India should harvest the advantage of healthy ageing - livemint.com

 India’s demographic profile, with nearly half its population younger than 25 years, is seen as a huge asset for its economy. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has projected that India’s elderly may outnumber children under the age of five in the next five years. In an interview, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO’s representative in India, said there was an urgent need to break stereotypes related to ageing and create models that use the elderly as a “valuable human capital” instead of treating them as an economic burden. Edited excerpts:

This year 2012 on the World Health Day 7th April, WHO is emphasizing on “new models of aging”. What does that mean in the Indian context?

We, in WHO, are of the opinion that there is a need to re-invent ageing. This year’s theme aims to redefine the perception of ageing. Ageing does not have to be associated with immobility, humiliation, uselessness and dependency. Giving financial protection, regardless of the family’s status, has to become a societal responsibility. Elderly persons cannot be left alone on the goodwill of family. We are talking about a societal change in the mindset. India’s legislation has taken case of this by the Senior Citizen Act, which states that a family has to take care of their elderly. But all solutions will not come through law. There is a need for adequate design in universal health coverage, which gives financial guarantees. Senior citizens should have access to social care. The key message is that senior citizens can continue to provide active input in families, in their communities and even engage in labour market. 

In addition to having a law in place, there is need to ensure that dignity of senior citizens is kept intact. No individual should be treated as a burden. We are talking about dignified aging without any humiliation. They do have a right to expect this from the society, not as an act of charity, but as an entitlement. 

What are the implications of a rising elderly population for India?

We should not be scared of this; instead, we should harvest advantage of healthy ageing. The growth of aging population in India is fast. Currently, we have 7.4% and this will go up to 12% by 2025, and by 2050, every fifth Indian will be in this age bracket. 

In the next five years, India will have more senior citizens than children under the age of five. Additionally, the family size is reducing with less number of children being born. We need to think on the lines of keeping our elderly population productive in the community. This will help release the younger workforce from certain responsibilities like taking care of children, etc. 

Speaking in absolute number, we will reach 300 million, but we have to stop looking at this as burden on the society. Right now is the time to build a mechanism, ensuring that senior citizens do not become a burden later on. 

The elderly and the economically weaker sections face the same problems with our public health system. Is the issue, then, of governance and healthcare delivery? 

Indeed. Many problems in the health sector are systemic and they affect all citizens, in all age groups. The healthcare reforms currently being discussed by the government will hopefully bring improvement in the systemic design, which will benefit all age groups, including the elderly. 

Having said so, I must add that historically in India, there is a tendency to perform better when specific interventions are designed for particular target groups. Those interventions are also needed to make problems facing the elderly a priority in governance. Adequate investments need to be made by the government in healthcare for the elderly. These, of course, will only give returns if health sector reforms are done to improve infrastructure, manpower, etc.

Are there any differences in the issues concerning the elderly in developed and developing countries?

Different countries have tried different mechanisms and developed nations are obviously ahead of the curve in this regard because they have been hit by the ageing population a little earlier than say India. The same issues presented themselves two decades earlier in the West. Age is catching up with India faster than realized. In my opinion, these models need to be studied in terms of applicability since all of those won’t be useful in India’s context. The rural population and gender issues are not common in other countries. Models that work in other countries have to be adjusted to India’s reality and implemented.

The government is planning to reform the healthcare sector. In your interaction with the health ministry, do you see the political will required to bring about a change?

Political will is important to make any headway, especially if the project involves changing set behavioural patterns. A good government addresses the gaps in the system to bring in the poor, aged and vulnerable in the fold of development. New initiatives or laws will not be successful if there is no political ownership. The tobacco campaign is a good example. In terms of political will, several initiatives have proven that the government is willing to alleviate problems raised by us. However, what we are saying is that looking solely at elderly care will not work without comprehensive reforms that bring the ageing population in the fold of active social life.

Is blaming everything on the increase in “nuclear families” fair?

Of course not. There is a rural-urban dimension to this problem. Almost 75% of India’s senior citizens live in rural areas. There is a need for special attention in this area. India needs to invest in institutional mechanisms such as day care centres, old-age homes, etc., which are currently concentrated in cities. We don’t know all the implications of a demographic shift in the society as yet. More understanding has to be gained in this from the latest census figures.

