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2019 Global Ageing Network Ageing Service Award Winner

South Korean Members Present at Our May “Wisdom Talk”

The Global Ageing Network thanks Dr. Chang Hoon Ko from South Korea and Imja Choi for their 2 May “Wisdom Talk” presentation. Chang Hoon Ko is an author and president of World Association for Island Studies. Dr. Ko also serves as the co-president of Global Ageing Network Korea.

Dr. Ko provided a brief background about Jeju province and the rapidly ageing population in South Korea. Jeju island is an island of Jeju province in South Korea and is known as “an island of longevity.” Jeju has committed to becoming more age-friendly and was designated as an UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Jeju is working towards becoming a carbon-free island through the implementation of clean energy and uses wind, electric vehicles, and recharging stations as alternatives.

As one of the Treasure Islands of the World, Jeju offers elders an opportunity to live in a mystical and natural environment, and participate in unique cultural activities around the island. There are Jeju female divers, or “sea woman,” some of who are in the 80s. They will dive 10 meters in the treacherous waters of the Korean Strait to gather shellfish without oxygen masks! They provide their community with the fish that they catch, providing 60% of Jeju’s fisheries revenue.

Imja Choi serves as the CEO and founder of the Penn Asian Senior Services (PASSi) organization. PASSi is a nonprofit organization founded by Imja Choi. Choi created the organization during the process of caring for her mother who had cancer and spoke only Korean and couldn’t tolerate American food. PASSi became the first agency in Pennsylvania to address culturally considerate home care services for vulnerable Asian seniors and it is now one of the most dependable homecare agencies for Asian immigrant seniors in the state.

As of 2012, 65% of Pennsylvania’s Asian population lives in the Greater Philadelphia area. Many of the aging Asian elders face issues with transportation, communication, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, isolation, and language and cultural barriers. PASSi offers home health care to frail seniors to support their preference to live at home. PASSi serves over 600 home-bound clients with over 520 trained Home Health Aides (HHA) who are proficient in the client’s native language. Many of the recipients of PASSi’s services are primarily low-income, frail, English-limited Asian American seniors. PASSi employs a diverse bilingual or multilingual staff to effectively serve and build trust among the region’s aging Asian communities.

In May 2014, PASSi opened an enhanced adult daycare facility to provide culturally appropriate on-site personal care focused to serve Asian seniors. Further, PASSi just completed a 15,000 square foot senior center in March 2019 with a state-of-the-art kitchen with the capacity to provide 350 free Asian meals daily. Food is a major component of comraderie and unity in Asian culture. It also provides seniors with a feeling of home. PASSi has proven to be an innovative organization and the Global Ageing Network was proud to highlight their achievements as the winner of the Global Ageing Network’s Excellence in Ageing Services Award in Switzerland in September 2017.

To see the “Wisdom Talk” in its entirety, please visit the Global Ageing Network Facebook Live page.

Member Profile: Ageing Concern Foundation

Located in Western Kenya, the Ageing Concern Foundation (ACF), strives to enrich livelihoods of vulnerable senior citizens (> 65 yrs) who are pillars from which communities tap wisdom and guidance. Founded in 2018, ACF focuses on strengthening the livelihoods and resilience of often neglected elders in Migori County. Currently, there are no organizations directly targeting, voicing, and solving challenges that engulf the senior citizens in Migori County, Kenya.

Driven by passion to offer practical and sustainable positive transformation, ACF is committed to taking actions that reenergize elders, let their voices be heard and remove negative society stigma, as evident in the stereotyped statements in native Luo Language such as –  ‘Jaduong cha tho otamo’ this means – “The old man seems not to die.” ACF focuses on how to make lasting positive transformation and impact in their community, aiming to change such narratives. ACF follows the 4 key areas below as a guide toward assessing the needs of elders in their community:

  1. Immediate and Basic Needs

To achieve this, we have over the last year advocated for an active community that mobilizes resources for its own senior citizens. An important outcome of this program has seen the targeted beneficiaries’ access clean and warm beddings through ACF member contributions. We have also seen to it that beneficiaries of the government’s cash transfer are aware of the funds and not exploited by rogue care givers.

