In 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day for the Elderly, also known as the “International Day for Older Persons”. This is a result of the UN World Assembly on Aging which was formed in 1982 to explore and tend to the needs of the elderly in the world. The Day has become an annual event around the world, with various activities organized in commemoration of contributions of older persons.
Not addressing older persons means not addressing 20 per cent of the global population by 2030, where there will be more people over 60 than children under 10, with the most rapid change in age structures occurring in the developing world. If our ambition is to “Build the Future We Want”, we must address the population over 60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030. According to the United Nations, “one of every 10 persons is now 60 years or older. By the year 2050, one of five will be 60 years or older; by 2150, it will be one of three persons”.
The day is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. According to WHO, populations around the world are rapidly ageing. This is a cause for celebration. In part, it reflects our successes in dealing with childhood disease, maternal mortality and in helping women achieve control over their own fertility. Those who are 60 years old will reportedly double from about 11% to 22%. The absolute number of people aged 60 years and over is reportedly expected to increase from 605 million to 2 billion over the same period. In our fast ageing world, older people will increasingly play a critical role – through volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with caring responsibilities and increasing their participation in the paid labour force. We all generally value and respect the older people we love or know well. But our attitudes to other older people within the broader community can be different.
The World Health Organization reportedly launched in 2002 a document “Active Ageing – A Policy Framework”, outlining its approaches and perspectives for healthy ageing throughout the life course. In case we do not belong to the group of Senior citizens, it is just a matter of time before we become a part of it. So how do we prepare ourselves for the evenings of our lives? 60 is also the age when one retires from work, unless of course one is involved in a business. Hence those in the working class need to make plans to live a life of dignity after retirement.
One way to go about with it would be to join a pensioners forum or a senior citizens group. It must be said there are Senior Citizens groups at the national and state level as well in the local parishes. The elders need to be active both physically and mentally to keep at bay all diseases associated with old-age. You are as old as you think you are. It’s all in the mind. It is pertinent to note that St. Andrew’s church in Vasco has a very active group of senior citizens comprising of about 35 members. These senior citizens make it a point to take part in as many activities as possible, It is said that one’s burden can become lighter if one carries the burden of others. This senior citizens group has been regularly been visiting old-age homes, orphanages, meeting jail inmates and sharing in their difficulties while distributing eatables and toiletries to the inmates.