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India should harvest the advantage of healthy ageing - Home - livemint.com

WHO | World Health Day 2012 - Good health adds life to years

 03 April 2012 | Geneva - On World Health Day (7 April), WHO is calling for urgent action to ensure that, at a time when the world's population is ageing rapidly, people reach old age in the best possible health. 

In the next few years, for the first time, there will be more people in the world aged over 60 than children aged less than five. By 2050, 80% of the world’s older people will be living in low- and middle-income countries.

Noncommunicable diseases - the main health risk for older people

The main health challenges for older people everywhere are noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. 

“People in low- and middle-income countries currently face up to four times the risk of death and disability from noncommunicable diseases than people in high-income countries,” says Dr Margaret Chan WHO Director-General. “Yet most of these conditions are largely preventable or inexpensive to treat.”

Healthy lifestyles can help

The risk of developing all noncommunicable diseases can be significantly reduced by adopting healthy behaviours, such as being physically active, eating a healthy diet, avoiding the harmful use of alcohol and not smoking or using tobacco products. The earlier people adopt these behaviours, the better their chance of enjoying a healthy old age. 

“Healthy lifestyles from the very beginning of life is key to a healthy and active old age,” says Dr John Beard, Director of the Department of Ageing and the Life-course at WHO.

Cost effective measures

WHO highlights the need for countries to take steps to prevent noncommunicable diseases, and to ensure that systems and services are in place to provide treatment and care when it is required. Many of these services are highly cost-effective. For example, high blood pressure – a key risk factor for both heart disease and stroke – can be effectively treated for just a few dollars a year. Today, less than 15% of older people in low- and middle-income countries in need are receiving treatment for high blood pressure.

WHO has outlined four key actions that governments and societies can take now to strengthen healthy and active ageing.

• Promote good health and healthy behaviours at all ages to prevent or delay the development of chronic diseases.
• Minimize the consequences of chronic disease through early detection and quality care (primary, long-term and palliative care).
• Create physical and social environments that foster the health and participation of older people.
• "Reinvent ageing" - changing social attitudes to build a society in which older people are respected and valued.

 

Breaking stereotypes

Poor health is not the only concern people have as they grow older. Stigmatizing attitudes and common stereotypes often prevent older people from participating fully in society. Older people make important contributions as family members, volunteers and as active participants in the workforce and are a significant social and economic resource. 

“When a 100-year-old man finishes a marathon, as happened last year, we have to rethink conventional definitions of what it means to be ‘old’,” says Dr Chan. “Past stereotypes developed in past centuries no longer hold.” 

World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of the WHO in 1948. 

For more information, please contact:

Tarik Jasarevic
WHO Communications officer
Mobile:             +41 793 676 214      
Telephone:             +41 22 791 5099      
E-mail: jasarevict@who.int

Fadéla Chaib
WHO Communications officer and spokesperson
Mobile:             +41 79 475 5556      
Telephone:             +41 22 791 3228      
E-mail: chaibf@who.int


Source:
WHO | World Health Day 2012 - Good health adds life to years

Ageing well: a global priority

 April 7 is World Health Day, the 2012 theme of which is health and ageing. Globally, we are getting older. 5 years from now, for the first time in history, the number of people aged 65 years and older will outnumber children younger than 5 years. Advances in medicine, socioeconomic development, and declining fertility have all contributed to this demographic shift, and countries need to adapt to this change in a positive and inclusive way.

Sadly, as the authors of a letter in the April 7 issue of The Lancet note, population ageing is often framed in negative terms. Older people are viewed as a burden to society and resources. This negativity is also true at the individual level. Past a certain age, many people bemoan another birthday or a grey hair. But ageing is something that should be celebrated. Older people contribute to society in many ways—through their experiences and knowledge, within families and through work, both paid and unpaid. They also face specific health problems related to the ageing process that have been neglected internationally and deserve attention.