2. Harnessing Elder Knowledge

This has included the documentation of indigenous or traditional knowledge on some of the income generating practical options that elders could engage in old age to provide and sustain their needs. The information is intended to benefit those approaching retirement to continue being financially sound, an important outcome in reducing dependency syndrome associated with old age.

3. Community Exchange Programs

Inter-county programs will be initiated for elders in Migori County to encourage older adults participate in the program. This has been exciting with elders we have engaged, and resource permitting, we will expand this to intervention. Such programs are useful in promoting learning and experiences that reduce feeling of usefulness, loneliness, and isolation currently associated with the senior citizens of the county.

4. Marking International Days

This has so far included the International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) on 1 October, and the forth-coming World Elder Abuse Awareness Day which we are set to mark on the 15 June 2019. The international days are instrumental in creating awareness on some of the sufferings older adults experience as they age.

ACF looks forward to cover Migori County adequately and even expand to other needy counties in Kenya. ACF recognizes the importance of networking with member organizations to enrich our efforts and expand the scope and reach of Ageing Concern Foundation mission. ACF is eager to collaborate and join the Global Ageing Network (GAN).

 

 

 

 

 

Global Ageing Network’s Normative Statement to the UN OEWGA

The following statement was submitted to the United Nations 10th session Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing focusing on the normative elements of the rights to long-term and palliative care.

The Global Ageing Network is pleased to speak to the focus areas for normative content and we also and most willingly endorse the joint position statement presented by the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older Persons relating to normative content for this session.

It is our responsibility as a global society to be more aware of the risks and challenges for older members of our community, such as the uncertainty of access to quality long-term care and palliative care, as well as threats to people’s independence and autonomy. The majority of the 24,000 organisations in our network are providers of services direct to older persons. Hence, we are cognisant of the clear linkage between long-term care and an older person’s independence and autonomy.

It is vital therefore that our systems governing long-term care into the future act as frameworks to provide choice and opportunities to enable people to prosper, irrespective of social or health circumstances. The development of such systems must take into account that the vast majority of long-term care throughout the world is provided by individuals – family, neighbours, or other caregivers – often unpaid and informal. We must understand the importance of incorporating the promotion of preventative, wellness, and restorative services to foster healthy and successful ageing for all older adults.

The need for a formal instrument addressing the right for older people to access adequate long-term care and palliative care is highlighted by the failures of existing systems and regulatory regimes even in the more developed regions across the globe. For instance, the long-term care system in Australia, which is considered to be one of the more mature care systems in the world, is currently the focus of the highest form of national inquiry because of the failure of that system in relation to regulatory monitoring, funding and access. This provides a stark call for global attention to how older people in all places can exercise their right to adequate care, services, and support through their ageing journey and at the end of life.

In closing, we acknowledge the value of normative discussion on the listed focus areas, but highlight the need for definitive outcomes from this and subsequent sessions of the Open Ended Working Group on Ageing.

 

 

 

How to Care for Our Ageing World

The most recent population aging report by the United Nations illustrated that the global population aged 60 reached 9.62 billion. It has been projected that by the year 2050, the population aged 60 will reach 2.1 billion. The ageing population is growing due to declining fertility rates and advancements in medicine and technology that allow us to live longer.

Europe will have the highest population of older adults with an expected 25% of its population to be over 60 by the year 2050. Japan currently has the largest population of adults over 60, 28% of its population is 65 and older and 20% of its population is 70 and older according to data from the Population Reference Bureau. The population of older adults in China and India is rapidly growing which could have important implications in the demographic transition.

