.  Yet to see them together today is like watching two brothers with a lifetime of history.

After hearing Francis’s story in Perth, Jack wrote him a check for $500 in hopes of making a small difference.  Only a few months later, he received message from Francis with some surprising news.  His $500 donation was used to launch a sustainable goat rearing initiative for elderly women in Cameroon.  CDVTA volunteers purchased 9 goats and distributed them to the poorest elder-led households in the community. The goats would serve as a sustainable source of income for these women and their families.

Since that time, there have been more goats and the project has grown into the G.O.A.T.T. (Giving Older Adults Tools to Thrive) Project. You can read about it here.

francis at leadingage 2Earlier this month, Francis traveled to the United States and, with Jack as his guide, traveled cross-country to share the story of their friendship and to provide U.S. constituents with a first hand account of what it is like to age in Cameroon.  On the 11th of August, the duo stopped by the IAHSA/LeadingAge Office in Washington D.C. where Francis shared with us his personal story, the work of his organization and how it has impacted ageing in Cameroon.

The traditional experience of Cameroonian elders (particularly women) is often one of poverty with limited access to care, support and services. Cultural practices have contributed greatly towards these circumstances. In his homeland of Kom, Francis shared that women are not able to inherit the property of their husbands, nor are they allowed to work or generate income, making it impossible to care for themselves later in life without the help of their husbands.

In a world where women live longer than men, the typical narrative of an older person in Cameroon is that of a widow, living in poverty, with no line of income nor means to support herself or her family. To add, the AIDS/HIV epidemic in Africa has caused many women elders to become primary caregivers for grandchildren who have lost parents to the illness. Others have have assumed guardianship of their grandchildren so that their adult children could pursue a better life and job in the city. As with many countries in Africa, institutions of care are novel in Cameroon. Families still assume the role and responsiblity of caregivers. The long-term effect of these circumstances is a sustained cycle of poverty and isolation among these women and their dependents.

To address these issues, Francis founded CDVTA. The organization’s mission is “to promote elderly friendly communities through rights, advocacy and improved livelihoods”. The efforts of CDVTA over the past 20 years have resulted in a significant shift in Cameroon’s treatment and consideration of older people. The organization empowers elders and their families through activities that promote social inclusion, education, the development of sustainable livelihoods and volunteerism. The organization also advocates for the rights and welfare of elders on a national level, facilitating regular conventions and ongoing communications with government officials and other members of the community to ensure that the needs of the aged are met. The work of CDVTA has led to the successful enactment of a national policy on ageing.

From Francis’s talk, we noted three distinct themes of engagement that have contributed towards the longevity and success of CDVTA and its work in the community.

francis speaking at leadingageI. Engage and Empower

Francis met with women elders in his community–and began to organize small clubs where the elders were able to meet and talk about the challenges they were facing in their communities, to prioritize their needs, and to develop possible solutions. This coming together reinforces that the issues and challenges faced by elders belong to the entire community.

The programs initiated through CDVTA help elders and their families to establish a sustainable livelihood. Family members are trained and certified in skills like beekeeping and are able to work at CDVTA’s sites to generate an income to support their households.

II. Raise Awareness Among ALL Stakeholders

CDVTA and the elders organized regional conventions, where stakeholders from all aspects of the community would come together to better understand the experience and needs of elders. The idea was to develop a sense of empathy among the community and to begin to collaboratively build and implement policies that better support and promote the care and rights of older people. Francis noted that international efforts around ageing also contributed towards Cameroon’s shift in focus around elder rights–including the 2012 United Nations decree on ageing.

III. Let Elders Lead and Remain Involved

Francis and CDVTA positioned themselves as a community partner and resource to elders. The elders meet regularly to voice and discuss concerns, serving as leaders and senior advisors to the community. These meetings or “clubs” have become quite popular over time, and it is not uncommon for people of all ages in the community to ask for membership.

The volunteer members of CDVTA are vetted and recruited by the elders themselves.  To be recruited is perceived as an honor and has become a statement of trust and high esteem among the elders. The volunteers who provide care and aid are also beneficiaries in that their time with the elders gives them access to the rich history of their ancestry, the highly valued wisdom of the old and to learn traditional skills like basketweaving.

Francis shared that the only way to develop a sustainable long-term solution is to have its beneficiaries be involved in its development and operation.

Although much progress has been made, Francis stresses the importance of continued advocacy for rights and care of older people, and not just in Cameroon.  From his travels, Francis observed that the experience of elders in developing regions of the world contrasts greatly to countries with more financial resources and advanced healthcare systems. He points out that poverty and limited access to care still create great challenges for the older people in his country. It is his mission to share his story with the world in hopes that more attention can be raised about those in lesser developed regions of the world whose care needs may be vastly different.

To learn more about the work and achievements of CDVTA Cameroon, click here.

To learn more about Francis’s journey in the U.S. (and to see photos), click Here.

 

Forces of Change

By Katie Smith Sloan, Executive Director, IAHSA

Not only are global demographics changing as societies age, but so is the ageing services field.

David Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times, suggested that there are 4 big forces of change coursing through modern societies.

  1. Global migration, leading to demographic diversity.

  2. Economic globalization, creating wider opportunities (but also inequality).

  3. Internet access, giving people more choices over what to buy and pay attention to.

  4. Culture of autonomy, valuing individual choice and self-determination.

If that’s not enough, the pace of change is getting faster and faster, giving us a shorter time to adapt.

These changes are transformative and, therefore, bring with them opportunity and a great deal of uncertainty. Each one touches our ageing services work in significant ways: increased diversity of our workforce and those we serve; the challenges of distinguishing our services in the marketplace for an increasingly discerning consumer; the growing population of poor elderly; and changing consumer expectations.

Since we are far from immune from these forces, our task is to embrace them, fold them into our organizations, and do so rapidly.

We need to be bold, proactive and innovative. It demands that we seize opportunities, form strategic partnerships, and provide unparalleled quality in the services we deliver.

It is in times like these that associations are more essential than ever.

The fellowship within the IAHSA community will be key to our future success, as we share our knowledge, support each each other and pool our passions for what we do. In so doing, we will turn changes into opportunities from which older people around the world will benefit.

Brexit’s Impact on Global Ageing

Aged care organizations in the United Kingdom are not immune from the impact of Brexit. A recent report documents the challenges Brexit presents to voluntary organizations in the social sector in the UK.

Many organizations in the UK have been dependent on EU financing to support infrastructure, research and development, causing some to be concerned about the future of these programs. Critical workforce issues are also of concern, including the ability to retain existing EU nationals and securing the future supply of workers in the social sector. The caution is that uncertainty within the labor market could reduce providers’ abilities to recruit workers in the short term, as many workers in aged care are not native to the UK.

In the longer term, there are broader workforce planning requirements necessary to ensure an adequate pool of skilled and caring staff in the future. With many issues to be sorted out and discovered over time, the impact of Brexit will likely be felt by aged care organizations for years to come.

*Brexit image designed by Starline – Freepik.com

Think Tank

Rethinking Age Care, Services and Supports

Countries in the developed world are–of necessity–engaged in rethinking their approach to aged care, services and supports. Assumptions of the past about utilization and philosophy of care are being replaced by a more distrubuted, consumer-centric mindset.

In Switzerland, CURAVIVA has put forth a vision in which the role of providers is to enable people in need of long-term services and supports to live in their preferred home environment. The 2030 Residential and Care Model of CURAVIVA Switzerland stresses the importance of community and maximizing the ability of people to live a “full life” in their preferred social setting and living space. Specialized care will address dementia, palliative care and other more acute needs. As CURAVIVA writes, “a generational change in which ‘nothing will ever be the same again” will take place for the first time in history. This fact alone should obviate any simple continuation of the exiting long-term care scheme.

Similarly, the recently released the Australian Aged Care Roadmap aims for aged care that is sustainable and consumer-led in which consumers have increased choice and control of the care and support they receive as well as where, how and when they receive it. This vision assumes consumers are proactive in planning for their future care needs, that a single and independent assessment process drives care decisions and that there is a well-led and well-trained workforce.

Among the driving principles is the understanding that consumers will be active partners throughout the care journey and be part of decision-making processes. And, to support that,”a light touch approach to regulation will give providers freedom to be innovative on how they deliver services.”

What underscores these two visions is an unmistakable understanding that consumers, rather than providers, will drive how, when and where care, services and supports are delivered.

Providers will need to be flexible and able to adjust to being supports and partners in the ageing journey rather than the drivers of a model of care.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Building Awareness in the U.S. Capital

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging, Kathy Greenlee, talks about worldwide elder abuse prevention measures.On June 15, IAHSA and LeadingAge co-hosted a reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which encourages communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Speakers at the event included:

  • Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

  • U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

  • Bob Blancato, Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) and National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition

  • Niles Godes, Senior Vice President of Housing and Capital of LeadingAge

  • Rob Long, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Elder Client Initiatives, Wells Fargo Advisors

Mr. Blancato provided opening remarks, praising the landmark passage of the Older Americans Act and recognizing the trailblazing work done by the founder of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Dr. Elizabeth Podnieks, who was in attendance.

Next, Rep. Bonamici said, “Supporting seniors is not a partisan issue, and it should not be one.”

She also stressed that  working on elder abuse is far from over, as 1/5 of older Americans are still victims of abuse. While the recently passed Older Americans Act has some protections for seniors, the public still needs further education on identifying and preventing elder abuse.

Assistant Secretary Greenlee discussed the international aspect of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, how the United States leads the world in elder abuse prevention, and that advocates worldwide need to keep each other informed about successful prevention measures.

The event ended with remarks from Mr. Long, focusing on new training techniques for bankers to recognize signs of financial elder abuse and ways to work with social workers to prevent elder abuse.

IAHSA and LeadingAge co-hosted this event with the goal of bringing more awareness to elder abuse issues and will continue to research preventative solutions. We also thank our partners for their commitment and dedication to finding solutions and protecting our elders around the world.