 

Non-communicable diseases are a particular threat to older populations. The biggest causes of years of life lost in people older than 60 years of age are stroke and ischaemic heart disease. Yet evidence suggests that only 4—14% of older people in low-income and middle-income countries are receiving effective antihypertensive treatment that could help prevent these conditions. Additionally, more than 250 million older people around the world experience moderate to severe disability, mainly visual impairment, dementia, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis. And an estimated 28—35% of older people are injured in falls each year. Maltreatment of elderly people is also a serious and under-reported health concern.

 

This World Health Day, WHO is championing a life-course approach to healthy and active ageing, which includes: promoting good health for all ages to prevent the development of chronic disease; early detection of chronic diseases to minimise their impact; creating physical and social environments that foster the health and participation of older people; and changing social attitudes to ageing. Later this year, The Lancet will publish a Series on ageing. We hope that this Series, together with WHO's renewed commitments, will help create a new movement for healthy ageing for all.

 Reference:
Ageing well: a global priority : The Lancet

WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health 2002 - 2011: WHO | SAGE

SAGE Cohorts: 2002-2011, Background and Objectives

The WHO Multi-Country Studies unit developed the Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) as part of a Longitudinal Survey Programme to compile comprehensive longitudinal information on the health and well-being of adult populations and the ageing process. The core SAGE collects data on respondents aged 18+ years, with an emphasis on populations aged 50+ years, from nationally representative samples in six countries (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russian Federation and South Africa). The survey instruments and methods described on this website were adapted from those used by the World Health Survey (WHS) and/or from 16 surveys on ageing (including the US Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) and the UK English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)). 

Household and individual level data on persons aged 50+ years are available from 20 countries as part of the core SAGE, the World Health Survey Plus (WHS+), COURAGE and SAGE-INDEPTH. SAGE has pursued cross-study comparisons and analyses with other data collection efforts such as the Study on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and demographic surveillance fieldsites in INDEPTH. The health and vignettes questions in the SHARE self-completed vignettes questionnaire were drawn from SAGE and were implemented in an additional 11 countries. Eight INDEPTH HDSS fieldsites have implemented an abbreviated SAGE instrument, and three HDSS completed the full SAGE in a small sample of respondents aged 50+ years. Survey tools for SAGE-INDEPTH and SHARE are available through this website (click on link, "3. Additional SAGE Data and Methods"), with data available on request.



Read in Detail :
WHO | SAGE

Population ageing and health 2012: The Lancet

 As researchers, journal editors, and representatives of non-governmental organisations, we are writing to express our concern about the way in which the health implications of population ageing are misrepresented in the media, in policy debates, and sometimes in academic research. Ageing is most often framed in negative terms, questioning whether health services, welfare provision, and economic growth are sustainable. We argue that, instead of being portrayed as a problem, increased human longevity should be a cause for celebration. Moreover, population ageing provides opportunities to rethink health policy for the benefit of all—old and young.

Depictions of older people remain stereotyped and generalised, distorting public opinion and skewing policy debates. For example, the use of economic dependency ratios, one of the commonest measures of ageing, assumes that anyone aged 65 years or older is unproductive. Similarly, the use of disability-adjusted life years to capture the health of a population explicitly views older people as a social and economic burden. Yet many older people continue to make substantial social, economic, and cultural contributions, which can be enhanced by measures that improve their health and functional status.

 

Obviously we recognise that the ideals of active ageing might not be achievable for every older person, particularly if they have complex comorbidity or severe cognitive impairments. The economic and non-economic costs of care provision for these people are undeniable and will rise as the numbers surviving to very old ages increase. Yet their experiences cannot be extrapolated to older people in general; the effects of population ageing on health spending are not as inelastic as is often claimed. This is particularly true in low-income and middle-income countries, where the relation between health needs and spending is, at best, tenuous. In all countries, demographic effects are strongly mediated by a wide range of unrelated effects, many of which depend on political decisions. Health spending and health-service use are more closely associated with how close one is to death than with chronological age. Indeed, it is often the case that less is spent on older people than on younger people with similar conditions.

 

The key issue in determining the relation between population ageing and health spending is the health and functional status of older people. The association between chronological age and health status is much more variable than is often realised, particularly for those at relatively younger ages (60s and 70s). Newly available data from WHO1 show substantial differences in the health and functional status of older populations in different developing countries. There are also substantial differences in health status within the UK and other developed countries. We still do not understand fully these complex variations in health and functional status. Nevertheless, there is clear evidence that they can be affected substantially by relatively cheap and simple interventions such as the effective management of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolaemia, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, in particular regular physical activity.2 Yet in most countries these interventions are not available to large sections of adult populations. The failure of national governments and international agencies to prioritise these cheap and effective treatments represents a missed opportunity to reduce mortality, illness, and disability on an unprecedented scale.