One of the major concerns with a rapidly aging population is the dependency ratio — the rate of people working and the rate of people who are retired. The United States Social Security system is currently unsustainable with 3 to 4 workers for every retiree compared to 17 to 18 workers for each retiree in the 1930s. There is also a great pressure for grandchildren to take care of their aging parents and their grandparents.

As a result of this demographic transition, the retirement age is going up. In Japan, the government requires companies to let companies stay until they are 65. The government is considering raising the cap to 70. This has resulted in 81% of men aged 60-64 to hold onto jobs which is a 10% increase since 2012. Japan is even encouraging young mothers to join the workforce by offering flexible hours.

Another concern is caring for older adults because many older adults don’t want to be taken out of their communities and put in communities with only older adults. An active living community has been proposed to provide older adults with a sense of community and society.

By Randhika Aturaliya

The Global Ageing Network Calls for Action From the UN

Marcus Riley provided the statement to 10th Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing at the United Nations on behalf of the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (the Global Ageing Network)

Our association, otherwise known as the Global Ageing Network, is pleased to present a
statement on behalf of the organisations we represent from around the world. We endorse
the joint position statement presented by the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People
to the opening of this session.

As has been expressed by many during this session already, we must do better in protecting
the rights of older people. However, not to simply be free from suffering or fear in later life,
but to fully participate in society across the life course. For instance, those who have and
continue to contribute to the well-being of their families and communities throughout their
lives should not be burdened by poverty in their later years. Through poverty, dignity, and
opportunity are at risk. Consequently, older adults don’t then live a life of purpose until they
die; they simply fade away. We cannot consider poverty in old age without considering its
root causes such as access to education.

With members and partners in over 60 countries, we know, through our work and the work
of our members, that as a global society we have not adequately harnessed the energy, the
experience, and the wisdom that comes with age. Older people are being denied the right to
fully participate.

We therefore strongly advocate for universal access to education and training at every age
and for mechanisms that support lifelong learning and capacity building. The benefits of
life-long learning are well documented and, with the pace of change, life-long learning is a
necessity. Job design, science, technology, and other factors are accelerating the pace of
change, demanding that access to education through the life course is a right that must be
protected.

The opportunity to positively impact the current generation of older people is disappearing
rapidly. Let us not also fail the emerging generation of older people.

Though there has been a lack of action to date there is no lack of will from many to do what
is required and begin now the drafting of a convention to protect the rights of older people
such as the right to education.

 

Global Ageing Network Hosts HelpAge for the first Wisdom Talk of 2019!

At the “Wisdom Talk” in January 2019, The Global Ageing Network welcomed Kate Bunting, Executive Director of HelpAge USA, to discuss the work HelpAge USA  does in partnership with HelpAge International to improve the lives of older people.

HelpAge USA was established in 2009 with the mission of advancing the well-being of older people and to reduce poverty and discrimination in later life. HelpAge works to allow older people to live their lives with dignity and to live independently. One of their primary areas of focus has been to provide aid during humanitarian crises, including ensuring that older people have  access to food and healthcare.

Work begins at the community level, where HelpAge works with community organizations, to support and create direct programs. At the global level, HelpAge is one of many NGOs, including the Global Ageing Network, working with the United Nations to promote a human rights convention for older people. Lastly, at the government level, they provide training and educate/influence policymakers on beneficial programs such as social pensions..

In the past, HelpAge International has worked with the Rohingya refugees who fled to the coastal region of Bangladesh. Bunting noted that during humanitarian crises, older people often lose their rights. In the case of the Rohingya crisis, older people were combined into households resulting in a loss of independence and the ability to advocate for themselves.

To help the older Rohingya refugees, HelpAge International created age-friendly spaces, such as washing stations with grab bars, provided mobile healthcare and age-friendly counseling, and collected data on the needs of older people.

Among the issues that HelpAge International seeks to address are: 75% of people dying from noncommunicable diseases live in lower-income countries, 60% of older people globally can’t afford healthcare, and the care giving gap for older people living at home is growing.

HelpAge Korea developed a volunteer, home-based care program that has expanded to all 10 ASEAN countries. The home care model has 8 steps, beginning with identifying the people in need, selecting clients, developing a needs assessment and care plan, matching older people with volunteers, providing services, and finally monitoring and reviewing the plan.

HelpAge has advocated for a universal social pension which, research has demonstrated, is beneficial for older people and families. A study in South Africa that focused on grandmothers found that grandmothers with a social pension were able to help their granddaughters. In addition, HelpAge works to fill data gaps since people 60-90 are often lumped together in research and their needs are not adequately identified.

Attendees of the “Wisdom Talk” discussed how older people are disproportionately affected by natural disasters. During the earthquake in Haiti, for example, HelpAge USA donated money and worked with other nonprofit organizations to account for the needs of older people during this humanitarian crisis. They provided cash loans to older people so they can make their own health decisions.

HelpAge International and its partner are making a difference by improving income security, advocating for change, filling data gaps, and strengthening civil society.

The Wisdom Talks presentations can be found on the Global Ageing Network Facebook Page.

 

50 Life Stories, 22 Countries, 1 Book

A Common Wealth of Experience: Freedom fighters, child brides, and other untold real life stories

by Ingrid Eyers

In an undertaking aiming to contribute towards reducing ageism in society, young people aged (16-24) were encouraged to talk to an older person about their life as part of a writing competition.

For the stories to come from a distinct, but global community, the competition was confined to the 53 Commonwealth countries where many speak English as a second language, and all have a historical link to Britain. The project was supported by CommonAge, the Commonwealth affiliated Association for the Ageing, an organisation that includes many GAN members.

To celebrate the Commonwealth at 70 years in March 2019, CommonAge launched its unique book created from this project. The collated 50 stories take the reader on an exciting journey across 22 countries, encountering people aged between 73-101 recalling natural disasters and wars, cultural influences and life events. This book, written by young people, will also be read by young people, and hopefully change their perception of ageing

“These stories are privileged insights into personally endured experiences over the last 90 years,” says co-editor Dr Ingrid Eyers. “It is interesting to see the importance of education and family featuring strongly in many stories.”

The storytellers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. Stories from Africa include a Malawian describing dancing for rain. From Cameroon, we are told about the stigma of living with infertility. While a 96-year-old in South Africa describs how she harboured political activist Billy Nair, who was Nelson Mandela’s lawyer.

From Asia, a Sri Lankan describes his tenacity for education despite coming from a poor background. In Bangladesh, a botanist talks his love for botany and his survival of a bombing in WWII. Also in Bangladesh, there are freedom fighters and child brides. While in Barbados, a renowned sporting legend tells of the challenges to overcome racism. We also read of women described as ‘trailblazer for women’s rights’ and ‘visionary nation builders.’

Reducing Ageist Attitudes

Young authors wrote about what they had personally gained from the conversations, with several saying they had gained a new respect for the older generation.

Two 16-year-olds from Cyprus wrote, “hearing the life story altered their view on society and its flaws.”

A young Maltese commented how much more she now appreciated that today Malta is at peace, she has a roof over her head, and has food to eat. If it hadn’t been for the sacrifices of people like the older person she spoke to, history and our lives would have been very different.

An Australian writer commented on how much more knowledge she’d gained regarding her country, and was intrigued to learn about and older generation and how different it was to hers.

An Indian writer spoke to an older lady living with dementia. Compassionately explaining that, while his storyteller didn’t remember life events and fails to recall daily information, as a music lover, she spoke about the many varieties of classical, folk, modern songs, and the much loved songs of Tagore.

Annie Waddington-Feather, co-editor, also points out that an unexpected result of the book is that now personal details of historical events have been recorded for generations to come.

For many authors, English is not their first language. Each story has its own very individual style and reflects the personalities and culture of the authors and storytellers.