 

Although the non-communicable disease (NCD) agenda has gathered some momentum in recent years, international health spending in low-income and middle-income countries remains heavily focused on infectious diseases and mother and child health. Yet now that NCDs are on the policy agenda, there are worrying signs of discrimination against older people. Background documents from the UN High-Level Meeting in September, 2010, describe the deaths of people younger than 60 or 70 years as “premature mortality”,3 implying that deaths of people at older ages should receive a lower priority.

 

If we do not challenge existing policy paradigms and the social attitudes that underpin them, population ageing might indeed lead to a crisis in the provision of health and welfare services. Instead, we should see it as a welcome opportunity to challenge outdated public perceptions, political priorities, and policy models. This challenge will include reorientating health and welfare models to deliver more efficient, equitable, and sustainable interventions. It might also include the diversion of resources from consumer spending, which in many countries has risen spectacularly over the past 30 years, towards meeting the needs of vulnerable people, whatever their age. This is an overtly political challenge; responding positively to it will benefit people of all ages in all societies.

 Read in Detail:
Population ageing and health : The Lancet


Lets give them Dignity , Security , Love , Care & Smile.

Book : ‘Geriatric Dentistry of India’ by 77yrs old Dr. P.G.Diwan M.D.S (Mumbai)

At 65th Indian Dental Association conference at Mumbai on 10th Feb 2012 , IDA President released the book 'Geriatric Dentistry In India' by Dr. P.G.Diwan .

The First of its kind book “Geriatric Dentistry of India” which is a compilation of articles published in different issues of Dental Journals, is written with the view of enlightening practicing dental surgeons about the new concepts of dental treatments offered to elders. They have been treating elders in their day-to-day practice, without receiving proper education of geriatric dentistry during their academic years.

Very soon the subject will be included in the syllabus of B.D.S. degree course conducted by the medical universities in India. The book, ’Geriatric Dentistry in India’, being the only book on this subject, written by Indian author, will be very useful book for the students of the dental colleges in India. It is beyond doubt that book will be in great demand.

The book ‘Geriatric Dentistry in India’ has 18 chapters spread over 216 pages out of which about 30 pages have color diagrams. The book ‘Geriatric Dentistry In India’ explains  geriatric approach in different branches of Dental Science. The subject is described in detail with the help of good number of diagrams and a few charts.

Price of Book : (INR) Rs. 450/-

To get the copy of this book contact:

DR P.G.Diwan M.D.S (Mumbai)  , 2,Palm Crest, Main Avenue, Santacruz, Mumbai 400054 Tel: 022 26461966 Mobile: 9820158386 . Email: pdgopinath@gmail.com . 

Eden Alternative Training this March 2012 at TISS , Mumbai , India: Ten-Principle Philosophy to improving quality of life for Elders

Silver Inning Foundation(SIF) through Ms.Reis Woollen brings Eden Alternative (EA) Training to India. This is EA 3^rd workshop in India and South East Asia.

The Centre for Lifelong Learning, TISS and Silver Inning Foundation are happy to announce a Two day non-resident Workshop on Eden Alternative Training to be held at TISS on the 27th and 28th of March , 2012.

Eden at Home (EAH) applies Ten-Principle Philosophy to improving quality of life for Elders living at home and their care partners.  A community-based approach to person-centered care, EAH focuses on building collaborative care partner teams that include the active participation of the Elder herself.   Working together, empowered care partner teams help to ensure the independence, dignity, and continued growth and development of our Elder care partners and each other. 
 

What does attending this workshop provide?
 
After training, you will inspire care partners, both within their organization and out in the community, to:

    * Reframe perceptions of aging and disability
    * Work together to reduce caregiver stress & burnout
    * Build strategies on strengths, rather than limitations
    * Develop meaningful connections with each other
    * Create opportunities for all to give as well as receive in care giving role
    * Communicate effectively & thoughtfully between caregivers and Elders
    * Share joy, hope, wisdom, spontaneity, & respect
    * Prevent loneliness, helplessness, & boredom for all on the care partner team .