“We have respected these aspects and have kept editorial changes to an absolute minimum,” they say. “We have been moved to tears reading some of these stories, and we sincerely hope readers find the book interesting, informative, and inspirational.”

The book is available to download free of charge on the Commonage website www.commage.org.

Notes to Editors

CommonAge was established in 2013 by a group of professional leaders in the aged sector and is an accredited Commonwealth civil society organisation. Its aim is to ensure elders in all Commonwealth countries are supported to enjoy the highest possible quality of life in their senior years. From Australia and Antigua to Vanuatu and Zambia, through its growing networks it is sharing ideas, creating connections, and combating ageism across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

For further information contact the editors: Annie Waddington-Feather 07713 646419 or annie@wadders.co.uk, or Ingrid Eyers, dr.ingrid.eyers@gmail.com.

A selection of four photos relating to the content are below. We have signed, informed consent to use the photographs and tell the stories.

New Member Profile: The Centre for Elderly Empowerment & Care (Ehsan)

The Global Ageing Network is excited to welcome our new member from Qatar! At the heart of the Global Ageing Network are our members and we aim to share stories and best practices from our members.

The Centre for Elderly Empowerment & Care (Ehsan) is a non-governmental organization established in 2003 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation for Social Work.

Ehsan aims to promote the role of older persons, and their contribution to the social, economic, and cultural development in the State of Qatar. The centre aims to:

  • Empower & support older persons to ensure participation in all relevant areas.
  • Improve community awareness about older person’s fundamental rights and issues.
  • Achieve active communication between generations.
  • Emphasize the role of the family in caring for older persons.
  • Reduce the practice of enrolling older persons in shelter homes.

Ehsan provides a wide range of services for older persons and the Qatari community completely free, whether they are male or female, a Qatari citizen or a non-Qatari resident. These services include comprehensive care services through a fully functional state-of-the-art shelter, accepting any older person in need of it.

Ehsan also provides home care services that include guidance and counseling for older persons and their families, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, nursing, nutrition guidance, and other social services that include providing necessary supplies to enhance proper care, such as wheelchairs, medical beds, and other health supplies. In the home care services, a specialized visiting team comprised of highly qualified social workers, therapists, physical therapists, nutritionists, and nurses provide weekly or bi-weekly visitations to older persons residing in residential areas around Qatar.

Ehsan also provides a very popular service called Ehsan Club, it is a day care service designed to promote the principles of active ageing. These clubs intend to revitalize its members, ease burdens on families during the daytime, promote and build social cohesion, provide opportunities for older persons to cooperate, practice different hobbies, and increase productivity. The club also provides workshops to teach different skills, for example, painting, decoupage, sewing, healthy cooking, recycling, and many other forms of beneficial workshops. The club also organizes regular recreational, educational, & cultural trips around the country.

Furthermore, the centre has a dedicated social awareness & community outreach department that aims to provide empowerment programs for older persons, raise community awareness about the rights, issues, and needs of older persons, and promote intergenerational solidarity and provide necessary opportunities for interaction among them. It encourages and provides a platform for older persons to participate in program planning & design, to share part of the responsibility and help participants feel included and motivated.

Types of empowerment programs provided by the center include technology training for older persons, designed to address the technological gaps among older persons. In addition to a series of awareness workshops that targets private, public sector institutions, & youth centers to raise awareness about ageing issues & older persons rights, Ehsan participates in multiple awareness exhibitions in national events to promote its efforts. Ehsan also takes part in various international campaigns including:

  • A comprehensive 2-week campaign to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons every October.
  • A strong local campaign for Elder Abuse Awareness Day, due to it being a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of both the national & international community.
  • An annual campaign for Alzheimer’s Awareness month that ensures the participation of multiple national stakeholders.

Furthermore, Ehsan provides research grants, issues multiple publications & studies around many aspects of the subject of ageing, healthy ageing & older people’s rights, and awareness publications about various diseases that affect older persons.

What do you hope to gain from the Global Ageing Network? What are some activities you would like to accomplish with the Global Ageing Network?

Ehsan is a strong supporter of many international efforts put in place to highlight the importance of older persons in social development. Ehsan seeks to promote and advance health and well-being into old age and undertake suitable measures to enable environments that are supportive of older persons.

Ehsan joins the Global Ageing Network in the belief that all members of society play an important role in enhancing the respectful treatment and adequate care for older persons. Ehsan believes that a healthy society encompasses people of all ages and attention must be drawn to the importance of caring for older persons and the proper ways to support them in their homes.

This is the first step towards the suitable exchange of lessons learned, experiences gained, the development pathways for cooperation, and building strategic relationships and alliances with multiple possible cooperating partners in the future.

Ehsan aims to join the Global Ageing Network’s advocacy efforts at the United Nations and encourages action to increase recognition of strengthening the protection of human rights of older persons. Ehsan actively promotes mainstreaming ageing issues. It also is involved in policy support and strong advocacy for the implementation of national social development agendas, namely Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Ehsan’s efforts are commensurate with international efforts directed towards the advancement of sustainable development goals related to ageing.

Ehsan is keen to play an active role in the global efforts directed towards the betterment of the lives of older persons and looks forward to participating with the Global Ageing Network to accomplish this goal.

 

A Network For All

 By Rich Schutt, Chair, The Global Ageing Network

Board meetings of the Global Aging Network (GAN) are interesting events. Given the geographic spread of the board members, it’s necessary to hold many of the Board meetings telephonically. Recently, while on a GAN phone call, it occurred to me that the call itself was a metaphor of the substance and purpose of the Global Aging Network.

Since the meetings occur “at a given moment in time” and the members cross many time zones, the board members often meet at unusual hours in their own time zone. So, while one member takes a call at 8am in the morning, other members are on the phone at 2pm, others take the call at 10pm or even 2am (which is technically, the next day!). Board members have been quick to become friends beyond their professional experience and goals; they have become “a network.”

A striking feature about that recent call was the appreciation the board members expressed for each other. They were unknown to each other just a few years earlier. By participating on the GAN board, they now had occasion to meet and share their personal and professional stories about how they serve in the ageing services field. All board members are dedicated to serving the field, but each one has a different story to tell involving a unique journey of service to the aging. All of them have lives dedicated to the service of others, but as the board coalesced, each one found new benefits of sharing. Everyone enjoyed the learning, the encouragement, and the support that a true network brings.

The Membership in the Global Aging Network is very similar to the board experience. Members get something, and they give something; both are opportunities for growth. The only variable is how much time and commitment a member can devote to the Network. The satisfaction, benefits, and rewards of membership are directly related to a member’s participation, and participation in this global partnership can take many forms. Let me suggest a few:

  • Connect with webinars and “Wisdom Talks” on current topics, featuring key speakers in our field. Watch and hear how common issues are managed around the world.
  • Follow, participate in, and “like” our Facebook page so you can keep current with happenings around the world.
  • Explore the GAN webpage, globalaging.org, which is regularly updated with research studies and information about our work at the United Nations.
  • Read the GAN newsletters.
  • Email, call, and otherwise connect with GAN members.
  • Attend the bi-annual conferences! The next conference will be in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 17-19, 2019.
  • Donate to the scholarship fund, which will allow members (especially those from emerging economies) to participate in Global Aging events.

The Global Aging Network is a “2-way platform.” This means that GAN is a place where we can receive, learn, and be encouraged. But it is also a place where we have opportunities to give, to inform and to encourage others. I have personally learned a lot from GAN members. I have also taken the opportunity to share my experiences and showcase our services with others. As you read this edition of the Global Aging Network, consider how you may benefit from participation. The world is ageing, and it needs every one of us to learn and to serve.

Please join us in this exciting work as together we strive to make aging a healthy and enriching experience. I look forward to sharing this journey with each of you!