Who can Attend:

• NGO's working with Elderly
• Old Age Homes Staff / Managements
• Senior Citizens
• Senior Citizens Associations
• Senior Citizens Day Care Center
• Dementia Homes
• Hospice / Palliative care
• Hospitals
• CSR staff
• Health Professionals
• Social Workers
• Psychologist
• Gerontologist / Geriatricians
• Government Departments

Medium of Instruction:

English

Date :

March 27th to 28th, 2012

Time:
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Programme:
Eden Alternative Training

www.edenalt.org

Host: 
The Centre for Lifelong Learning ,TISS,Mumbai

Eden Educator:

Ms. Reis Woollen with Silver Inning Foundation

Venue:

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

Deonar, Mumbai - 400 088

Tel: 91-22-2552 5680

Mobile:92-233 00722

Questions?

Contact Silver Inning Foundation Helpdesk  : 99871-04233 ; silverinnings@gmail.com

Registration Fees: Rs. 1300/- . The fee includes working materials, notes and hospitality.

Payment to be made at: Cash counter at TISS between 10.30 am and 1pm on all working days (inform cashier about Eden @home Training) OR send cheque in name of 'Tata Institute of Social Sciences' by courier to C/o. Sailesh Mishra ,ARENA III, Flat - 801/802, Poonam Garden , Mira Road -East, Mumbai. India – 401107 OR to Prof. Nasreen , Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai . India - 400 088 . Tel: 91-22-2552 5680. . A copy of the receipt or chq zerox will have to be brought along on the 27th March at the time of registering. Note: Those who pay by cheque  or cash at the TISS counter directly need to register with Ms.Bhargavi, Secretary, CLL and show the pink reciept to her as soon as they make the payment.

Kindly send in your confirmation to Prof. Nasreen Rustomfram, nasreen_r@tiss.edu or  Mr. Sailesh Mishra at silverinnings@gmail.com before 20th March,2012.Any queries may be addressed to both on above given email IDs.

About       :             

The Eden Alternative: The Eden Alternative is a small not-for-profit organization making a big difference in the world. Based on the core belief that aging should be a continued stage of development and growth, rather than a period of decline.The Eden Alternative 10 Principles is seeking to remake the experience of aging around the world. The core concept of The Eden Alternative is strikingly simple. Dr. William Thomas, his wife Judy, the Eden home office staff, 50 Eden Educators, 60 mentors and more than 15,000 associates teach that where elders live must be habitats for human beings, not sterile medical institutions. They are dedicated to eliminating the plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom that make life intolerable in most of today’s long-term care facilities.

The Centre for Lifelong Learning : The Centre for Lifelong Learning is an independent centre at Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The mission of this Centre is to work with adult learners who seek to work with the disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society and also cater to people who would like to continue their education by taking up professional courses. To this end, it offers part-time Diploma Programmes in Gerontology and Counselling. Besides, it conducts a range of outreach and short-term programmes for professionals, Para-professionals and volunteers. The thematic contents of these programmes focus upon work-related needs as also self-growth and individual development.

Silver Inning Foundation: Silver Inning Foundation is registered NGO dedicated for the cause of Senior Citizens. It is part of social enterprise Silver Innings which hosts one of the most comprehensive and dedicated website for elderly &their family www.silverinnigs.com . The vision, mission and goals of SIF are centered on creating and implementing services and programmes that are holistic in nature and address the need to acknowledge the much needed supportive environment that the elderly deserve. It looks at reintegrating the elderly into mainstream society and lives with dignity. Silver Innings is working towards creating Elder Friendly World where Ageing becomes a Positive and Rewarding Experience.

Reis Woollen: Ms. Reis Woollen (RN-BC, BSN/BSc, CRRN) is a board certified Geriatric Nurse from California and an Eden Alternative Educator. Reis works with Silver Inning Foundation as Director-Eldercare Education. She is currently a Graduate Student at University of California-San Francisco in the field of Advanced-Practice Gerontological Nursing Science.